PEORIA MAGAZINE August 2023

‘THE MAJORITY OF OUR STUDENTS ARE VISUAL

LEARNERS. I LIKE THAT THEY CAN INCORPORATE ALL OF THEIR FIVE SENSES’ — Sharon Desmoulin-Kherat “The lucky part of our multidisci plinary focus of science, art, history and achievement is that we cover much of the education curriculum,” he said. “If we’re doing our job curatorially, it’s very easy for education to tie in.” Many of the self-curated exhibits on loan allow students to be up close and personal with authentic and famous works of art, look inside the human body and immerse themselves in a variety of experiences. Desmoulin-Kherat said district educators share with each child that museums are pillars of culture and learning where people can explore different traditions, new ideas and distinct art forms.

From left to right, Bill Conger, curator of collections and exhibits; Everley Davis, community engagement and ESI coordinator; and John Morris, president and CEO of Peoria Riverfront Museum

“This is a unique opportunity that many of our students would not be able to experience otherwise,” she said. “The majority of our students are visual learners. I like that they can incorporate all of their five senses once there. The exhibits, movies and artifacts at the museum bring many concepts to life for our students.”

Lisa Coon is a Peoria native who had a long career in the newspaper industry before moving into marketing and communications

WHAT’S ON DISPLAY? There’s certainly something for everyone at the Peoria Riverfront Museum. Some current highlights include: • BODY WORLDS RX – The world’s most popular touring exhibit features real human specimens preserved through plastination, a technique that removes the fluids from the body and replaces them with plastics that harden. The specimens on display show comparisons and contrasts between healthy bodies and organs from those stricken with disease. • HEART – This self-curated exhibit by PRM Curator Bill Conger has at its center the first-ever 4D model of a human heart, created by Jump Trading Simulation & Education Center at OSF HealthCare. Standing nearly 5 feet tall, the model uses multiple video projections linked with real data to simulate the circulation and electrical current that keeps every human and creature on Earth alive. • The Center for American Decoys – This exhibit is dedicated to preserving American waterfowl history through decoy art by showcasing many of the nation’s most notable decoy carvers, with an emphasis on those of the Illinois River valley. • Bronzeville to Harlem: An American Story – Interna tionally recognized, Peoria-based artist Preston Jackson

created this exhibit to tell the stories of American mi gration and immigration, hope and opportunity, freedom and the struggle for equality. WHAT’S NEXT? A large exhibit of folk art from the American Museum of Folk Art in New York City opens in August for a two-year stay at PRM. Also, the touring exhibit of “Sharks” from the American Museum of Natural History is coming in summer 2024. Meanwhile, Conger & Co. are in the early stages of creating a year-long exhibit for America’s 250th anniversary. For a complete listing of exhibits and programs, visit peoriariverfrontmuseum.org.

RIVERFRONT MUSEUM PEORIA

28 JULY 2023 PEORIA MAGAZINE