Reprinted from Illinois State Media Relations.
The University Galleries is hosting the exhibit Magnificent Menagerie through August 7. The show features four galleries of circus posters, art, ephemera, and history. The exhibit is free and open to the public.
Magnificent Menagerie is co-organized with Milner Library’s Circus and Allied Arts Collection, including new acquisitions celebrating Barnum & Bailey’s Columbus Spectacle. Drawings by Bloomington-Normal artist Danell Dvorak and sideshow banners by muralist Glen C. Davies are also featured.
University Gallery hours are Monday noon to 4 p.m., Tuesday noon to 7 p.m. and Wednesday–Saturday noon to 4 p.m. The University Galleries are located in room 110 of the Center for the Visual Arts.
I would really like to see this exhibit, having spent some of the best times during my university experience in Gamma Phi. Is it available to view on line? I will not be able to return to ISU In time for the viewing.
University Galleries will be making ongoing updates to its website and Facebook accounts—tune in for the latest images of the circus! In fact, you can currently view Glen C. Davies creating his most recent sideshow banner on our home page: http://www.cfa.ilstu.edu/galleries/ and http://www.facebook.com/UniversityGalleries).
In addition to Milner’s contribution, Magnificent Menagerie would not have been possible without the guidance and support of Marcus Alouan, Gamma Phi Circus Director, and I.S.U.’s own Cherie Valentine—daughter of the famous Flying Valentinos, George and Lorraine Valentine. Cherie has provided the Valentinos’ historic double trapeze and catch bar for the exhibition! Last used in 1950, the Valentino artifacts mirror equipment currently used by today’s Gamma Phi Circus. See them all on display through August 7th!
And don’t forget to mark your calendar for the circus-extravaganza on Saturday, July 30th! See you at the circus!!!