FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:  Diane Grams
312/440-1860                                         

THE SKY WATCHER BY MARION PERKINS
DONATED TO THE PEACE MUSEUM
DEDICATION AND UNVEILING FEBRUARY 14, 1998, 7 p.m.

CHICAGO -- February 14, 1997 -- "The Sky Watcher" by renown African
American artist Marion Perkins will be formally dedicated and unveiled at
The Peace Museum, 314 W. Institute Place,  on Saturday, February 14, 1998
at 7 p.m. at the Museum's Second Annual St. Valentine's Day Party.  
Reception to run from 6-8:30 p.m. is free for members.  Admission is $10
non-member adults, $5 seniors, students and children. Reservations
suggested.

Present will be friends and family of Perkins, including donor Roslyn Rosen
Lund, who purchased the work from Perkins' studio in 1948.  The graceful
and finely carved "Georgian Marble" sculpture, 26" x 4" x 22",
is of a male seated figure with his head turned 180 degrees looking to the
sky.

"The work belongs to a group narrating an anti-war theme relating
to the holocaust in Hiroshima." said Dennis Rosenthal of Rosenthal Fine
Art, Inc.  "It is the only work of the group not owned by the heirs of the
estate and was considered by the artist to be one of his most important
endeavors.  Further work on a similar theme was acquired as a purchase
award in 1951 by The Art Institute of Chicago, which holds three pieces by
the artist." 

"While it may not be as popular as the Lennon guitar, the Bono
manuscripts, the Kollwitz prints or the Heartfield posters, The Sky
Watcher, is the most artistically significant piece in the Museum's
collection of nearly 10,000 pieces," said Diane Grams, Executive Director
of The Peace Museum.   "It is a piece that any major art institute would
desire.  Yet, its presence in The Peace Museum's collection increases the
overall artistic importance of our collection and will help us to raise
needed conservation funds for often neglected and repressed works by
socially conscious artists."

The dedication will take place in conjunction with the opening of
"Paul Robeson: Hero of Black Resistance" an exhibition of photographs and
artifacts from The Peace Museum's permanent collection on display as part
of African American History Month in February and in conjunction with
centennial of Robeson's birthday on April 9, 1898.   The exhibition will
continue through April 18.  The Perkins sculpture will remain on permanent
display. 

Tickets for the dedication party are available at The Peace
Museum, 314 W. Institute Place, Chicago, or by phone 312/440-1860.