'Things Speak: Storied Objects from Lincoln Collections' at Sheldon

            In addition to collecting, preserving and studying objects, a museum provides a forum in which objects' stories are told. In that vein, Sheldon Museum of Art at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln presents "Things Speak: Storied Objects from Lincoln Collections," an exhibition assembled from the collections of 12 of the city's public collections.

            The exhibition opens with a public reception at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 16 and runs through Feb. 8. The museum and reception are free and open to all.

            The museums represented in the exhibition are the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia, Frank H. Woods Telephone Pioneer Museum, Great Plains Art Museum, International Quilt Study Center and Museum, Kruger Collection, Lux Center for the Arts, Museum of American Speed Smith Collection, National Museum of Roller Skating, Nebraska Capitol Collections of the Office of the Capitol Commission, Pioneers Park Nature Center, Sheldon Museum of Art and University of Nebraska State Museum.

            The museums invite the public to participate in a series of bike tours, lectures, workshops and special activities related to the exhibition "Things Speak." The schedule of activities follows.

• Sept. 21 and 28, Oct. 5, 1-5 p.m. -- A series of unique Sunday bike tours to Lincoln collections. Each ride starts from Sheldon. Reservations for the free bike tours may be made online at http://www.eventbrite.com. Pepe's Vegetarian and Vegan Restaurant will have a food truck in the Sheldon parking lot from 4 to 6 p.m. following each bike tour, and the museum will remain open to the public until 6 p.m.
• Oct. 7, 5:30 p.m. -- Rob Walker, columnist for the New York Times and co-editor of "Significant Objects: 100 Extraordinary Stories About Ordinary Things," will be the keynote speaker for a symposium at Sheldon on the nexus of an object and its story.
• Oct. 18, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. -- The American Historical Society of Germans from Russia, 631 D St., will participate in the UNL ln History Harvest, directed by UNL historian Will Thomas. For more information, visit http://www.ahsgr.org or http://historyharvest.unl.edu.
• Nov. 8, 10 a.m.-noon -- Grace Bauer, UNL English professor and poet, will lead a writing workshop at Sheldon in conjunction with the exhibition. Reservations for the free workshop may be made online at http://www.eventbrite.com.
• Dec. 27, 1-4 p.m. -- "Thing Think: A Creativity Workshop for Families" is an intergenerational workshop at Sheldon led by Seattle artist Joe Sparano. Reservations for the free workshop may be made online at http://www.eventbrite.com.

            For more information on events in conjunction with the exhibition "Things Speak," go to http://www.sheldonartmuseum.org.

            Sheldon Museum of Art houses a permanent collection of more than 12,000 objects focusing on American art. Sheldon is open free to the public during regular hours: Tuesday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Wednesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. The museum is closed on Monday.