University of Illinois at Springfield

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Slideshows: Artwork Across Illinois Springfield


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Maurie Formigoni worked for UIS in the mid-eighties and early nineties (when it was still Sangamon State), as a faculty member in the Visual Arts Program. She works with many mediums including spray paint, plexiglas, acrylic glass, and paint. Her many pieces at the UIS campus include this one called 'Distant Thunder.' Located on the third level of the Public Affairs Center, it was donated to the university by the artist and the Springfield Area Arts Council. This untitled piece, also by Maurie Formigoni, is located on the third level of University Hall near the History Department offices. This Formigoni piece titled 'Broken Image' is one in a series donated to the university by Dennis Kerasotes. This piece by Maurie Formigoni is titled Chevron. It is the final piece in the series and was also donated by Dennis Kerasotes. Most of you look at this piece located just outside Brookens Library and see a fountain, right? Technically, however, it is a stylized adaptation of a water filtration system. It is designed with 12 inverted, angled legs that allow water to flow upwards through aggregates and chemicals that filter the water. The idea came from Charles Hubert Spaulding (1888-1968). Springfield began using the system in 1955. The Spaulding Memorial Fountain was given to the university in 1975 by Spaulding's wife, Kathleen, and their children. It is dedicated to Spaulding and his research in the field of water purification and designed by William Conrad Severson and Saunders Schultz of Scopia Inc., Chesterfield, Missouri.
This piece, titled 'Prismacolor XVII,' is by Claire Prussian and created entirely with colored pencils (thus, its name). The portrait is of one of the artist's close friends and is intended to portray the beauty of older women. It is located on the fifth level of the Public Affairs Center. Robert Nettles, known for his portraits, painted this one of Sangamon State University Founding President Robert Spencer. It is located in Brookens Library. The Colonnade, located in the center of the UIS quad, was built in June 2007 by Harmon Production Company. A place for students to gather, it represents the future aspirations of the campus. This mosaic of Abraham Lincoln created by Elsa Schmid in 1945 is made up of stones that the artist brought back from the Vatican. The piece was donated to the university by her son, Peter Neumann, in 2004. The mosaic is located in University Hall. 'Window's Edge' is the creation of longtime UIS Visual Arts Professor Robert Dixon. The piece was dedicated in honor of George Hoffman, who was chairman of the Springfield Committee for Higher Education. That committee was instrumental in the establishment of Sangamon State University. The sculpture, located at the north entrance to the campus, was dedicated to Hoffman because of his leadership in founding this university.
'Springfield Genesis' is the name of this tapestry located in the stairwell of Brookens Library. It was created by Muriel Helfman-Nezhnie and depicts the genesis of Springfield, Illinois. It was donated to the university by Ruth Friedman. This piece is entitled Vermillion Skies. It was created by Bernie White Hatcher, Master of Arts, 1984 graduate. It was donated to the school by the UIS Academic Professional State in dedication to the friendship and support of Provost A. Wayne Penn. Alexander Hesler is the artist of these portraits of Lincoln, taken June 3,1860 while he was running for president. The university purchased them from the Illinois Historical Society. They were produced from 8 x 10 glass negatives. Of the portraits, Lincoln said, 'That looks better and expresses me better than any I have ever seen; if it pleases the people I am satisfied.' Impermanent Column is made of four limestone gray concrete columns each weighing 12 tons. Created by Thomas Skomski of Chicago, the sculpture was installed at this university in August 1993 and dedicated on October 30, 1993. Skomski said of the piece, 'The university setting presented an opportunity to look at what I find integral to the learning process. For me, it is the notion of change. The title of the piece, 'Impermanent Column,' is a verbal counterpart to this notion of flux.'The sculpture is located on the north side of the campus along Ernest Hemingway Drive. This piece called 'Melting Pots' is located outside of the Visual & Performing Arts Building and was donated by Marshall Green. Political Cartoonist Chris Britt is the artist. Britt is best known as the political cartoonist for Springfield's daily paper, The State Journal-Register.

Ghandi said, True art takes note not merely of form but also of what lies behind.

That said, here is a sampling of art from around the Illinois Springfield campus. All artwork was created by artists who reside in Illinois.

Photos by Meghan Lowder