So many things so little time!
As per normal last month, October was busy but I worked hard, had a lot of fun and made a lot of new connections.
At the beginning of the month I attended the Annual American Indian Celebration at the Antelope Valley Indian Museum. This rare and unique eclectic folk art structure is located in northeastern Los Angeles County. The museum houses objects created by the American Indian cultures of the western Great Basin, California, and the Southwest. The Celebration featured Native American dancers and many Native American artists who work with the museum and staff on a regular basis. The Museum was open to the public during this event. Due to budget cuts in California this state park is on the list to be closed in 2012; the museum is trying to independently raise funds in hopes of keeping it open longer. This is such a jewel of the desert, so please take the time to visit their website.
Front of the museum. Built in the 1920s among rock formations in the Mojave desert.
Some of the wall murals by Howard Arden Edwards, a self-taught artist. He homesteaded 160 acres on Piute Butte and in 1928, Edwards, his wife and teenage son began building a home, which included a special area he called his Antelope Valley Indian Research Museum.
The balcony that leads to a trap door to Edwards work room.
The museum is just covered in artifacts. There are so many pieces and some are in hanging from the walls, ceiling, on the floor and leaning against the walls.
When Howard Arden Edwards started Antelope Valley Indian Research Museum, he romanticized Native American history, which was very common of researchers of his day. Many of his displays from the 1920s are still left intact. While a portion of his info and stories attached to the objects are not correct, the displays and artifacts of of great historical value. This is one of the few displays that his information on pendant making was correct and beautifully displayed.
Beautiful examples of patterns on pottery. Some pots if broken over time were turned into pendants by the Native Americans.
Later on in the month I helped out at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County’s Reptile and Amphibian Appreciation Day (Otherwise known as RAAD). Leslie Gordon, Manager of Vertebrate Living Collections and a talented and awesome animal handler in her own right, did a wonderful job getting everything set up and organized. It was a great show and it pulled in over 3,600 people. 🙂
RAAD 2011. We didn’t get to take many photos because we were so busy. We were placed in the Grand Foyer that houses the museum’s iconic “Dueling Dinosaurs” complete skeletons of a Tyrannosaurus Rex and Triceratops locked in battle. This photo is looking above our reptile enclosures.
Then it was off to Midland, Michigan, for a business meeting testing out wonderful new products to be showcased at the Winter CHA 2012 show. I really loved Midland; the town really goes all out for a country style Halloween, has a wonderful Pumpkin Festival and is just a overall friendly place.
80 pound plus pumpkin, one of the “smaller” ones grown in town.
Between all of these activities I have been researching, finding and introduced to a lot of new and/or innovative art products. In the next few weeks I will be posting about these products and the great applications possible with them.
Until next time, Safe Travels!