DECATUR - Millikin University art student Ashley Nelson had a lot of responsibilities with the exhibit "Major Artists from the Midwest," which is on display at the Anne Lloyd Gallery in downtown Decatur.

When Nelson wasn't cleaning or framing the artwork, she was researching the history of the artists or taking trips to pick up more pieces on loan. She worked on tags for the pieces and helped develop a catalog of the artwork.

She was involved with every aspect of the exhibit just as a professional curator would be.

"Dealing with art, you can't really learn out of a classroom," she said. "Art management is what I want to do, so this has given me the hands-on experience for that."

The exhibit has been a learning tool for Nelson and several other Millikin art students who aided in the development of the exhibit.

"Major Artists from the Midwest" is a collaboration between the Decatur Area Arts Council and the Millikin University Art Department. The exhibit features artwork from the late 1890s through the 1970s by artists who either have a connection to Decatur or an association with the Midwest.

An opening reception is from 5 to 7:30 p.m. today at the gallery, where Ed Walker, curator and Millikin Art Department chairman, will speak.

The project began in fall 2007, with Walker anticipating incorporating his students after working with them on a past exhibit titled "Decatur Treasures."

"Giving the students hands-on experience is what it's all about," Walker said. "They learn best when they can see the faculty working and see our passion of working. That's perceived on how the students view the exhibit.

"Working side by side, the students learn what professional artists do. It's a whole different story ¦ when they're sweating with me."

The exhibit features about 40 pieces of artwork by 22 acclaimed artists, including Robert Root, Herbert Ryman, Francis Lee Jacques, Frank Charles Peyraud and Jean Mannheim, all artists the students were responsible for researching for the catalog.

"We combed the entire Central Illinois area for the pieces in this exhibit," Walker said. The farthest the artwork comes is from California, he said.

Other pieces came from Millikin's collection and other institutions, as well as private collections. Walker said he spoke with the students early on about plans for the exhibit. They decided to only use the work of artists who are deceased.

"I told them they need to embrace the ambiguity of what it takes to plan an exhibit like this," Walker said.

Sue Powell, Decatur Area Arts Council gallery director, calls the exhibit one of a kind.

"This exhibit shows the Midwest and Decatur as breeding grounds for artists," she said. "Every single piece is different. This is not a collection they'll see anywhere else. It's a unique exhibit."

"I think people are going to be surprisingly impressed by the quality of the artwork we were able to find," Walker said.

With the exhibit, Walker is hoping to get people excited over finding work by artists from the region.

"There are artists we would love to find more pieces by," he said, mentioning sculptors Fred Torrey and Leonard Crunelle, as well as William Harper. "I believe there's a lot more out there in Central Illinois."

He's working on another exhibit for 2010, and again, he plans to include his students in the project.

"The students have a real sense of pride when it goes on the wall," he said. "They experience what it takes to put up a real exhibit."

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