It has been a productive time of planning the Immigration History Conference 2020. Today we worked on plans for the featured artist and art exhibits that have traditionally been a part of the conference. I have fond memories of Kurt Mueller’s sculpture exhibit, Gary Lucy’s painting exhibit, and Ken Steinhoff’s photography exhibit. This year our featured artist is Nadine Saylor, renowned glass artist and instructor at Southern Illinois University (SIU.)

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Glass blowing is an important part of German and German-American culture-as a trade and as an art form. Nadine will provide a lecture during the conference. We will have an exhibition of her awesome blown glass giant buttons (see above.) We are hoping to schedule a glass blowing demonstration, as well. If you would be willing to contribute financially to this demonstration, please call me.

We will also be hosting an additional exhibit of 17 quilts from the National Quilt Museum with an Autumn theme.

Please register for the Conference, to be held Oct. 29-31. Thanks to all of you who have already sent in your conference registrations. We have made incredible plans for food, entertainment, and a schedule of presentations. I know that travel is uncertain during these times. I encourage you to get your registrations in now, to hold a spot in case we have to reduce overall numbers. Your money will be deposited into a reserved account, and will be returned to you if we have to postpone the conference to 2021. We will make a final decision on proceeding by September 1. Please visit the Conference tab on the website frequently for updates. There is currently new info on the keynote speaker, Dr. Bill Eddleman, as well as the conference visual art and musical programming. The preliminary schedule of presentations will be posted by June 1. If I can provide any additional information, I can be reached at the museum every Tue.-Wed. or send me an email at: contact@lutheranmuseum.com. Take care, Carla Jordan