Museum of Northern Arizona — Grateful for what we have at MNA

Message from Mary –

In the midst of a difficult year, I’ve found myself frequently thinking how blessed we are at MNA. So many people help out to keep this museum strong — the volunteers who tend our gardens, the docents who provide a welcoming and informative museum experience, the members and donors who support us financially. This has been a hard year for museums and many may not survive, but MNA will, with your help. With Giving Tuesday coming up, and year-end donations to be made, please help MNA reach our fundraising goals. There are many ways to support MNA, including direct donations, upgrading your membership, doing your holiday shopping at the museum shop, or buying tickets to the art raffle.

Thank you for your support of MNA.

Mary Kershaw

Executive Director & CEO

Museum of Northern Arizona

White Mountain Apache Crown Dancers

Nov. 28, 2 pm streaming on Facebook

These Apache dancers bring a tradition of healing that they draw directly from the mountains. The dancers summon the mountain spirits to protect them from enemies and epidemic diseases. This special livestreamed performance is supported with funding provided by AZ Humanities.

Drawing on Dec. 22

Three stunning pieces of art are being raffled off to support MNA. With a small donation and some good luck you could own a priceless work of art. Tickets prices start at $20 for the “Monument Valley” mixed media by Chelsea Kavanagh, $50 for the “Evening Sun” watercolor by Baje Whitethorne Sr, and $100 for the “Hoka Hey, Lakotas” bronze sculpture by CB Mahaney. Learn more about the art and buy your tickets at https://mna.cbo.io 

Dec. 3-6 and Dec. 10-13, 10 am to 5 pm

Native artists will be showing and selling their works in small pop-up shops scattered across the MNA campus. Shoppers will be able to stroll from shop to shop in the wintry fresh air, meeting the artists and finding unique jewelry, baskets, pottery, weavings and other handcrafted items. This is an important opportunity to support artists whose income has been impacted by the pandemic.

Now on Facebook

View the work of young Native artists who entered MNA’s 2020 Junior Indigenous Art Exhibition and Competition. The judges will announce the winners next week, but you can comment on your favorites right now on the MNA Facebook page.

Missed a program? It might be online.

Most MNA programs can be found afterward in the video section of the MNA Facebook page, and some are also on the MNA YouTube channel. Here are links to recent videos:

Family Fridays: Toys

First & Third Fridays at 2:30 pm via Facebook Live

MNA educator Mari Soliday presents a short education program, including activities to try at home. Past programs can be found in the video section of the MNA Facebook page under the playlist Family Fridays and STEAM Saturdays.

Dec. 4 – Traditional toys

Dec. 18 – Solstice

Jan. 15 – Snow

Woven wonders

This full-color catalog highlights the beautiful tapestries by award-winning artist D.Y. Begay from the Museum of Northern Arizona exhibition, Tselani/Terrain. This show featured 23 tapestries woven from 1994 to 2017 and was the largest showing of her work in one place to date. Books are easy to ship or can be picked up curbside. Browse online to find some good reads for the winter.

YOLO, so bolo

You only live once, so you might as well do it with style. This classy bolo by Michael & Cassandra Dukepoo combines Coral, Green Jade, & Turquoise. For more jewelry and gifts that fit equally well in a stocking or the mail, visit the shop online, or in person when the museum is open. Every purchase supports MNA and the artists.

Give one of your favorite things

A membership to MNA makes a great gift for family, friends, and neighbors. It’s simple to give and comes with your choice of gift card. They’ll get a year of access to all the museum exhibitions, programs, and events. And you get to support MNA!