To Guides from the Education Department
From Jaclyn’s Desk……..
Ya’at’eeh!
I hope this finds you all doing well. This fall has been full of Frida Frenzy. If you haven’t had your fill you can still purchase tickets to the special dinner available on December 4 in the Steele Auditorium. Tickets are $45 and available here.
This weekend we are hosting the first of a series of three studio times with artist who are taking part in the Confluence: Inter-Generational Collaborations exhibit. They will be working in the Lincoln Gallery from 12:30am – 4pm both Saturday and Sunday. This weekend multi-media artist Klee Benally (Navajo), Michael Teller Ornelas (Textile/Computer Programming) and Darylene Martin (Fashion Design) will be working with their mentors on their co-created projects. You are welcome to stop in and say hello. There will be times in December (27-29) and January (9-10) when artist will be here too. I will keep you posted as this evolves.
The exhibit, “Gifted: Recent Additions to the Heard Collection” will have one walk-through on Friday, December 18 at 9:30am. We will have a curator talk, followed by time in the gallery.
Overheard in the gallery…one of the strongest pieces in the HOME: Native Peoples in the Southwest exhibit is the “Indigenous Evolution” art fence. This piece is so symbolic of Native innovation and serves as a homage to the living fences found here in the southwest made of saguaro ribs and ocotillo. Recently, it was mentioned to me that a docent had relayed on a tour that the fence represented totem poles. This is not part of the interpretation of this fence. If this was part of its story we would find Northwest coast iconography in the poles. Instead we see numerous aspects of life in the southwest bio-region from the insects and birds to the plants.
Lastly, I’d like to extend a friendly reminder we no longer allow the use of lasers on tours in the museum. This is an effort to project the objects.
On a final note, at the Education Council Meeting this week, I was made aware not all Las Guias knew Darian Begay resigned from his position as public programs manager in late October. He spent the last couple days here at the Heard orchestrated a vibrant Mercado de las Artes. He even picked out a gorgeous signature piece for next year’s show that you all will love. Should you have cards or notes you want to pass along to him you can leave those with Shaliyah or I and we can send them to him.
In light of his absence, Shaliyah and I are working to fill requests and ask you to please remember to help us keep the galleries stocked. Should there be materials that need to be replenished, you can leave a note with Admissions staff and they will let us know. In general, I ask you please be patient with your requests of our department as we work in this transition period. Thank you in advance.
Thank you so much for all your effort, dedication and work. Sending you the best as you start the holiday season.
Best,
Jaclyn
From Betty Murphy’s Desk………
Billie Jane Baguley Library and Archives Collection Spotlight for November 2015
November is Native American Heritage Month and an appropriate time to acknowledge and applaud the contributions of American Indians to literature and the arts. These four titles were taken from the extensive collection of works by Native American authors held by the library. Currently on display in the public reading area of the library, these particular titles were chosen because each of the writers has a connection to Arizona. Through memoir, poetry, essay and folktale, these selections display a rich tapestry of artistic expression that preserves the unique heritage of each author while enriching the collective heritage through the written word. Please feel free to visit the library to review these or any other items of interest in the library and archives collections. For more details or additional collection information, click on the Search Catalog link located in the pull-down menu of the library tab on the Heard website.
Antelope Woman : an Apache folktale
Lacapa, Michael
Flagstaff, Arizona : Northland Publishing, ©1992
Heard call number OVW:E99.A6 L32 1992
Drifting through ancestor dreams : new and selected poems
Lomatewama, Ramson
Flagstaff, Ariz. : Entrada Books, [1993]
Heard call number PS3562.O4664 D7 1993
Turquoise ledge : [a memoir]
Silko, Leslie Marmon
New York : Viking, c2010
Heard call number PS3569.I44 Z46 2010
No parole today
Tohe, Laura
Albuquerque, NM : West End Press : Distributed by University of New Mexico Press, 1999
Heard call number PS3570.O423 N662 1999
From Lynn Bullock’s Desk……
BOOKS & MORE NOTES FOR NOVEMBER
As you know, the opening weekend of Frida was a smashing success! To those of you who had to brave the hordes on Saturday, congratulations for surviving, and thank you! Several of you also contributed to our book store sales that weekend (we sold more than $11,ooo worth of merchandise), so we certainly thank you for that!
We have definitely managed to attract the Hispanic community with the Frida exhibit. I believe that many of the people who came to the opening bought memberships, which means they will be coming back to the Museum, and I’m sure your efforts contributed to their enjoyment. Since the Phoenix area has such a large Hispanic population, this is significant for the Heard.
Now for something to look forward to: Kathy Howard and Diana Pardue are in the process of finalizing the book that will accompany “Over the Edge”, which is the Harvey-related exhibit that opens in April. I’ve seen the preliminary pages for the book, and it will be very colorful and informative.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
From Sue Snyder’s Desk….
First, thank you to Sheila Mehlem and Joan Jasso for an excellent array of speakers and presenters at Tune Up on Oct. 12. It is our hope that people enjoyed the chance to connect with LG who have been elsewhere over the summer and to be informed about up-coming exhibits for the year as well as construction plans for 2016.
