Month: August 2012

August 30, 2012 The Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian has commissioned a monumental outdoor sculpture by Oregon artist Rick Bartow (Wiyot/Mad River Band). The pair of wood carvings will act as key welcoming sentinels on the northwest corner of the museum overlooking the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Titled “We Were Always Here,” the work will be officially dedicated on the autumn equinox, Friday, Sept. 21, at 5:30 p.m. “We are honored to add these unique sculptures to our collection and our landscape,” said Kevin Gover (Pawnee), the museum’s director. “By greeting our visitors with indigenous imagery using traditional and natural resources, these works represent everything our museum stands for.” Carved using old-growth western red cedar from Washington state, Bartow’s sculptures represent traditional animals from the region’s indigenous creation stories. As Bartow explains: “The Welcoming Bear and Raven, Healer and Rascal sit atop the sculpture poles; one, slow and methodical, fiercely protective of her children, the other a playful, foible-filled teacher of great power. Both Bear and Raven are focused on water and salmon for serious reasons. The salmon reflect the health of the environment, in particular water, the source of all life. On each pole are repeated lower horizontal patterns that symbolize successive waves, generations following generations, an accumulation of wisdom and knowledge. The tree used for the sculptures is approximately 500 years old. The elders...

Music and Dance Performances, Hands-on Activities and Fun Sept. 15 August 30, 2012 Central American traditions will be celebrated at the Smithsonian’s Hispanic Heritage Month family day Saturday, Sept. 15, between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. at the National Museum of American History. The day will feature a sampling of music and dance performances as well as food demonstrations and hands-on arts and crafts. The Smithsonian Center for Education and Museum Studies brings together the National Museum of American History, the Smithsonian Latino Center and the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden to present the Central American Traditions Family Day. The museum’s terrace, which faces the National Mall, will feature fair tables that include demonstrations of foods such as pupusas and tamales, traditional weaving from Guatemala using a back strap loom and musical and dance performances, including the New York-based band, Bodoma. Inside, activities include designing a family bandera (flag), making alfombras or carpets, which are temporary artworks made with sawdust and based on a 400-year-old Guatemalan tradition, a lecture on Central American ceramics with Alex Benitez, archeologist and George Mason University professor, and engaging in conversations about immigration based on objects in the museum’s teaching collections. Below is a full schedule of events for the Central American Traditions Family Day: Ongoing Activities Fair Tables (Mall Terrace) Immigration Cart Conversations at the “American Stories” exhibition (second floor, East Wing) Design...

August 29, 2012 After five years of planning and construction, the National Zoo will open the new American Trail exhibit to the public Saturday, Sept. 1, at noon. The renovated area in the extensive lower valley between Elephant Trail and Amazonia will transport visitors to the Pacific Northwest where they will come face-to-face with California sea lions and seals. The new trail is also home to pelicans, industrious beavers, playful otters, the iconic bald eagle, new intelligent ravens and two stunning new American gray wolves. The total cost of American Trail is $42 million. Many of the American Trail inhabitants represent species that have rebounded after coming close to extinction. “American Trail is a celebration of our country’s spirit and, in true Smithsonian tradition, a showcase for ‘living’ American Treasures,” said Dennis Kelly, director of the Smithsonian’s National Zoological Park. “Our visitors can get to know their native wildlife and learn what they can do to help conserve our country’s gems.” American Trail highlights include: A 300,000-gallon sea lion pool and a 125,000-gallon seal pool. A wave machine keeps the water in constant motion, providing sensory stimulation for the animals. The pools offer the visitors split-level and above-water viewing areas. A new wolf yard that provides a number of unparalleled views of the Zoo’s two gray wolves. A specially designed tide pool exhibit offers visitors the chance to dip...