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Posts Tagged ‘phoenix museum’

Black History Month in Downtown Phoenix

Thursday, January 21st, 2010

Black History Month in February is a wonderful time for all people to pay homage to past and current African American achievements, culture and leaders.

If you are interested in participating in Black History Month celebrations, lectures, expos, conferences and events in the downtown Phoenix area, here is a list of opportunities for you:

George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center Presents An Evening with Lonnie Bunch on Feb. 9

The George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center, a Phoenix-based museum which features exhibits showcasing the African American history and life, will host an evening with Lonnie G. Bunch, Ph.D., the founding director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC).

The event will include a talk by Dr. Bunch, a question and answer session, hors d’oeuvres, and an optional tour of the Carver Museum.

When: Feb. 9, 2010; 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Where: George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center, 415 East Grant St., Phoenix

Prior to his July 2005 appointment as director of NMAAHC, Bunch served as the president of the Chicago Historical Society, one of the nation’s oldest museums of history. Bunch has also held several positions at the Smithsonian including associate director for curatorial affairs at the National Museum of American History, and education specialist at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum.

“This event will be a must for anyone interested in knowing, preserving, and investing in their heritage,” said Dr. Matthew C. Whitaker, President of the Board, George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center.

2010 Arizona African American Legislative and Leadership Conference on Feb. 11-12 in Phoenix

The 2010 African American Legislative and Leadership Conference will be held on Feb. 11-12  at the Arizona State Capitol Complex, 1700 W. Washington St., Phoenix.

The mission of the African American Legislative Conference is to introduce African Americans to Arizona’s legislative processes and to engage them in providing new ideas and leadership for the state.

This year’s theme is “Passing the Flame to the Next Generation.”

Please visit the Web site below for more information and registration:

http://www.aallcaz.org

Black History Month Expo in Phoenix on Feb. 13

Join thousands of people from the community during the Black History Month Expo on Feb. 13 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the George Washington Cultural Center in Phoenix.

This is a free event!

Come experience the culture as the Black History Month Expo will have non-stop performances on stage, vendor booths and much more!

Special guests will be appearing throughout the day.

Please continue to visit the Black History Month section on my Web site – PhxSoul.com – for the most up-to-date information on Black History Month events in Downtown Phoenix and all over the Valley of the Sun!

Stepping Through The Wardrobe: The Heard Museum

Monday, September 14th, 2009

Here’s the deal.  

My sister and her two young kids were visiting recently from Chicago, and I was trying to finish writing the last few chapters of my latest young adult novel, Vanished. It’s the story of a young Hohokam Indian girl named Aiyana.  I needed to visit the Heard Museum to do some last-minute research. Convincing my sister to go with me to the museum was a piece of cake; my little niece and nephew? Not so much. Not when a sparkling pool with umpteen water toys beckoned within footsteps of my backdoor.     

So how do you get two tween kids to visit a museum? Hint: Don’t use the word museum. Call it an adventure

And the Heard Museum is all that and so much more.  

Whenever I visit the Heard Museum, I feel like Lucy in The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe stepping into a mysterious and wondrous land. The museum so effortlessly separates and yet connects all of the Native American cultures: Hohokam, Navajo, Pima, Gila, Hopi, Apache. When you stroll through each exhibit, it’s like reading the most beautiful of stories. I doubt there is a more comprehensive collection of Native American history anywhere. You learn about the richness of each culture, their histories, foods, crafts, clothes, even their legends.   

And the Hohokam exhibit, in particular, is fascinating. It displays the amazing history of Phoenix’s first residents along with theories as to how an entire culture simply vanished from the desert. How cool is it to be inches from the pottery made by someone’s hands 1,000 years ago? Or to look upon a braided belt worn around someone’s waist who worked the land where my house, conceivably, now sits?  

The hands-on Kids Exhibit at the Heard was a huge hit with my brood for obvious reasons, although I think my sister and I enjoyed it as much as my niece and nephew. At each exhibit, the voice of a young Native American child talks about his culture and then invites the child to bead a necklace, draw a picture, piece together a puzzle or simply just listen. I could have spent an entire day inside the Kids Exhibit. Easy. 

At the end of our visit, like the cherry on top of a hot fudge sundae, we stopped at the Heard’s Café just outside the front door to the museum. Definitely worth the time. And the price. The staff was friendly; the food, delicious. It didn’t have the institutional feel of many cafeterias you find at museums. In fact, I’d make a special trip downtown for the iced tea and the blue corn tostada salad alone. 

Instead of nagging us with “when are we leaving?” my niece and nephew have already asked (twice), “when are we going back?” 

Answer: As soon as possible. And next time we’ll allow more time to shop at the Museum Gift Store.

Tequila and Art: Heard Museum’s Monte Vista Club

Thursday, September 10th, 2009

I wanted to make one of my first official blog entries for Downtown Phoenix.com about two things I really like: tequila and art. Let’s face it, who doesn’t?

The Heard Museum’s Monte Vista Club (MVC) is looking for new members. What’s the MVC you ask? It’s a group of youngish professionals who enjoy contemporary art (seeing it, learning about it, etc.) and engaging with the community. They do fun stuff like visiting local artists’ studios, networking with Valley leaders and volunteering at local nonprofits. They also want you to consider joining! I’m helping kick off the fall season with the MVC, and to that end, we are holding the following event:

Tequila Tasting and Performance by Tierra Del Fuego!
Friday, October 16 during NU (Native + You) 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

This is your chance to find out more about the MVC! Enjoy live music by local band Tierra Del Fuego,
great contemporary art and tequila! The tequila tasting includes two brands and three tiers of tequila, and is held in the Heard Museum’s Central Courtyard. MVC representatives will be on hand to answer questions and process memberships.

The Tequila Tasting is $10 for non-MVC members and $5 for those who join the Monte Vista Club. Memberships begin at just $40 and include lots of benefits. You must be 21 to enjoy the tasting.

batmanisa-mexican-art
Art by Luis Gutierrez at Portland’s
In addition, my friend and local artist Luis Gutierrez has some excellent work on display at an establishment which serves tequila (among other things), Portland’s! You won’t be disappointed by this work, and you may even want some for yourself. (I always do!) Preview his work here.