3rd Annual Jon Davey Memorial Dome Glow to Illuminate Carbondale with Art, Memory, and Imagination
Date/Time
Date(s) - 10/29/2025 - 10/31/2025
6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Location
R. Buckminster Fuller Dome Home Museum
Categories
CARBONDALE, Ill. – The Fuller Dome Home Museum, in collaboration with the SIU Craft Shop and the SIU
University Honors Program, will host the 3rd Annual Jon Davey Memorial Dome Glow on Saturday,
November 1, from 6–9 p.m., with a preview night on Friday, October 31, from 6–9 p.m., at the historic
Fuller Dome Home at Forest and Cherry Streets in Carbondale.
The Dome Glow honors the late Dr. Jon Davey, beloved SIU architecture professor and past Dome president,
who for nearly two decades quietly cultivated a Halloween tradition that blended art, architecture, and
community. Each year, he invited his students to carve architectural masterpieces into pumpkins, think the
Taj Mahal, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, or the Pyramids of Giza, and then, donning his signature cape, he would
sit outside the Dome on Halloween night, surrounded by the glowing designs. It was a sight to behold, and one
that became a cherished memory for many students, colleagues, and community members.
Now, three years after his passing, the Dome Glow continues his legacy of creative wonder. This year’s event
will feature a walk-around display of glowing pumpkins and special installations, transforming the Dome
grounds into an immersive experience of light and imagination.
Participants are invited to enter pumpkins in one of three categories:
• Architecture Pumpkins – inspired by architectural or cultural landmarks
• Memory Pumpkins – carved in honor of a loved one, in the spirit of Día de los Muertos
• Creative Category – original designs that surprise and inspire
Prizes will be awarded for the top pumpkins, including custom art prints of the Dome Home generously
donated by Jared Davey, Jon’s son and a designer who continues his father’s creative legacy.
The Dome Glow is a fundraiser for the Fuller Dome Home, with a suggested $5 donation for adults
(children attend free).
To help participants prepare, a Pumpkin Carving Workshop will take place at the SIU Craft Shop (Student
Center, lower level) on Wednesday, October 29, with two sessions: 3–4:30 p.m. and 4:30–6 p.m. You may
attend one or both sessions. Some pumpkins provided, but participants are also invited to bring their own.
Pumpkin Drop-Off Information:
Participants can drop off pumpkins at the University Honors Program Office (Morris Library Room 180)
during office hours leading up to the event, or at the Fuller Dome Home on October 31 between 3:30–4:30
p.m. Individual drop-off arrangements can also be made by contacting Elizabeth Donoghue at
elizabeth.donoghue@siu.edu.
Students, alumni, faculty, community members, and all who were touched by Jon Davey’s spirit of creative
play are invited to take part—by carving, donating, or simply coming to experience the Glow.
Presented by:
Fuller Dome Home Museum • SIU Craft Shop • SIU University Honors Program