Through the centuries, people have devised imaginative puzzles to test our wits. Three-dimensional puzzles crafted of wood, metal, plastic and other durable materials are designed to be taken apart, rearranged or untangled. The exhibit “Fall to pieces: Ingenious mechanical puzzles from around the world,” debuts June 4 at Spurlock Museum of World Cultures and runs through July 21.
The exhibit is a selection of the world’s most famous mechanical puzzles that are artistic, creative and challenging. Enjoy their beauty and try your hand at solving some of them.
The guest community curator is local collector Philip Nyman, who has been collecting and studying mechanical puzzles since he was 7 years old. Join him for a brief talk and demonstrations at the exhibit on Sunday, June 23, at 2 p.m.
Spurlock Museum admission is free. The museum is located at 600 S. Gregory St., Urbana. For more information, see the museum’s website.