Cabinet of Curiosities Preview Party! Friday, February 23 7:00-10:00 p.m. A sneak preview of this one-of-a-kind exhibition! Meet the artist himself, Mark Dion. Marvel at the diverse and rich heritage of the University of Minnesota. Celebrate with drinks, hors d'oeuvres, and lively music. And...bring your own collectible to have appraised by a member of the Weisman's panel of experts! Opening Day Program Constructing the Cabinets/Reconstructing a University of Knowledge Mark Dion, Colleen Sheehy, and students Saturday, February 24, 2:00 p.m. Artist Mark Dion and co-curators of the Cabinet of Curiosities exhibition, Colleen Sheehy, Weisman's director of education, and several University of Minnesota students, discuss the concepts and processes of the project. The exhibition draws on over thirty collections held by the University of Minnesota, from fish and insects to children's books, artwork, and University memorabilia. Shelly Willis, coordinator of the public art on campus program, moderates the discussion. Hidden Treasures of the University The University of Minnesota holds dozens of worl--class collections. In this series of noontime talks, meet the curators who collect and care for some of these treasures. In addition to sharing examples of their holdings, they discuss the scope and histories of their collections and the ways in which they are used. These programs are held in the Weisman Family Seminar Room. Thursday, March 8, 12:15 p.m. Anita Cholewa is curator of the Herbarium, which holds over 800,000 specimens of vascular plants, lichens, fungi, and algae from across the world, some dating back to 1800. Thursday, March 15, 12: 15 p.m. Philip Clausen is curator of the entomology collection, which holds 2.9 million specimens of insects and anthropods, including butterflies, moths, beetles, flies, and spiders from Minnesota and around the world. These programs are supported in part by the University of Minnesota Sesquicentennial Celebration, the Bell Museum of Natural History, and the University of Minnesota Humanities Institute.