If you were unable to attend, your folder from the event has been placed in your file folder in the Guild Room. Lucille Shanahan and Evie Smith have put a great deal of effort into updating the rules and procedures of LG (think LOA, Peer Review and touring guidelines and sub procedures). Here it all is “tightened up” and in print. No need to go online to find it. There is also a new LG roster and touring schedule. We have found that some email addresses and phones have changed and they will be online.
Reta Severtson did table decorations and Jane Przeslica coordinated the refreshments. Again, a large number of people put a lot of effort into the day. Thanks to each and every one of them.
We are considering two dates for next year. They are Monday Oct 17 or 31. Steele Auditorium is not available on the Oct 24 due to Moon Dance. If you have a preference, please let me know as I will be requesting a date for the master calendar by Dec. 1.
Second, a big thank you to Linda Hefter for the October SW Short Course and to Marilyn Brooks for the Apache Short Course in November. Both were very well attended and took a lot of planning. Sidney Wilson facilitated on both and Mary Lee Madison was the main facilitator on the Apache class which had a registration of 93. Both classes are very instrumental in drawing students for our Las Guias classes. Thank you to all involved. There are two more planned. Another SW Short Course will begin on Sat mornings in January taught by Lucille Shanahan and a Hopi Class taught by Jackie Kemmer in April.
Third, thank you to Rusty Hale and her group of dedicated volunteers who help with Night Tours. This year from September to August the group has staffed 75 events. These are primarily corporate groups who rent out the Heard facilities. This brings in revenue and showcases the Heard to audiences from all over the US as well as internationally. It also includes First Fridays of which there have been 11. We skipped March due to the Indian Fair and Market. First Fridays have been well attended and have attracted a young following. The corporate groups are usually at the Heard from 6-7 or 8pm and might be a great reason to plan an evening in Phoenix with dinner afterward at some of the wonderful restaurants in the area. If you feel an inclination to try this fun activity, please call Rusty. She is present for many of these events. Even if you only volunteer for a couple of events, it would help tremendously.
Education Council meet on Weds Nov. 18 shortly after the regular Guild Meeting. The agenda was centered on Speaker’s Bureau and updating our equipment. After much discussion over the last month or so, it was decided to purchase thumb drives for each of the presenters. John Nuerenberg will load all of the programs including the scripts on the thumb drives. They will be available about Dec 1st. We have several new volunteers and would like to welcome Pat Blix, Rosalie Pyle, Sheila Mehlem, Jane Przeslica and Mary Grace Powell to the fold. We hope to have a couple of new programs and several updates in the next few months. Frank Koerner has been doing a great job in place of Dorothy Sullivan who has done the scheduling job for four years. We are keeping Pat and Dorothy in our thoughts and prayers. If you wish to be a part of this group even for a few presentations to groups around your area, we hope that we have made the process easier so that people do not need to come to the Heard to pick up and then return equipment. You have it with you.
Next Ed Council meeting will be approximately 15 minutes after the January 20th Guild meeting in Encanto. Our main topic will be Peer Review with Jack Brock and Frank Koerner leading the discussion and of course any other issues pertaining to Las Guias.
Lastly, please save the date for the Docent Exchange on Thursday, January 21, 2016 at the Desert Botanical Gardens from 10am until noon. Phyllis Manning is in charge and it will again be an enjoyable adventure.
Thanks and have a wonderful Thanksgiving—
Sue Snyder
From Shaliyah’s Desk….
Hello Las Guias,
Thank you as always for your work on the museum floor, your patience and Flexibility are greatly admired and appreciated! I’m sure all of you have noticed the pick-up in school tour volume. I am extremely excited and proud that we are experiencing higher school tour traffic, what is happening is our mission being put to use for our younger generation!
Also overheard on the museum floor, in HOME to be more specific, was a not so eloquent way or recounting the Spanish invasion of the Southwest. While we all know the techniques of their discipleship were at most questionable, we need to be mindful and respectful of those who may be on our tours who are from religious backgrounds that are being spoken of. We all know it is a part of history, this story must be told in effort for it to not repeat again but let’s stay away from bashing religious institutions 😉 If anyone needs help on how to approach this please let me know. I have a several yearlong relationship now with the Phoenix Catholic Diocese and personally tour any group that they bring to the museum because of this very reason.
I hope you all have a happy and blessed Thanksgiving!
Shaliyah
Reminders
*Please keep tours to 45 minutes. Gallery Talks, 20 minutes.
*Please remember to check the galleries and replenish activities if necessary.
*Please rove in galleries and engage with public, please avoid standing around the info desk.
*Please obtain subs in a timely manner, not one week before.
*ABSOLUTELY NO FOOD OR DRINK IN THE GALLERIES, THIS INCLUDES THE INFO DESK!!
*Please arrive at the info desk 15 minutes before your tour starts, not 3, 2, or 1 minute before 😉
Exhibit Schedule
Home: Native People in the Southwest – long term
We Are! Arizona’s First People – long term
Every Picture Tells a Story– long term
Remembering Our Boarding School Days – long term
Around the World – long-term
“The Houser/Haozous Family: Celebrating a Century” – through April 3, 2015
“Frida Kahlo, Her Photos” – Through February 8, 2016
“Las Favoritas de Frida” – Through September 25, 2016
“Beautiful Games: American Indian Sport and Art” – through November 2015