Museum of Northern Arizona — March events and exhibitions

Message from Mary –  As I read this ‘Museum E-News’, I am struck by the wonderful diversity of activity here at the Museum of Northern Arizona. Our Venture trips are an opportunity to go out and about in the amazing landscape with experts who will open your eyes to new ways of seeing and understanding the world around us. As stewards of some wonderful landscapes, we invite you to help us improve the Rio de Flag Nature Ttrail, or to learn more about our ambitious plan to conserve 90 acres of land owned by the museum, and to join us in this endeavor if you are able. Here inside the museum, our STEAM events encourage learning about Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math within the museum context. Slow Art Day is one of my favorite events. We invite you to give yourself the gift of time by getting up close and personal with some of the art on display in a deep, creative dive. As ever, I welcome your thoughts about the Museum. Please drop me an email if you would like to make suggestions, offer ideas or simply share your experience. You can reach me on mkershaw@musnaz.org.
Mary Kershaw
Executive Director & CEO
Museum of Northern Arizona
Thursday, March 9, 6:30 pm
Mary D. Fisher Theatre, Sedona
Native American pottery artist Jennifer Tafoya and gallery owner Charles King discuss the nature of Puebloan clays and the process of sgraffito, a decorative technique Tafoya uses to embellish her pottery. Tickets are $8 for members,
$10 for non-members. Reserve a seat at
Saturday, April 4, 3-5 pm
Discover the joy of looking at art during this international day dedicated to a mindful experience of art. Gather at the museum at 3 pm to look at about 5 pieces of art for 5-10 minutes each, then meet with other participants and Fine Art curator Alan Petersen for a discussion of the art and your experience. The event is free with Museum admission
Register now : Spring Break STEAM Camp
Monday-Friday, March 16-20
This day camp for kids ages 5-12 runs during the FUSD spring break. From 9 am – 4 pm campers will be engaged in a variety of art & science projects, outdoor activities, and field trips with educator Lorie Cavalli and guest artists. See details
STEAM Second Saturday: Archaeology Day
Saturday, March 14, 2 pm
Local archaeologists and demonstrators will be at MNA for an afternoon of exploring how prehistoric people lived. Try out ancient technology and weapons and create your own pinch pot. Part of Archaeology Awareness month. The STEAM Second Saturday is included with museum admission and open to kids of all ages.
Liberating Landscape
Opens March 14
Inspired and empowered by the dramatic landscapes of the American Southwest, women took the lead in developing the arts of the region from 1900 to 1940. Come see the pottery, photographs, paintings, and drawings of six women artists and learn about their remarkable lives: Nampeyo, Kate Cory, Mary-Russell Ferrell Colton, Nora Lucy Mowbray Cundell, Harriet Morton Holmes, and Lillian Wilhelm Smith.
The Force Is With Our People
Extended through Monday, May 25
Whether you’re a Star Wars fan, an art lover, or interested in Native cultures, this exhibition has something to engage everyone. The exhibition features work by more than 20 contemporary Native artists who were influenced by Star Wars and explores the reasons Star Wars resonates with them. It includes fine art, jewelry, pottery, and a full-size robot. Learn more here. Teachers can email the tour coordinator about special school group visits.
Friday, April 17, 2020
Join experienced river guide and instructor, Derik Spice, for a day long paddle adventure in an inflatable kayak or a stand-up paddleboard down a gentle section of Arizona’s Wild and Scenic River. This unique riparian habitat offers stunning scenery, a variety of fish and wildlife, and beautiful bedrock canyons. Sign up by calling 928-774-5211 ext. 222 or Online.
Thursday, April 23, 2020
The West Fork of Oak Creek Canyon contains one of our rare Arizona streams that flow year-round. As such, it is an excellent location to explore riparian ecosystems, landscape evolution, and the role of groundwater on the Colorado Plateau. This trip is also timed for the warbler migration, so it is a great opportunity for birdwatching.Sign up by calling 928-774-5211 ext. 222 or Online.
Saturday, May 2, 2020
Slate Mountain is a small, extinct volcanic dome. The 5- mile trail to the top spirals around the mountain, providing views of the San Francisco Peaks Volcanic Field as it progresses through three of our four forest life zones. In early May we may see wildflowers at the base of the mountain. Sign up by calling 928-774-5211 ext. 222 or Online.
Explore the Grand Canyon
Sign up for one of these multi-day trips to hike or raft the Grand Canyon with expert guides. An unforgettable adventure in the Canyon makes a memorable gift. Sign up by calling 928-774-5211 ext. 222 or Online.
Trail work day
Saturday, March 14, 8-1 pm
Come help improve the nature trail where the Rio de Flag runs between the rock walls of a small canyon beside the museum. Volunteer tasks will range from weeding and pruning to heavy labor. The improved trail will reopen with new signage on April 11. Email msoliday@musnaz.org for details and to volunteer.
Community members are raising funds to conserve a key 18-acre parcel within the 90-acre Colton Meadows. Parcel D is sandwiched between two pieces of land already slated for permanent conservation easements. If Parcel D can be conserved, it preserves for perpetuity a continuous wildlife migration route and human social trail. So far more than $100,000 of the needed $600,000 for parcel D has been raised. Find out more by watching the video of the Feb. 16 public meeting or emailing meadows@musnaz.org.
Namingha Institute applications
Applications due March 31
Five art students will be accepted to this week-long paid residency on the MNA campus. The sSelected students will work with Master Artist Baje Whitethorne Sr. to explore their artistic interests through various media. For details go to musnaz.org/namingha/
Festival artist applications
Artists can now apply to show and sell their work at the Zuni Festival May 23 & 24, Hopi Festival July 4 & 5, or the Navajo Festival August 8 & 9. These weekend festivals provide an opportunity to meet, demonstrate, and sell your art and compete in a juried competition. Requirements, deadlines and artist applications are all online: Zuni application, Hopi application, Navajo application.
Stories in paint
Each work of art in the Museum Shop is created by local artists and many have fascinating stories. “Two Yeis” was painted by Diné artist Al Bahe. Bahe has been painting since 1991, working out of his studio in Shonto, AZ. He frequently portrays Yei figures wrapped in blankets, because the blankets cover sensitive details of traditional dress that tribal elders consider inappropriate to show. See more of Bahe’s paintings in the Museum Shop or online.
Celebrating extraordinary women
March 8 is International Woman’s Day, a fitting time to read
Ladies of the Canyons: A League of Extraordinary Women and Their Adventures in the American Southwest. These plucky, intrepid women were transformed in the first decades of the twentieth century by the people and the landscape of the American Southwest. Find more fascinating books like this when browsing the shelves of the Museum Bookstore or online.
Select Museum of Northern Arizona to support MNA with every purchase when you buy through Amazonsmile.