Holdings Fine Arts and Applied Arts University Bands Nature's Table Collection Finding Aid Holdings Fine Arts and Applied Arts University Bands Nature's Table Collection Finding Aid By Elizabeth Hartman, Thornton Miller, and Somer Pelczar
Title: Nature's Table Collection, 1979-1999
ID: 12/9/144
Primary Creator: Nature's Table (1971-1979)
Extent: 4.25 cubic feet
Arrangement:
Textiles are arranged by date, with undated items following.
Paper and photographic records are arranged according to the original order of the materials.
Date Acquired: 08/17/2015. More info below under Accruals.
Subjects: Art, Bluegrass Music, Blues-rock music, Clothing and Textiles, Jazz, Local History, Popular Music--Illinois--Urbana-Champaign, Restaurants
Languages: English
Consists of textiles, paper records and photographs, audio recordings, and digitized scrapbook, documenting Nature's Table restuarant and music venue in Urbana, Illinois from 1979-1991. Of note are rare recordings of local jazz performers Ron Dewar, Guido Sinclair, Joan Hickey, the Sorgum Quartet, the Memphis Nighthawks, the Jeff Helgesen Quintet, the Tom Paynter Trio, the Jack Webb Band, Condition Blue, and Ray Sasaki and Morgan Powell.
Nature's Table was a small health food restaurant and jazz club in Urbana, Illinois, that was operated by Terry Masar from 1979 to 1991. It was located on Goodwin Street across from the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts. In addition to providing customers in the local and campus communities with reasonably priced meals, inside the restaurant patrons could attend live shows and also view and purchase art produced by local artists. Featuring live performances by many local and regional bands, the restaurant created a lively environment for budding new musicians and artists. Nature's Table was known for attracting nationally recognized jazz artists, such as Von Freeman, Herb Ellis, Richard 'Groove' Holmes, Peter 'Madcat" Ruth, and Jon McNeil, who frequently performed there. It was also considered a home for many local jazz, blues, alternative rock, and bluegrass ensembles, including a young Alison Krauss. Nature's Table was built on campus property, and in 1991 the university forced the closure of the restaurant and venue to make way for a new Chemical and Life Science Lab building. Numerous reunions of the Nature's Table staff and the artists who frequently played there took place after its closing until Terry Masar passed away on October 23, 2011.
Art
Bluegrass Music
Blues-rock music
Clothing and Textiles
Jazz
Local History
Popular Music--Illinois--Urbana-Champaign
Restaurants
Repository: The Sousa Archives and Center for American Music
Accruals: Reel to reel recordings were donated to the Center by Paul Mueth February 27, 2019.
Acquisition Source: Donated by Jeff Machota and Sean Kutzko
Acquisition Method: Gift.
Accession number 2015.1209144.001.
Black t-shirt with white writing and graphics. "Nature's Table" written across the top of the front of the t-shirt. The center graphic features the word "FOOD" in black on what appears to be white steam coming from a ladle pouring soup into a bowl. The bottommost graphic features the word "JAZZ" written in block letters on stripes that represent music streaming from a saxophone. Below the graphics there is the following text, in white letters: "509 S. Goodwin, Urbana '87."
Accession number 2015.1209144.002.
Black t-shirt with white writing and graphics. "Nature's Table" written across the top of the front of the t-shirt. The center graphic features the word "FOOD" in black on what appears to be white steam coming from a ladle pouring soup into a bowl. The bottommost graphic features the word "JAZZ" written in block letters on stripes that represent music streaming from a saxophone. Below the graphics there is the following text, in white letters: "509 S. Goodwin, Urbana '87." Black t-shirt fabric is faded and white graphics show signs of wear.
Accession number 2015.1209144.003.
Red/dark salmon colored shirt with navy writing and graphics. "Nature's Table" written across the top of the front of the t-shirt. The center graphic features the word "FOOD" in navy on what appears to be steam coming from a ladle pouring soup into a bowl. The bottommost graphic features the word "JAZZ" written in block letters on strips that represent music streaming from a saxophone. Below the graphics there is the following text in navy letters: "509 S. Goodwin, Urbana '87."
Accession number 2015.1209144.004.
Yellow t-shirt with multi-colored, mostly green graphics. On the front of the shirt, written in green, is "Nature's Table." "Growing" from the text are orange carrots, red tomatoes, yellow corn, green peas, roots and root vegetables; a red bell pepper sits next to the text. On the back of the shirt is the same graphic, but in monochrome green.
Accession number 2015.1209144.005.
Very faded navy t-shirt with yellow, worn writing. A cursive, underlined "Jazz" is written; underneath it, "Nature's Table."
Accession number 2015.1209144.007.
Stained white t-shirt with black writing. A cursive, underlined "Jazz" is written; underneath it, "Nature's Table."
Accession number 2015.1209144.008.
Stained red t-shirt with navy, worn writing. A cursive, underlined "Jazz" is written; underneath it, "Nature's Table."
Accession number 2015.1209144.009.
Grey t-shirt with black writing. A cursive, underlined "Jazz" is written; underneath it, "Nature's Table."
Accession number 2015.1209144.012.
Very faded navy t-shirt with worn, white writing and graphics. Written on the front is "Catfish and Carter Band," with a catfish graphic swimming through musical notes and bubbles underneath.
Accession number 2015.1209144.013.
Pink t-shirt with white writing. "Sorgum" is written in cursive across the top of the front of the t-shirt, with "QUARTET" just below.
Accession number 2015.1209144.014.
Red t-shirt with white writing. "Sorgum" is written in cursive across the top of the front of the t-shirt, with "QUARTET" just below.
Accession number 2015.1209144.005.
White sweatshirt with multi-colored, mostly green graphics. On the front of the shirt, written in green, is "Nature's Table." "Growing" from the text are orange carrots, yellow corn, green peas, roots and yellow root vegetables; a red bell pepper sits next to the text.
Accession number 2015.1209144.010.
Navy sweatshirt with yellow lettering. A cursive, underlined "Jazz" is written; underneath it, "Nature's Table."
Accession number 2015.1209144.011.
Navy sweatshirt with aqua lettering. A cursive, underlined "Jazz" is written; underneath it, "Nature's Table."
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