To commemorate the bicentennial of the birth of Abraham Lincoln, Eastern Illinois University's Tarble Arts Center is again presenting its "Looking at Lincoln" exhibition.

The exhibition continues through Aug. 30. Admission and parking are free, and the public is invited.

The exhibition explores the life and times of Lincoln through art works from the arts center's permanent collection.

Only two pieces in the exhibition actually date from Lincoln's time: an applique quilt made in Coles County about 1840 by Sarah Dollar and a cane believed to have been carved by a Union Civil War veteran named Cornelius Sullivan from the 121st New York Volunteers.

Both are from Tarble's Folk Arts Collection, and the cane was donated by Burl and Dorothy Ives.

Most of the other art works are from the first half of the 20th century. The bulk of the exhibition is made up of American Scene period woodcuts by Illinois artist Charles Turzak: two portfolios of woodcuts - "Abraham Lincoln: A Biography in Woodcuts" and "The History of Illinois," both circa 1934 - and other Lincoln subjects.

Also from the American Scene period is John Steuart Curry's 1939 lithograph "John Brown" and a collograph from a 1945 drawing of Lincoln by N.C. Wyeth.

Also from Tarble Arts Center's Folk Arts Collection are Leonard Norman's whirlygig "Rail-Splittin' Abe," a scale model of a circa 1820s log tavern by Lodge Grant (the type Lincoln could have stayed in while serving as a circuit rider), a doll of Underground Railroad guide Harriet Tubman from the Famous Black American Doll Collection by Roberta Bell, and Ferd Metten's carved wooden diorama of an 1800s farm titled "Home On the Farm."

Turzak, who made the Lincoln woodcuts, was the son of Czechoslovakian immigrant parents and grew up in Nokomis. In 1920 Turzak entered the Art Institute of Chicago and worked his way through to graduation in 1924. He stayed in Chicago as a free-lance artist, and by the late 1920s Turzak had gained public attention for his prints of Chicago scenes. For his first biographical book, "Abraham Lincoln: Biography In Woodcuts," Turzak cut the woodblocks and printed pages in public view at the 1933 Century of Progress Chicago World's Fair.

The museum's hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday.

LAKESIDE MUSIC AND ARTS FESTIVAL: The fifth annual Lakeside Music and Arts Festival will be held July 4 and 5 at Lake Decatur and Nelson Park.

The event (which will be previewed more extensively in next week's entertainment section) includes a mix of music, children's entertainment, hands-on art projects, food and beverages, a juried arts festival and numerous arts vendors.

Arts festival hours are 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. July 4 and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 5. Live music is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. July 4 and 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. July 5.

The entertainment headliner is Eric Lindell, who plays from 6 to 10:30 p.m. July 4.

Fireworks are at dusk July 4.

DECATUR AREA ARTS COUNCIL: The Totonho display continues throughout July.

In addition, Brazilian percussion musicians are part of the July 10 Gallery Walk. They will perform from 5 to 8 p.m.

The Council's outdoor Brazilian Bash dinner with music, ethnic foods and carnival dancers is at 6 p.m. today.

GALLERY 510: Oil paintings by local artist Mary Cleave will be on display. She's one of 50 artists on display during the month, including a mix of original art from Spain and Portugal.

Hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday; 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday; and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.

An artist's reception will be held July 10 during the Gallery Walk, from 5 to 8 p.m.

THEATRE 7 LOBBY: The digital photography of Stephanie Augustine will be on display as part of the First Friday Gallery Walk on July 10.

Artists' talks for First Friday are 6:30 p.m. at Madden Arts Center; 5:45 and 7:15 p.m. at Gallery 510; and 5:45 and 7:15 p.m, at Theatre 7.

SUBMISSIONS SOUGHT: Gallery 510 is calling for entries in a national juried exhibition to be held at the Madden Arts Center in October.

The deadline for entries is July 8.

A prospectus is available at Gallery 510 or by sending a self-addressed, stamped envelope to 160 E. Main St., Decatur, IL 62523.

DECATUR PUBLIC LIBRARY: Drawings by Richard Colbeck will be on exhibit throughout the month on the second floor. Hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

DECATUR AIRPORT: Art work by local artist Brenda Bunch is on display all month.

NEW PRAIRIE GALLERY, SULLIVAN: A display features John McDevitt's use of reclaimed wood to create one-of-a-kind furniture pieces. He will also feature his graphic works.

This exhibition runs through July 5.

Gallery hours are noon to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday and Friday; 2 to 8 p.m. Saturday; and noon to 2 p.m. Sunday.

An opening reception is scheduled from 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday, June 27.

See www.newprairiegallery.com or call 246-7623 for more information.

UNIVERSITY GALLERIES, ILLINOIS STATE UNIVERSITY, NORMAL: "Radiant Plains," a group of watercolors and paintings by Harold Gregor, are on view through Sept. 13. The works were produced from 2000 to 2009.

The 80-year-old artist was a professor at Illinois State from 1970 to 1995. His "Illinois Landscape No. 120" currently hangs in the Oval Office private dining room at the White House.

An artist reception is scheduled from 2 to 4 p.m. July 11.

BICENTENNIAL ART CENTER, PARIS: The annual Midwest Photography Juried Exhibition is on display from July 24 to Aug. 21.

The reception for the exhibition is 5 to 6:30 p.m. July 24.

A display of watercolors by Don Skinner is at the center through July 17.