search articles:     from the issue of August 21, 2008         Kendall's 'Purpose of Labor' opens Aug. 26 Gail Kendall, professor of art, will present new ceramic artworks in "The Purpose of Labor," opening Aug. 26 at the Sheldon Museum of Art.     ON DISPLAY - This ceramic charger is included in Gail Kendall's "The Purpose of Labor" exhibit at the Sheldon. Courtesy photo. Works in the exhibition respond to Robert Bly's translation of "The Kabir Book," ecstatic poems by the Islamic Sufi poet Kabir. "I have been drawn to the imagery in many of these poems since I learned about them in the mid-1980s and felt this exhibition would provide me with a wonderful opportunity to create a group of works around a theme," Kendall said. "This theme is allowing me to expand on recent work as well as consider a series of new vessels."   Kendall   The large chargers in the exhibition represent a new direction in embellishment in Kendall's work. Kendall will speak at Sheldon about her artwork in two gallery talks that will cover different topics. The first talk is 5:30 p.m. Sept. 16. The second, part of the Sheldon's First Friday Reception, is 5:30 p.m. Oct. 3. "The Purpose of Labor" runs through Dec. 7. Active in the arts in Lincoln since she came to UNL in 1987, Kendall helped establish one of the country's premiere ceramics programs at UNL. For more information, go to www.sheldon.unl.edu. GO TO: ISSUE OF AUGUST 21 ARTS HEADLINES FOR AUGUST 21 Great Plains gallery hosts Farrell's photo exhibition American Life in Poetry 'Celebration Threads' gala is Aug. 24 Cornhusker Marching Band event is Aug. 22 GETTING READY Kendall's 'Purpose of Labor' opens Aug. 26 Multi-media exhibit featured at Sheldon Sundance award winner plays the Ross 733275S38354X