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Exhibitions explore Coles County history, agriculture, migration, contemporary abstraction and connections across cultures

CHARLESTON, IL (09/03/2026) Eastern Illinois University’s Tarble Museum of Art will bring together local history, contemporary art and stories of places and people from across the United States and Central America this fall, offering the EIU and Charleston communities opportunities to explore art and ideas close to home.

The Tarble’s fall exhibitions open with a public reception from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, September 4 and remain on view through October 31. A second round of exhibitions opens with a reception from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, November 13 and continues through January 30, 2027.

“We have an eclectic and expressive series of exhibitions in place this fall that invite audiences to look at familiar places, histories and experiences from new perspectives,” said Tarble Exhibitions and Collections Manager Gisela Alvarez. “We’re excited to offer opportunities for people to encounter artwork that connects with the history of this community, the land around us and the broader world we share.”

The fall exhibitions include:

• Mud + Corn + Stone + Blue, curated by Laura Augusta, examines connections between the United States and Central America through agriculture, land, migration and political conflict. The traveling exhibition brings together artwork from the U.S. Corn Belt and Guatemala, Nicaragua, El Salvador and Honduras. The exhibition focuses particularly on the overlapping histories of the U.S. farm crisis and conflicts in Central America during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Through the work of artists who have experienced or inherited these histories, the exhibition considers how decisions about agriculture, land, labor and economics can have consequences that cross national borders and generations. This exhibition is produced by Independent Curators International (ICI). Free public reception from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, September 4.
• Coles County Before 1860: As Reflected through Art and Architecture Found in Area Collections, curated by Michael Watts, explores the early history and geography of Coles County through artwork, architectural photographs and maps. Presented as part of Illinois 250, the exhibition focuses on the county’s development before about 1860, when its boundaries had been established in their present form. The exhibition also considers how local artists and craftspeople have documented and interpreted the area, including portraits, quilting, paintings, photographs and other historical materials. QR codes throughout the exhibition provide access to additional resources and information. Free public reception from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, September 4.
• The Tarble’s winter exhibitions will feature:
  • James Valerio: INTERVALS, curated by curated by Department Chair of Art + Design Chris Kahler and Alvarez.
  • CONNECTED: Group Exhibition, curated by Kahler and Alvarez.
  • Seeing/There: Contemporary Abstraction, Chicago, curated by EIU Assistant Professor of Printmaking and Foundations Alan Pocaro.
    • Together, these exhibitions offer different approaches to contemporary art, including abstraction, individual artistic practice and connections among artists and works.

“The Tarble’s location on campus makes it a close, convenient hub for local artists and art enthusiasts, as well as a primary cultural and community resource,” Alvarez added. “Bringing a range of exhibitions to Charleston gives people a chance to see and think about things they might not otherwise encounter here. There is no particular background or expertise required – the exhibitions are an invitation to look, ask questions and make connections.”

All exhibitions and opening receptions are free and open to the public. The Tarble Museum of Art is located on EIU’s campus at 2010 Ninth Street in Charleston. Additional information about exhibitions, programs and museum hours is available through the Tarble Museum of Art website.

For additional information on upcoming EIU and other community partner events, visit the EIU Events Calendar. For EIU Athletics events, visit the EIU Athletics calendar.

About Eastern Illinois University
EIU prepares students to accomplish their life goals through a combination of quality academics, personal relationships, and both on-campus and online learning opportunities. For more information about Eastern Illinois University, including its broad array of academic and career readiness programs, community-based services and opportunities, visit eiu.edu or call EIU’s Public Information Office at (217) 581-7400.