Jacksonville – MacMurray College has announced the 2006 spring kickoff of its fine arts programs at the Putnam Center for the Arts and the William H. Springer Center for Music.

     The Applebee Gallery and the Thoresen Recital Hall will present the photography of Mary Rachel Fanning in the gallery and a musical performance by The Lodge Brothers on stage Saturday, February 4. Both events will be free and open to the public.

     Ms. Fanning will open her photography exhibit on Feb. 4 with a pre-show lecture from 5:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Her exhibition will run from Feb. 4 – Feb. 24 in the Applebee Gallery.

     A native of Alabama, Ms. Fanning currently resides in Chicago where she is an advisor and photography instructor at Columbia College.

     Artist’s statement: “Raised by a pair of progressive educators in the Deep South, I am fascinated with people’s stories, both public and private. Often the camera encounters the sharp edges of economics, race, age, social change and the ‘American Dream.’ However, what remains most important to me is how my subjects (who I see as collaborators) communicate their relationship with the places they live, with others, and even myself, the not-so-anonymous photographer.”

     Thoresen Recital Hall will feature “Old Time Music” presented by the Lodge Brothers at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 4. This unique band consists of Wayne Schell, Keith Dudding and John Nell who play the fiddle, guitar, banjo, mandolin and bass.

     They have researched the folklore of the commercial river men from the 19th Century to the modern towboat men. Songs and stories from that source form the core of their show. They also perform songs from the Great Depression era, from minstrels, and from the Civil War. Their style of music features gospel and bluegrass.

     Located in Jacksonville, Ill., MacMurray College is a private, four-year, liberal arts, coeducational college, founded in 1846, and affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Its friendly, informal environment stresses academic excellence, personal attention, career experience, and well-rounded development of each individual.