January 15, 2005
Look around the room where you are sitting. How many different items made of paper are within just that room? From toilet paper to wallpaper, marriage certificates to money, paper is integral to our everyday lives. The history and use of this wonderful material is the subject of the Spurlock Museum's Focus Gallery exhibit Following the Paper Trail from China to the World. The exhibit opened January 18, 2005, and will remain on display through July 30th.
Exhibit topics include discussions on the invention of paper in China, how paper is made, and how paper is used for art and decoration, funerary objects, and everyday items like greeting cards, advertisements, and lamp shades. An interactive section of the exhibit will allow visitors to add to our list of things you can do with paper (cut it, fold it, draw on it, etc.) as well as draw a Chinese proverb, a "Did You Know?" trivia slip, or a "Facts to Find" exhibit treasure hunt slip from the Fun Facts jar.
Special Paper Trail tours will be available to school groups during the spring semester. Contact Kim Sheahan at 217/244-3355 or ksheahan@uiuc.edu to reserve your tour today.
Following the Paper Trail is co-sponsored by the UI Center for East Asian and Pacific Studies and a gift in memoriam of Dr. Yuen Tze Lo by his wife Sara de Mundo Lo.
Other paper artifacts are on display at the Savoy bookstore Pages for All Ages(external link). The exhibit, featuring the bookplates collected by Dr. Yu Wang, will be available from January 14 to February 28, 2005.
