Sculptures Available from NMAH

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Stephen Hansen Sculptures Available to Affiliates from the National Museum of American History

 

One of the former sculptures in the Information Age exhibition, available for Affiliate adoption.

One of the sculptures in the former Information Age exhibition, available for Affiliate adoption.

The Information Age might seem like too serious a topic to loan itself to humor, but this is what happened when the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History commissioned artist Stephen Hansen to design the entrance to its path breaking exhibition in 1990. Hansen’s take on how “new technologies” were overtaking our lives, resulted in a rotating tableau of nearly life-sized sculptures caught in moments of whimsy, anger, and existential befuddlement.  Since that time Hansen’s reputation has skyrocketed and his works have been displayed in museums, galleries, and embassies around the world.

 

These sculptures, all made out of papier-mâché, are one-of-a-kind and are available, through transfer of ownership, individually or ensemble as shown in these pictures.  The receiving Affiliate will be responsible for arranging pickup from the National Museum of American History and shipping.  The sculptures come uncrated.

 

Enliven your space with artistry that appeals to all and reminds us to laugh as we plod our way through  technology-driven lives.  Contact your National Outreach Manager at affiliates@si.edu for further information.

 

 

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affiliates in the news: week of march 8

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 Congratulations to these Affiliates making headlines this week!

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Morris Museum of Art (Augusta, GA)
Much-Anticipated Reopening of the Morris Museum of Art

Morris Museum of Art holds grand reopening 

Arab American National Museum(Dearborn, MI)
Dearborn: Discover a Muslim welcome

California Science Center (Los Angeles, CA)
California Science Center Opens New Ecosystems Experience

Agua Caliente Cultural Museum (Palm Springs, CA)
Native American film fest on tap

Historical Society of Washington, D.C.
Portrait Gallery Recalls Neighborhood Progress

affiliates in the news: week of march 1

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Rubin Museum of Art (New York, NY)
New York’s famed Rubin Museum exhibiting Hindu artifacts

Senator John Heinz History Center (Pittsburgh, PA)
Washington exhibit a display with some bite

Museum of Latin American Art (Long Beach, CA)
Three Long Beach museums receive Getty Foundation grants for So Cal collaborative art project
Long Beach Art Museums To Participate In Getty Exhibit
Long Beach Art Museum, MoLAA, CSULB museum get Getty grants

National Museum of American Jewish History (Philadelphia, PA)Jewish Museum Nears Completion on Independence Mall

Archives of the History of American Psychology (Akron, OH)Wallbreaking’ begins renovation to Psychology Archives’ new home

affiliates in the news: Feb 15- 26

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Ogden Museum of Southern Art (New Orleans, LA)
Ogden Museum of Southern Art Announces Staff Changes

An original set of Washington’s teeth, made of ivory, human teeth, and animal teeth.

An original set of Washington’s teeth, made of ivory, human teeth, and animal teeth.

Senator John Heinz History Center(Pittsburgh, PA)
Meet the first president at History Center exhibit
‘Mount Vernon’ display offers view of George Washington’s life
Exhibit takes on myths about the father of our nation

Buffalo Bill Historical Center (Cody, WY)
Cody museum shifts to greener operations

Virginia Museum of Natural History (Martinsville, VA)
New director at VMNH will work to keep things fresh

Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center(Mashantucket, CT)
After 3 years of Pequot War research, it’s time to dig

Snug Harbor Cultural Center (Staten Island, NY)
Links to Abraham Lincoln
Snug Harbor head Frances Paulo Huber to step down

Chabot Space and Science Center (Oakland, CA)
Explore the universe at Chabot Space and Science Center

Curator Brett Kelly on picket duty at the National Civil War Museum

Curator Brett Kelley on picket duty at the National Civil War Museum

National Civil War Museum(Harrisburg, PA)
Museum curator relieved of Civil War picket duty
Re-enactor endured real trials for Civil War museum
A fuzzy picture: U.S. jobs projections for curators leave museum directors scratching their heads


Rubin Museum of Art (New York, NY)
New York’s famed Rubin Museum exhibiting Hindu artifacts

Museum of Latin American Art (Long Beach, CA)
See the world in California’s Long Beach

Discovery Science Center (Santa Ana ,CA)
Feed your brain at the Discovery Science Center

Kudos, Affiliates! March 2010

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Way to go Affiliates!

Smithsonian Affiliations received $9,100 from the Smithsonian Women’s Committee to support a “blended learning” webinar on Universal Design in collaboration with the American Association of Museums.

 Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center (Hutchinson, Kansas) received a grant from the Kansas Department of Commerce’s Travel and Tourism Division. The $60,600 grant will help leverage an additional $208,020, to develop the center’s new interactive exhibit “Investigate Space”, moving audiences from the past to the future of space exploration.

Strategic Air and Space Museum (Ashland, Nebraska) was awarded a $200,000 Community Block Grant from Cass County to begin renovation projects at the museum.

The Getty Foundation has awarded a $3.1 million grant to support a massive, Southern California-wide series of exhibitions. The money is going to 26 regional institutions including the Museum of Latin American Art (Long Beach, California) to support their roles in the program that celebrates 30 “thematically linked” exhibitions — that showcase postwar art in Southern California.

The Burton D. Morgan Foundation announced that the National Inventors Hall of Fame Foundation (Akron, Ohio) has been awarded $25,000 towards the development of a new national Camp Invention flagship curriculum aimed at engaging children in entrepreneurship as well as innovation.

The Exelon Foundation donated $250,000 to the African American Museum in Philadelphia (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) to support educational outreach and audience development, including the creation of study guides and brochures, staffing costs, and exhibitions.

what does it mean to be human?

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Five fossil human skulls show how the shape of the face and braincase of early humans changed over the past 2.5 million years.

Five fossil human skulls show how the shape of the face and braincase of early humans changed over the past 2.5 million years.

How do you define human?!  Coinciding with the 100th anniversary of its official opening on the Mall, the National Museum of Natural History plans to open a new Hall of Human Origins based on decades of cutting-edge research by Smithsonian scientists.  Part of its broader “Human Origins: What Does it Mean to be Human?” initiative, the Hall transports visitors through a dramatic time tunnel depicting human life and environments over the past 6 million years.  The epic story of human evolution is told through the drama of climate change, and shows how survival and extinction have characterized our ancient human past. 

Forensically reconstructed faces of early humans, a display of more than 75 skulls, and an interactive 6 million-year-old family tree are highlights in the Hall.   Can’t visit?  Not to worry.  The Museum and National Geographic are publishing a book, What Does It Mean to be Human?; PBS will air a three-part series later in the year entitled, “Becoming Human: Unearthing Our Earliest Ancestors;” and the Museum will completely reproduce the exhibition through the Blue Mars virtual world website. 

As always, scholars, research and related collections are available to Affiliates for public or school programs, exhibitions, or however you spin your own human story.  Interested in collaborating?  Contact your outreach manager at affiliates@si.edu.

 So come by this spring to meet your ancient ancestors.  And be sure to wish them a happy birthday.