UO museums team up to celebrate graduation with Art and Culture Weekend

EUGENE, Ore. — (June 10, 2013) — The Museum of Natural and Cultural History (MNCH) and the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art (JSMA) will host the third annual Art and Culture Weekend this Saturday through Monday, June 15-17. Both museums will be open to the public from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, and admission is free.

"We're delighted to host this annual event in partnership with the Museum of Art," said Judi Pruitt, director of visitor and member services at the Museum of Natural and Cultural History. "It's our way of welcoming UO families and friends to campus and celebrating the accomplishments of the graduating class."

Snapshot from exhibit at MNCHMNCH's current exhibitions include "Oregon — Where Past is Present," which highlights the state's cultural heritage and geology; "Silent Spaces: Photographs by Jon Meyers," a body of work exploring the ruins of the American Southwest; and "Site Seeing: Snapshots of Historical Archaeology in Oregon," which features five historical sites recently excavated by museum archaeologists. Also on exhibition will be the newly opened "Tradition Keepers — Cornhusk Weavings by Kelli Palmer and Joy Ramirez," a project co-sponsored by the Oregon Folklife Network with support from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Su Kwak painting at JSMAThe Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art now features "Living Legacies: the JSMA @ 80," an exhibition of more than 250 works on loan from 80 different collectors. The exhibition, which commemorates the museum's 80th anniversary, reflects JSMA's collecting strengths in Asian, Pacific Northwest and American art, as well as its expanding mission to collect European and Latin American art.  Also included among the collections are aboriginal, African, and Middle Eastern art, Silver Age American comics and musical instruments. In its Focus Gallery, the museum presents the West Coast premiere of "Light Journey: An Odyssey in Paint," a retrospective exhibition of paintings by Korean artist Su Kwak.

Each museum will host free special events during the commencement weekend celebration. On Saturday, June 15, at 2 p.m., collectors Keith Achepohl, Greg Fitz-Gerald and Jim Walker will lead a tour through the "Living Legacies" exhibition at JSMA. On Sunday, June 16, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., MNCH will host a free demonstration by Eugene basket maker and ceramic artist Patricia Montoya Donohue in the museum's courtyard. Donohue will show visitors how traditional cherry bark pouches are made and will teach cordage techniques using Northwest sweetgrass and iris leaves.

The Museum of Natural and Cultural History is located at 1680 E. 15th Ave., near Hayward Field. For more information call 541-346-3024. The Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art is located at 1430 Johnson Lane, in the heart of campus. For more information, call 541-346-3027.

Media Contacts:
Kristin Strommer, Museum of Natural and Cultural History, kstromme@uoregon.edu,
541-346-5083
Debbie Williamson-Smith, Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art, debbiews@uoregon.edu,
541-346-0942

Additional Links:

Museum of Natural and Cultural History on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/oregonnaturalhistory

Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art on Facebook: www.facebook.com/jordanschnitzermuseumofart