Southern Illinois University Carbondale's Sharp Museum is organizing a national juried exhibition titled "Spooks or Spoofs," centered on cryptid-themed art. The exhibition runs from August 11 to December 21, 2026, and welcomes all media except AI-generated images. Artists may submit up to three works, with a requested donation of $5–$10 per entry. The submission deadline is July 1, with jury results announced by July 14. The juror is Jeremy Efroymson, an artist, collector, and amateur cryptozoologist. The museum's curator of exhibits, T. Lance, highlighted local Illinois legends such as Bigfoot, the Big Muddy Monster, and the Enfield horror as inspiration.
This exhibition matters because it bridges contemporary visual art with cryptozoology—a niche but culturally resonant field—while engaging the local community through regional folklore. It also honors the legacy of Loren Coleman, a prominent cryptozoologist who studied at SIU Carbondale in the 1960s. By inviting national submissions and excluding AI-generated work, the museum emphasizes traditional artistic skill and human creativity, reinforcing the role of university museums as platforms for both scholarly inquiry and public engagement.