5/9/97 Contact: Sally Delgado, Ohio University, 614/593-1304

ATHENS, Ohio -- Kennedy Museum of American Art student volunteers will operate a free special event, "Rides to the Ridges," on Thursday (May 15) on Ohio University's Athens campus. Between noon and 3 p.m., volunteers will staff an information table at Baker Center, and a van will be available to shuttle people between Baker Center and the museum at The Ridges.

The newest exhibition to open at the museum is "Paul Caponigro: Meditations in Light." The exhibit includes 45 of Caponigro's silver gelatin prints of photographs taken between 1958 and 1996.

The museum also is showcasing "Hands on to Weaving," a hands-on exhibit focusing on Native American fiber arts designed by graduate art education intern Trisha Clifford-Sprouse. It augments the ongoing exhibit "A Century of Weaving: The Navajo Chief Blanket" from the permanent collection.

Gallery hours are 11 a.m to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. The museum will have special hours from 10 a.m. to noon on May 10 and May 24. Admission is free.

The Kennedy Museum of American Art also has received two first place awards for exhibit publications from the Ohio Museums Association (OMA). Museum staff members will receive the awards Sunday (May 11) at the association's awards banquet and annual conference in Fremont, Ohio.

The OMA Visual Communications Competition first place awards are for the brochure A Century of Weaving: The Hanoolchaadi or Navajo Chief Blanket and Ynez Johnston, a book published by Grassfield Press (Miami Beach, Fla.) in conjunction with the Ynez Johnston retrospective exhibited at the museum from February to April.

University staff involved with the brochure include John Gerber, curator; Martha McMichael Baker, director of Graphic Communications (designer); Maggi Channell, director of special events and publications in the Office of Development, and Donna Spencer, writer/editor for Graphic Communications (editors); Clair Carpenter, museum assistant director for administration and information (coordinator); and Printing Resources.

Staff involved with the book include Arlyn Simon, assistant professor of graphic design and typography in the School of Art; Baker (print production consultant); and Sally Delgado, museum assistant director for exhibitions and programs (coordinator).