Scottish jewels adorning Elmhurst museum again

It's not bagpipes, kilts or haggis, but it's still unmistakablyScottish.

"Scottish Jewelry" features more than 30 pieces of Highland craftfrom the mid-1800s to the early 20th century -- everything fromjewelry to wax stamp seals. It's part of the permanent collection ofthe Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art in Elmhurst.

Though many of the pieces have toured the country as part of othergem and mineral shows, it's been nine years since they were lastdisplayed at the museum.

"We tend to show cameos in the museum because they're morepopular," explains Lizzadro's director, Dorothy Asher. "People arenow buying reproductions of Scottish jewelry on the Internet, and soit's once again become collectible."

Delicately cut gems have always been the cornerstone of themuseum, and this exhibit is no exception. The collection featureslapidary of agate, jasper and cairngorm -- stones indigenous toScotland.

While the cut of the stones is the focus, another thing that setsthe pieces apart from other jewelry is the silverwork. Many piecesfeature clan markings, religious icons and Celtic imagery.

"The pieces are very unique and highly decorative," Asher says."You just don't see jewelry like this very often."

"Scottish Jewelry" runs though Jan. 2, 2005, at the LizzadroMuseum of Lapidary Art, 220 Cottage Hill, Elmhurst. Hours are 10 a.m.to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday and 1-5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $4 foradults, $3 for seniors, $2 for students and teens, and $1 forchildren ages 7-12. All are admitted free on Friday. Call (630) 833-1616; www.lizzadromuseum.org.

Idol of the tribe: The legends of Native Americans from the GreatLakes are explored in the exhibit On the Back of the Great Turtle:Native People of the Great Lakes, opening Sunday and running throughJan. 16, 2005, at the Mitchell Museum of the American Indian, 2600Central Park, Evanston. Admission is $5 for adults, $2.50 forseniors, students and children. Call (847) 475-1030;www.mitchellmuseum.org.

New spin on an ancient art: Milena Hughes of Evanston has made aname for herself with her modern interpretations of the Japanese artof Suminagashi. Loosely translated as "floating ink," the art formconsists of creating marbled designs on paper with water and ink. Herworks will be featured in New Branches from Ancient Roots at theJapan Information Center at the Consulate General of Japan, 737 N.Michigan. The free exhibit opens Monday. Through Sept. 24, her workswill be shown alongside Japanese artist Takaji Kurodo. Hughes' workswill be on display through Oct. 22. Call (312) 280-0430, or visitwww.chicago.us.emb-japan.go.jp/ jic.html.

All the plants fit to print: Rare botanical books from as far backas the 15th century are part of Plants in Print: The Age of BotanicalDiscovery, through Nov. 7 at the Chicago Botanic Garden on Lake-CookRoad in Glencoe. Admission is free; parking is $10. Fine artreproductions of some of the works also are for sale. The exhibit isopen daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Call (847) 835-5440;www.chicagobotanic.org. More information specific to the exhibit canbe found at www.plantsinprint.org.

Subtle beauty: Glass sculptures by Swedish artists Hakan Blomqvistand Karin Westman take center stage in the exhibit Subtle Traces ondisplay through Nov. 28 at the Swedish American Museum Center, 5211N. Clark. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and 11 a.m. to 4p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Admission is $3-$4; $10 per family. Call(773) 728-8111; www.samac.org.

Artistic revival: Pioneering Latino muralist Mario Castilloreinterprets, reprocesses and transforms his works from the 1960s and'70s in Mario Castillo: Minimalist Reassertions. The exhibit is ondisplay through Oct. 13 in Columbia College's Glass Curtain Gallery,1104 S. Wabash, on Mondays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.and Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.Admission is free. Call (312) 663-1600.