A photo of a building on UNCW (Photo-WWAY)

Wilmington, NC (WWAY) — A new exhibition by Philadelphia-based artist Sarah Peoples will open June 22 at the University of North Carolina Wilmington’s Cultural Arts Building Art Gallery.

The exhibition, titled “Through the Oyster Speculum,” will run through Sept. 9 and feature a multimedia installation incorporating sculpture, light and sound.

According to exhibition materials provided by UNCW, the exhibit explores themes related to American identity, culture and perception through an immersive environment centered around a large diorama depicting the American wilderness. The installation examines stories, myths and cultural narratives that shape how people understand American history and identity.

The title references the word “speculum,” derived from the Latin word meaning “to look.” Exhibition organizers say the term can refer to a mirror, a marking on a bird’s wing or a medical instrument used for examination, concepts that are reflected throughout the installation.

Peoples is a sculptor based in Philadelphia whose work has been exhibited in galleries and museums in the United States and internationally. She holds degrees from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and the University of Pennsylvania. Her work often focuses on environmental themes, public art and community engagement.

The exhibition will be on display in the Cultural Arts Building Art Gallery on UNCW’s campus beginning Monday, June 22, and continuing through Wednesday, Sept. 9.

A public reception is scheduled for Aug. 27 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.

The gallery is located on the ground floor of the Cultural Arts Building on UNCW’s campus.

Summer gallery hours through Aug. 10 are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Beginning Aug. 11, regular gallery hours will be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, with extended hours from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursdays.

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