To Guides from the Education Department
January 2015
Heard Museum Guide Schedule: http://heard.org/volunteers/schedule.html
From Jaclyn’s Desk……
Yá’at’eeh Las Guias,
Happy New Year to you all, I hope this finds you doing well and happily touring the galleries. I have several updates for you about upcoming events:
First, though it is a new year we still have some old problems. As we move into this next season I continue to hear reports about long tours. Specifically tours running 55 to 85 minutes – 85 MINUTES!! This is outrageous! I understand you have great enthusiasm for American Indian art & culture. But the reality is our guests deserve time to explore other parts of the museum and long tours like this are a hindrance to them having that experience. It must also be said most of what your role requires is being able to be disciplined about how you disseminate the knowledge that you’ve worked hard to obtain. Yes, you spent months in training; yes, you have visited numerous Native communities; yes, you foster your knowledge about Native cultures with reading stacks of books and through conversations with Native peoples everywhere. BUT you need to find a way to sculpt a tour that is digestible for our visitors. I am asking all to FOCUS on how you can tell a story so it is respectful of your guests’ time and your fellow Las Guias members’ commitment as well. A 45-minute tour is possible and thank you in advance for helping us solve this issue.
Second, we will have a walk-through next Friday, January 30 at 9:30am and 1:30pm. We will meet in Monte Vista briefly. There will be opening comments by Henry Walt – consultant on the “Time Exposures” exhibit. Please note due to Mr. Walt’s time, there will not be a PowerPoint presentation and most of our time will be spent in the Jacobsen Gallery with him speaking to the photographs on display.
Third, if you are planning to attend the Indigenous Stereotypes in Sports Symposium please reserve your tickets on line, space is limited. As members you and a plus one will be admitted for free. Subsequent guests will be $5. Tickets here: http://heard.org/event/indigenous-stereotypes-symposium/
Fourth, I want to continue to invite you to the First Friday events. While this series is meant to engage new audiences, you are champions of the Heard and having you take part in a program so you can share your experience is a valuable asset. Not surprisingly, the tours are still a highlight of a person’s visit even on a “hustle & bustle” night. If you would like to volunteer please contact Rusty. Thank you to her and all the guides who have made time to tour on First Fridays. Our next event is focused on kicking off Hoop Dance, join us! http://heard.org/firstfridays/
Lastly, we recently hosted a unique partnership between Zocalo Public Square and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History featuring a conversation between Hon. Sandra Day O’Connor and Anna Maria Chavez the CEO from Girl Scouts USA. Here is the website with a recap and links to both the podcast and the full video. http://www.whatitmeanstobeamerican.org/the-takeaway/the-women-of-the-american-west-dont-take-no-for-an-answer/
I am thankful for the work you all continue to do. I look forward to the start of a new calendar year and the various festivities we will share and be a part of this winter and spring.
Ahé’hee,
Jaclyn
From Betty Murphy’s Desk………
Billie Jane Baguley Library and Archives Collection Spotlight for January 2015
Time is running out to make your last visit to That’s The Way I Like It!, an exhibit that displays a wide variety of artists creating contemporary American Indian art. Here is a sampling of four books from the library collections that include interviews with, essays on or discussions of some of the artists on display in that exhibit. These titles consider, explore and review the themes and the artists involved in contemporary American Indian art today. 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.
I stand in the center of the good: interviews with contemporary Native American artists
Abbott, Lawrence, editor
Lincoln : University of Nebraska Press, c1994
Heard call number N6538.A4 I2 1994
Native American art in the twentieth century: makers, meanings, histories
Rushing, W. Jackson III, editor
London ; New York : Routledge, 1999
Heard call number N6538.A4 N28 1999
Native vanguard: contemporary masters, July 26-August 23, 2013
Santa Fe, NM : Zane Bennett Contemporary Art, [2013]
Heard call number N6538.A4 N355 2013
Remix: new modernities in a post-Indian world
Baker, Joe and Gerald McMaster, editors
Washington, D.C. : National Museum of the American Indian ; Phoenix : Heard Museum, c2007
Heard call number N6538.A4 R338 2007
From Lynn Bullock’s Desk……
BOOKS & MORE NOTES FOR JANUARY
Happy New Year to you all! I hope by now that you’ve had a chance to check out “Beautiful Games” and the books related to it that we have at Books & More. Kudos to Marcus and Design for a great exhibit.
You may be aware that there will be a symposium related to the exhibit in Steele on January 30th from 7-9:30 P.M. The symposium will feature Suzan Shown Harjo, author of the new book “Nation to Nation” and NMAI Director Kevin Gover, who also has an article in the book. We have some copies of “Nation to Nation” in the book store, and more are on the way. If you are planning to attend the symposium, or if someone on one of your tours should ask about it, please be aware that Books & More will remain open from 5 till 6:30 P.M. on Friday, January 30th to allow anyone headed to the symposium to buy a book before it starts at 7 P.M. They will then be able to get the book signed by Ms. Harjo and Mr. Gover; most likely at the end of the event. Jaclyn and the authors will be making that decision.
The Fair will be here before we know it – I should have the list of Fair authors for you in the next “Notes”.
From Shaliyah’s Desk….
Happy New Year Las Guias! I hope everyone had a great holiday season!
Las Guias Friends and Family Tours
Because of our wonderful weather I know that many have friends and family that visit Phoenix in our “winter” months. Being able to bring your friends and family to the museum is a good way to show off your touring talent! I’ve had enough people ask me about LG Friends and Family Tours where now I think it’s a good idea to give you all a quick rundown of this special offer!
This tour option is open to active Las Guias only who want to bring a group of friends and family to the museum for a personal tour lead by you! If you are interested in this tour option please call me (Shaliyah) to set it up and not adult tours as this is a special offer that we give to Las Guias only. What makes it special? Your group receives a discounted rate of $13 per person and the guided tour fee is waived since you will be giving the tour! As with all tours at the Heard please give me a minimum of two weeks advance notice for this booking so that I can comfortably fit it into the schedule. Please be aware that you cannot schedule this tour during your assigned tour shift. Also be sure to let me know how many people in your group are museum members because as Heard members they receive free admission.
Round of Applause
1.4.15 – “Mel (Medler) was incredible! So knowledgeable and engaging”
12.15.14 – “Dear Ms. Brooks, My name is Edgar Thank you for taking the time to talk to us at Garcia School We feel that it is important to learn about Native American(s). Sorry for not listening and making noise. We will visit the Heard Museum real soon. Sincerely , Edgar” (Speakers Bureau visit by Marilyn Brooks to Garcia School)
12.27.14 – “The staff and guides were fabulous, all very well educated about the cultures and tribes (coming from a Navajo)” I thought this was hilarious! – Guides Present on 12.26.14 (Sarah Santana, Jim Warner, Ken Noone, Rosalie Pyle, Mary Lou Bailey, Judith Dobbs, Sidney Wilson, and Brandan Benally)
12.31.14 – Visitor Survey Question: What did you like most about your visit today? Answer: “My 12 pm HOME tour!” (Mary Ann Fast & Catherine Meschter)
Keep up the good work!
-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 2015
“That’s the Way I Like It!” – through February 8, 2015
“Beautiful Games: American Indian Sport and Art” – through November 2015
“Houser/Haozous Family: Celebrating a Century– through April 3, 2013
Shaliyah J. Ben
Education Program & Outreach Coordinator
2301 N. Central Ave.
Phoenix, AZ 85004
602.251.0259 direct
602.252.9757 fax
The Heard Museum, 2301 North Central Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona 85004
www.heard.org