It’s a good time to catch up on paperwork for employees of state-run museums in Illinois. They’re closed to the public as the budget impasse continues, but employees are expected to show up for work. The mayor of Lockport is working behind the scenes to try to keep the Illinois State Museum art galleryin his town open.
Steven Streit says he hasn’t given up hope: talks continue with the Department of Natural Resources to find a way to welcome the public back in to museum. Earlier this year, Lockport’s city government agreed to pay rent and insurance to keep the museum open after state funding was stalled. But October 1st, the state employees who work at the museum were told to lock the public out. Rockford artist Betsy Youngquist has two pieces in “The People’s Exhibit,“ which was put together when the museum fought to stay open the first time. "Art is about hope and connection," says Youngquist, "and to shut the doors on hope and connection...I mean...it just makes me want to cry!"
Youngquist says the political maneuvering shows a bigger problem with how art is perceived in society. She’s raising awareness of the lack of support for the arts by taking a nearly life-sized beaded self portrait of herselfon the road and documenting it. The sculpture Meta was still supposed to be on exhibit in the state museum system, but was sent home early because of the budget stalemate.
