American Art from the Heintzman Collection | Woven: Glick Collection Coverlets | From the Deep: Shells, Sponges, Sea Stars and More
For the first time, see pieces from the Peoria Riverfront Museum's permanent collection all within the theme of exploration. From the American art of the Heintzman Collection to museum quality specimens from the ocean, three exhibitions are woven together to create a complete story.
American Art from the Heintzman Collection
As the balance of cultural influence shifted away from Europe after World War II, America would establish itself the world’s art capital for the first time. New York City burgeoned as a hotbed of new ideas and cultures and became the hub of creativity and commerce. Today, in order to further expressive exploration, American artists absorb both global and national influences to further art’s scope and reach.
The Jeff and John Heintzman Promised Gift is the first established collection of contemporary art to be accessioned into the Peoria Riverfront Museum’s permanent collection. With this intimate selection of American artists, this exhibition examines America’s impact on their work and their lives.
Woven: Glick Collection Coverlets
When French weaver Joseph Jacquard (1752-1834) invented the Jacquard loom attachment in 1804, he revolutionized the global textile industry and forever changed the way patterned cloth was produced. Jacquard’s attachment used a system of interchangeable punch cards that automated the process of weaving complex designs, an innovation that would go to inspire the foundational concepts of modern computing.
In the early 19th century, professional European weavers began immigrating to America, drawn by the promise of freedom and new opportunities in the wake of the American Revolution. They brought with them the skills to produce intricately woven “fancy and figured” bed coverings, now known as Jacquard coverlets, using the Jacquard attachment.
The Peoria Riverfront Museum is home to the nation’s largest collection of Illinois-made Jacquard coverlets in the country. Woven: Illinois Jacquard Coverlets from the Glick Collection showcases a stunning selection from this collection, celebrating the intricate artistry of the designs and the skilled weavers who brought them to life.
From the Deep: Shells, Sponges, Sea Stars and More
For as long as people have sailed the seas, the mysteries of the ocean have captured our imagination. Explore treasures from the Peoria Riverfront Museum’s collection—sponges, sea stars, shells, corals, and more—revealing the beauty and diversity of life beneath the waves.
Sponsored by Visionary Society, Friends of Art, Friends of Folk Art, Friends of Science
