Illinois State University students will open a special exhibit, Symphonic Diversity, at Milner Library featuring new children’s literature, title artworks, and symphonic music written by composers from historically marginalized communities. The exhibit will run from February 13 through April 11, 2023, in Milner’s sixth-floor exhibition space, with an opening reception at 10:30 a.m. Monday, February 20, 2023.
The exhibit is the culmination of a Fall 2022 partnership between students in a Symphonic Music course and an Elementary-Middle School Art Education course.
“We talk a lot about decolonizing the musical canon, and students are eager to be activists for diversity now—they’re not content to wait until they graduate and enter their careers,” said Dr. Allison Alcorn, who teaches the Symphonic Music course. “They want children to know there is amazing classical music written and performed by musicians who look like they do.”
Alcorn’s students joined forces with Kayla Hueneburg and her ISU art education students for a project in which the students collaborated to research, write, illustrate, and publish four children’s books based on a piece of symphonic music written by a composer representing a marginalized community.
All four picture books are on display at the exhibition. QR codes direct viewers to recordings of the symphonic work that is the subject of each book. Guests can listen to the respective symphony on their personal devices while reading the book. Also on exhibit, the artists created a large-scale title piece to accompany each book. At the opening reception, copies of the books will be presented to the Illinois Art Station, the McLean County YWCA, and the Milner Library Teaching Materials Collection.
The Symphonic Diversity project and exhibition is generously underwritten by a University Teaching Grant and support from the ISU School of Music and Wonsook Kim School of Art.
Event Information
What: Symphonic Diversity exhibit
Where: Milner Library floor 6
When: February 13 through April 11, 2023
About Milner Library Exhibits Program
Milner Library’s Exhibits Program provides a platform for campus and community partners to host and present diverse works of art, science, and culture. Milner Library pursues informative, interactive, and educational programs that support the University’s educational mission and reflect our vibrant community. Library exhibits and related events are open to Illinois State students, faculty, staff, and the greater community at no cost. For more information, visit Library.IllinoisState.edu/Exhibits.
