ART – Vistas and visions

An interesting installation called New Springfield, by Minnesota new media artist Rosemary Williams, is currently on display at University of Illinois Springfield UIS Visual Arts Gallery. The exhibit is literally about Springfield. The artist used as inspiration local poet Vachel Lindsay’s prediction of our 2018 capital city as a utopia (laid out in his 1920 book The Golden Book of Springfield) contrasted to Springfield today. Printed images of every house in town are part of the exhibit. Williams’ work has been exhibited widely in the United States and Europe, profiled in New York Times Magazine, The Times of London and National Public Radio’s Talk of the Nation. Heads up: Williams will talk Oct. 17 at 5:30 p.m. in Brookens Auditorium with a reception following in the gallery. Mark your calendars. The exhibit is funded by the Illinois Arts Council and sponsored by the State House Inn and Vachel Lindsay Association.