June 3, 2004

Summer exhibits show tribal masks, explore moving images

Dittmar Memorial Gallery: UTRIBE of the 21st Century: Reconnect, Recycle, Renew”

Old buttons, a broken fork and worn tire treads are objects that most people would throw away without a second thought. For Mitch Melson Jr., these seemingly useless items can be combined to help us reconnect with our ancestors.

Mitch Melson’s “Red Mask” is made from buttons, spoons and scrap metal.

Dittmar Memorial Gallery will host Melson’s exhibition from June 10 through Aug. 12. A 6 to 8 p.m. opening reception June 24 is free and open to the public.

This urban tribal exhibition recycles found objects into a new experience. With the appeal of recycling from old to new, Melson combines his materials to create unique tribal masks. He emphasizes the “magical necessity” of using tribal culture to identify ourselves.

“UTRIBE” (Urban Tribal) was developed in 1996 to reflect the dynamics of urban psychology. It attempts to connect humankind, past and future, and supports the need to save our ecology.

Block Museum of Art: “Persistence of Vision: The Evolution of the Moving Image”

The summer 2004 exhibition at the Mary and Leigh Block Museum of Art, will explore the art and technology of pre-cinema and early cinema.

On view to the public from July 14 through Aug. 22, the exhibition also will examine the large and small ways the moving image has changed art and culture.

Drawn from the private collection of Chicagoan Carey Williams, and organized by the Block Museum of Art, the exhibition will feature more than 25 objects ranging from 19th century optical toys to pioneering cameras, projectors and films.

“The optical toys featured in the exhibition were precursors of the motion picture,” said Will Schmenner, assistant curator of film for the Block Museum and the exhibition curator.