Peoria's Lakeview Museum of Arts and Sciences is hosting an exhibition entitled Art For The Parks now through December 31. The museum is located at 1125 W. Lake, in Lakeview Park, a park owned by the Peoria Park District.

Inspired by the spirit of pioneer American landscape artists such as Thomas Moran and Albert Bierstadt, this national competitive exhibition was created in 1987. The exhibit of 100 paintings showcases the beauty and grandeur of our national park system, as portrayed by some of the nation's leading artists. Corporate sponsorship is being provided by Re/Max Relators.

In conjunction with the exhibition, Lakeview Museum and the Peoria Park District are sponsoring a photography competition, designed to personalize the Art For The Parks concept to Peoria's park system. Participants are being encouraged to "capture the beauty and essence" of Peoria's parks through photographs of park district scenes and activities. Winners of the competition will be announced at the opening of the Art For The Parks exhibition on November 12. Winning photographs will be displayed in Lakeview's Conference Room Gallery concurrent with the show. The same photographs will also be displayed during the Illinois Parks and Recreation Conference to be held January 18-21, 1990 in Peoria.

The close association between Lakeview Museum and the Peoria Park District goes back almost 30 years. At that time, the museum existed as the Arts and Sciences Center in the Peoria Park District administration building in Glen Oak Park. The museum building was built in 1965 and continues to be maintained by the park district. A museum fund established by the district provides for the maintenance of museum grounds, payroll for Lakeview Museum maintenance staff, and contractual agreements such as elevators and alarm systems. The Lakeview Museum Board of Trustees is responsible for all aspects of the museum's operation other than maintenance. They raise approximately $1 million annually to support museum programs and exhibits. Peoria Park District Director James O. Breen and Trustee Roger P. Allen serve on the museum's Board of Trustees.

Entitled "Soaring Cliffs", this watercolor by David Halbach of California depicts Canyon de
Chelly Monument. It was selected as the Region II winner in the "Art For The Parks"
competition from a field of 2,323 entries representing 49 states. Winners were announced in
September by Allen Rubin, President of The National Park Foundation, co-sponsor of the
exhibition with The National Park Academy.

Peoria Park District invites you to visit their fine museum and enjoy the Art For The Parks exhibition. Lakeview Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Sunday from 12:00 noon to 5:00 p.m.; and Wednesday evening from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. (Closed Monday and major holidays.) Admission costs for the exhibition are: adults 18 and over; $2.00; children 6-17 and seniors 62 and over, $1.00; children 5 and under, free.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Cyndy McKone is the Supervisor of Marketing and Public Relations with the Peoria Park District.