Old Settler’s Day at Bishop Hill

BISHOP HILL — As an added event to this year’s Old Settler’s Day in Bishop Hill, the Bishop Hill Gallery is proud to present a special showing of Jordan Murray’s bronze sculptures of Bishop Hill colonist and renowned Swedish-American primitive artist Olof Krans. The sculptures are presented both as a bust and as a figurine.

Jordan Murray of Galva is a nationally recognized artist. He has previously shown some of his Bishop Hill etchings and the bronze bust of Krans. Murray just finished a new bronze maquette (a small study, usually done in clay) and this figurine will be shown for the first time at The Bishop Hill Gallery on Old Settler’s Day, Sept. 12, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Colony Administration Building.

In this same building on Old Settler’s Day in 1896, in recognition of the 50th anniversary of the settlement, Krans held a showing of many of his historic paintings depicting life in the early days of the colony. These original works of art are now preserved and displayed in The Bishop Hill Museum, part of the Illinois State Historic Site at Bishop Hill.

Artist Jordan Murray will be available to answer questions on both his bronze works and to sign offset colored prints of his etching of the historic state-owned Bjorklund Hotel. This print can be purchased at The Bishop Hill Gallery for a modest amount but the personal appearance of the artist is for one day only, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sept. 12. The Bishop Hill Gallery also offers framed and ready-to-frame reproduction prints of Krans’ work.

For more information, call the Bishop Hill Gallery at (309) 927-3080.