MARQUETTE, Mich.— The DeVos Art Museum is unveiling two new exhibits on Friday, Oct. 11: “Illustrators 55: The Society of Illustrators Annual Travel Show” and “Rabbit Island: Works and Research 2010-2013.” An opening reception with live music will be held for both shows from 6-8 p.m. Friday. A featured artist talk with illustrator John Hendrix will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 30.  

            The Society of Illustrators Annual Travel Show, now in its 55th year, features 46 pieces of works created throughout the year. The Illustrators Annual is open to artists worldwide and a jury of professional illustrators and art directors selects pieces from thousands of submissions. The show is broken up into six categories: sequential/series, uncommissioned, editorial, book, advertising, institutional and moving image. Works on display have appeared in magazine and newspaper publications, adult and children's books, calendars, theater posters, fashion labels, CD and album art and advertisements for major corporations.

Rabbit Island is a 91 acre forested island in Lake Superior three miles east of the Keweenaw Peninsula. The island is composed of a native ecosystem standing upon solid bedrock and has never been developed or subdivided. The majority of the island is held under a conservation easement granted by the Keweenaw Land Trust assuring the ecosystem will remain healthy in perpetuity.

The mission of Rabbit Island is to serve as a platform for science, art, preservation and recreation for the generations. The artist in residence program, in beta stage since 2010, has welcomed more than 25 artists, designers, musicians, writers and chefs. As the official residency program is set to launch in 2014, this exhibition looks back on the past three years of projects inspired by and created on the island.

Both shows run through Nov. 17. The DeVos Art Museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Wednesday and Friday; noon-8 p.m. Thursday; and 1-4 p.m. on weekends. For more information, visit www.nmu.edu/DeVos.