Browse Exhibits (2 total)
Curated by Will Best
Curtis Morris (1920 - 1997) was a hard-working employee of the G. R. Grubb engraving company, a veteran, and an avid hobby artist who remained in obscurity until recently. Morris received his basic education at Champaign High School where he had his first experience with art while participating in the Coloresque Club. After graduating he entered the workforce joining the staff at G. R. Grubb Engraving Company in 1939 as a draftsman. His career would be interrupted when the United States entered World War II. He would enlist in the Army Air Corps, receiving aerial armorer and gunnery training before being sent overseas to the European Theater. After his honorable discharge, Morris returned to Champaign to continue his career at G. R. Grubb Engraving Company until its closure in 1992. It was during this time that Morris continued to create art exploring a variety of different styles and the creation of a series of architectural works of downtown Champaign.
This exhibit highlights Morris' life and accomplishments focusing on the evolution of his art that the public has never seen.
Curated by Tom Kuipers and Azaan Qureshi
Robert Zuppke was born on July 2, 1879 in Berlin, Republic of Germany. He was a former University of Illinois football coach from 1913 to 1941 with a very impressive season record, holding undfeated titles in 1914 and 1923. Zuppke was also a lifetime artist, creating several pieces for his school's yearbook in his younger years as a student and painting landscapes during his freetime as a coach, much of which is of the Arizona desert scenery.
This exhibit focuses on Robert Zuppke's life as a football coach and painter, delving into his many accomplishments on the field and his passion for art. Additionally, this exhibit will focus on Zuppke's time in Havana, Cuba during 1946, including his relationship with Ernest Hemingway with a special focus on the sketches he produced during his visit.