MNA is celebrating International Museum Day’s theme of Museum’s for Education and Research with FREE admission. Everyone is invited to enjoy the Museum’s exhibits, which tell the story of MNA’s work of ongoing research and efforts to educate visitors on the scientific, cultural, and artistic value of the Colorado Plateau. The day is also a celebration of Flagstaff’s ARTx festival, and the Museum’s grounds will feature ekphrastic poetry written by Flagstaff locals paired with art from the Museum’s collection.

Schedule of Events:

10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Babbitt Gallery: MNA’s Chair of Anthropology Kelley Hays-Gilpin will offer interpretation of the pottery and jewelry in the gallery, as well as offer a hands-on pot sherd activity.

11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Director’s Conference Room: Poet Jodie Hollander will lead an ekphrastic poetry workshop.

Courtyard: Live music performed by the Mountain Time Ramblers.

11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Courtyard: MNA Botany Collections Manager will lead an activity where participants will choose a beautiful plant to identify and mount — and then take home to enjoy.

1:30 p.m.

Guided walk through the ARTx Ekphrastic Poetry Installation with readings by the poets.

2:00 – 3:30 p.m.

Keynote talk by Erick Gonzales: The Physicist and the Shaman: Perspectives on the Speaking Earth — a lecture, meditation, and film.