The Wittliff Collections Reopen with More Exhibition Space

With construction of new photography galleries and the expanded reading room nearly complete, the Wittliff Collections have planned a full season of exhibitions, readings, and other special events, including the Grand Exhibition Reopening on October 17.

Guest speaker Keith Carter will be signing his two most recent books of photographs from UT Press: A Certain Alchemy, the latest in the Wittliff’s Southwestern & Mexican Photography Book Series, and Fireflies, Carter’s photographs of children. The free event begins at 7:00 p.m., on the seventh floor of the Alkek Library. Attendees are asked to RSVP: thewittliffcollections@txstate.edu or 512.245.2313.

Now with almost three times the exhibition space on the seventh floor of Texas State’s Alkek Library, even more of the 15,000-plus prints in the Wittliff’s permanent photography collection will be on view each semester. Readings, lectures, and other events are now being held within the beautiful new galleries. The expanded reading room accommodates a greater number of researchers—the added space is much needed as more and more interest is generated in the Cormac McCarthy Archive and the many other prestigious author archives and literary collections held by the Wittliff.

The fall exhibitions opening on October 17 include the photographic shows A Certain Alchemy and Fireflies by Keith Carter, plus Nueva Luz / New Light: Recent Acquisitions, as well as the literary exhibition, The Lightning Field: Mapping the Creative Process, which is presented in conjunction with the current Common Experience theme: “The Whole Mind.” The Lonesome Dove Collection, featuring props, costumes, and much more from the making of the miniseries, continues to be on permanent display.

Read more about these shows and see the full schedule of Fall 2009 exhibitions and events online at: http://thewittliffcollections.txstate.edu/spec-coll/events.htm. Admission to the Wittliff Collections is free and open to the public.

Screenshot: Old Main and the Texas State Water Tower in Second Life

A view of Bobcat Village, the Second Life counterpart to Texas State University-San Marcos.

Texas State Second Life Site Makes Top 100

Texas State University-San Marcos was recently included in the Second Life In-World Travel Guide. Distributed in 2008 by Que Publishing, this guide to the best places in the virtual world contains the top 100 destinations to visit within the virtual world of Second Life. Texas State was one of only two universities included in the guide out of many universities with virtual campuses in Second Life.

Bobcat Village, as the Texas State in-world virtual campus counterpart is known, features attractions such as a virtual library, two art galleries featuring highlights from our collections and student work, a large auditorium for classes and events, an amphitheater, a replica of the San Marcos River, and much more for visitors to explore. Our sandbox, an area where users can explore and build items with in-world tools, is a frequent stopping point for users from all over the world.

Instructional Technologies Support staff has been building and improving Bobcat Village since August 2006. Our virtual campus, unlike many others, is not a static environment. Facilities, exhibits, and surroundings are frequently changed to offer visitors something new to see and explore every time they visit our virtual campus.

Visit Bobcat Village at http://slurl.com/secondlife/Bobcat%20Village/129/66/26. You will need the latest Second Life client application available for download at http://www.secondlife.com.