Marxhausen Gallery to host exhibit featuring original children's book art

Concordia University, Nebraska’s Marxhausen Gallery of Art will host an exhibit titled “Fun on the Farm,” as part of the Plum Creek Children’s Literacy Festival. The exhibit will be available for viewing at the Marxhausen Gallery Aug. 19 through Oct. 4.

Each year, the Plum Creek Children’s Literacy Festival sponsors a traveling exhibit of children’s book illustrations in conjunction with the festival. This year, curators from the Mazza Museum at the University of Findlay in Findlay, Ohio, developed a themed exhibit for Concordia University and Plum Creek featuring more than 70 works of original art from children’s books that take place on a farm. This year's exhibit was made possible thanks to the generosity of the Holthus Family and Ted Kooser and Kathleen Rutledge.

 “Children and adults alike may recognize art from favorite, timeless classics,” said Dylan Teut, the festival’s director. “They will see art in new styles from newer or lesser known stories as well. Each piece of art will come with the accompanying book, so visitors can find the specific art and compare how it looks on the book’s page to the original.”

The Plum Creek Literacy Festival was founded in 1996 and seeks to encourage a love of reading, writing and books by bringing nationally renowned authors and illustrators to Nebraska. This year’s event is being held Sept. 19-21 on Concordia’s campus.

Since 2000, the Marxhausen Gallery of Art has hosted more than 30 artists and art professionals. Through a diverse mix of exhibitions, performances, screenings, and conversations, the visiting artist program provides a public forum for the presentation and contemplation of contemporary art, curatorial practice and scholarship. Through discourse, studio critiques, informal discussions and public lectures the program provides students with direct access to art professionals working across disciplines.

All exhibits are open and free to the public. The Marxhausen Gallery is located in Jesse Hall and is open weekdays 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and 1 to 4 p.m. on the weekends while classes are in session.

Find out more about the Plum Creek Literacy Festival on the event's website and follow the event on Facebook.