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Exhibits at the Music and Performing Arts Library

Exhibits at MPAL serve an educational purpose and are intended to help disseminate knowledge while sharing unique materials in the Library’s collections. MPAL also supports students in the design of exhibits related to their research and creative activity.

Current Exhibit

Flat exhibit case with records by Farm Aid 1085 artists, a CD recording of the show, a full list of performers, a book open to information about BB King and benefit concerts, and a caption card about 1985 and other benefit concerts like Live Aid. The Music of Farm Aid 1985, Holly Bleeden (August 2025-October 2025)

In a repetitive boom and bust cycle that began in the Great Depression and climaxed around the presidency of Ronald Reagan, family farms in the United States found themselves facing bankruptcy and loan default as the price of their crops fell lower than their cost of production. The ripple effect of the industry collapsing devastated the Midwest. Organized in just six weeks and featuring over 40 artists, the first Farm Aid was held at University of Illinois’ Memorial Stadium on September 22, 1985. Featured artists spanned the folk, country, blues, and rock genres, and approximately 80,000 concert goers attended the festival, generating $7 million dollars to benefit farms in crisis. Farm Aid is the longest running concert benefit in the United States and is celebrating their 40th anniversary in 2025.

This exhibit features materials from the Music & Performing Arts Library’s collections related to the artists and the music they performed at the first Farm Aid concert in 1985. It is one of two companion Library exhibits to the Spurlock Museum’s Songs of Solidarity: The 1985 Farm Aid Concert, the other being the Funk ACES Library exhibit Farm Aid and the Farm Crisis. 

Vertical exhibit case with album records by Farm Aid 1985 artists, scores open to the music for songs performed at the concert, and a book of lyrics by Bob Dylan.  Vertical exhibit case with information about farms in crisis, the first Farm Aid concert in 1985, scores open to the music for songs by John Mellencamp and others, an album by Johnny Cash, and a book open to the lyrics of Folsom Prison Blues. Vertical exhibit case with album records by Farm Aid 1985 artists and scores open to the music for songs performed at the concert.

 

Student & Class Exhibits

MPAL is interested in highlighting the creative and research processes of students through exhibits in the Library. Consult our Student Exhibits page for more information and see past examples of Student Exhibits online. Instructors interested in having their students develop an exhibit as part of a class project should email MPAL.

 

Recent Exhibits

Echoes of Time: The Evolution of Music Media, Holly Bleeden and Monica Gil (April-August 2025)

This exhibit provides a historical timeline of recorded audio technology, focusing on the perspectives of everyday consumers of music media in the United Stated and covering early recordings from the 1800s through present day. It highlights a unique part of the Music and Performing Arts Library’s holdings and provides historical context for today’s music recording and listening practices. [This exhibit, curated by MPAL graduate assistants, was the winner of the University Library Exhibitions Committee’s 2025 Graduate Student Exhibition Contest.]

Vertical exhibit case featuring books, recordings, and a piano rolls. Items in this case discuss the first soundwaves, Enlightenment era attitudes towards recordings, and reproducing player pianos. Exhibit case featuring various vinyl records and one book. The items included highlight underrepresented voices, shellac discs, the first stereo recordings, and quadraphonic sound. Exhibit case featuring vinyl records, cassette tapes, CDs, and printed music. The items included represent popular hits, new media formats (cassettes, then CDs), and musical compositions with accompanying media.