Three art exhibit to open at Aurora University

Aurora University's Schingoethe Center soon will open three exhibits that showcase artwork as well as artifacts from Chicago's Field Museum and the center's own collection.

The exhibits open Wednesday, Feb. 10, at the Schingoethe Center, 1315 Prairie St., Aurora. To be displayed through Friday, April 29, are "Cast Off: Michael Dinges;" "Arctic Stories in Ivory," with Field Museum artifacts; and "Arctic Artistry," with pieces from the Schingoethe collection.

A free public opening reception will be from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 11, at the center.

Dinges, a Chicago artist, will give a free public lecture at 7 p.m. in the Tapper Recital Hall at the center. Dinges will be artist-in-residence at Aurora University through April 29.

Applying the scrimshaw technique used by 19th-century mariners to carve and ink designs onto whalebone, Dinges uses a Dremel power tool and black acrylic paint to carve and ink discarded white PVC plastic, electronics and other 3-D objects.

Dinges began his scrimshaw series in 2003 with gallon buckets and PVC piping as canvas. Through his creations, Dinges addresses issues of global trade, consumerism and object permanence. He asks viewers, "Is this what you wanted? Are these the results you intended?"

The three new exhibits join three permanent displays: "Native Peoples of Illinois," "The World of the Kachina" and "It Was Only a New World to Columbus."

Museum hours during the academic year are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesdays and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays.

Suggested admission donations are $3 for adults, $2 for students and seniors, $1 for children younger than 12 and $7 for a family. For information, contact (630) 844-7843, museum@aurora.edu or aurora.edu/museum.