MACOMB – The Western Illinois Museum is pleased to welcome Kristan H. McKinsey, Director of the Illinois Women Artists Project, for a special program titled Exploring Local History Through the Lives of Women Artists on Sunday, June 8, 2025, at 1:30 PM. The event will take place on Our Front Porch, the Museum’s welcoming and informal gathering space. Doors open at 1:00 PM. A suggested donation of $5 is appreciated at the door, and refreshments will be served.
McKinsey will share insights from her extensive research into the lives and work of women artists in Illinois, many of whom remain under-recognized in the historical record.
As Director of the Illinois Women Artists Project, McKinsey has helped document and promote the work of over 700 women artists, with a searchable online database dating back to Illinois’s statehood in 1818. Her presentation will highlight several of these artists and explore how their stories contribute to a richer understanding of local and state history. This program offers a unique opportunity to learn more about Illinois’s artistic heritage and the vital role women have played in shaping it.
McKinsey’s program is part of The Arts, Historically Speaking series, a statewide initiative developed by the Illinois State Historical Soci- ety (ISHS) with support from the Illinois Arts Council.
Locally, the series is presented in partnership with the Western Illinois Museum and the McDonough County Historical Society. Macomb is one of seven Illinois communities selected to host programs from this new ISHS series.
“These programs help us explore the people, communities, and cultures that define our diverse and complex Prairie State heritage,” shared William Furry, executive director of ISHS. “Artists express themselves creatively through their work and, by sharing their expertise, audiences better understand how past issues, events, and traditions have contributed to the Illinois of today.”
Furry also serves as editor of ISHS’s bimonthly popular history magazine, Illinois Heritage, which explores local history throughout the state.
For more information, please call 309-837-2750, text 309-837-2613, or email [email protected]. A full schedule of events is available at wimuseum.org and on social media @wimuseum.
