Category Archives: Museum

Go to the “Suggin Territory” at Historic Arkansas Museum

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Graham-promoIn this heat, it is nice to be able to travel to a different time and place in the comfort of air conditioning.  Historic Arkansas Museum’s current exhibit “SUGGIN TERRITORY: THE MARVELOUS WORLD OF FOLKLORIST JOSEPHINE GRAHAM” offers a chance to visit a bygone era in Arkansas.

Josephine Graham (1915-1999) a.k.a. “Josus,” was a celebrated artist and folklorist of Arkansas’s White River culture. Her “Suggin” folk paintings depict the Depression-era folk history of the White River region.

Though professionally trained as a painter at Columbia University, Graham’s paintings are intentionally primitive in style, inspired by the stories and lives of “Suggins,” a playful term she used in reference to the people living along the White River.

Through more than twenty exhibitions, over 100 paintings, and a self-published cookbook, she shared the wonder and charm of her native region with the world. Graham was a founding member of the Mid-Southern Watercolorists and founder of the Suggin Folklife Society.

The exhibition continues through November 29, 2015.

Feed Your Mind Friday today at noon at the Arkansas Arts Center

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stephens-galleryFeed Your Mind Fridays offer the chance for you to get up close and personal with works on display at the Arkansas Arts Center, and often times the opportunity to meet the artist in person.

Today at noon, explore your Arkansas Arts Center Collection as Louise A. Palermo, Director of Education and Programs, leads a discussion on the many stories layered throughout “Andromeda” by Odilon Redon. The cost to attend is FREE!

Meet at the Stephens Inc. Visitors Center to start the discussion.

After it is concluded, hang around and have lunch at the Best Impressions Restaurant.

And the Baby Chimp’s Name Is….

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Mahale and JumokeThe votes are in, the results have been tabulated and the Little Rock Zoo is proud to announce that the name of its new baby chimpanzee is JUMOKE (pronounced joo MOH keh).

A total of 1,401 votes were cast in an online poll collected at the Little Rock Zoo’s website. Jumoke received 42 percent of the vote with 584 votes. Kibale received 36 percent of the vote with 504 percent and Kgosi received 22 percent with 313 votes.

The public was asked to participate in an online poll posted after the July 18, 2015, birth of its new baby chimpanzee to chimp Mahale (pronounced ma HAH lay). Keepers selected three possible choices from which the public would be asked to choose:

Jumoke – Swahili for “everyone loves the child”

Kibale – (pronounced kih BAH lay) named after Kibale National Park in Uganda. The baby’s mother, Mahale, was named for Mahale Mountains National Park in Tanzania.

Kgosi –   (pronounced koh see) a Setswana term for “king” or “chief”. The baby’s grandfather was named “King Richard”

This marks the second birth for Mahale who gave birth to Kendi (pronounced ken dee) on August 29, 2009. While paternity tests have not been conducted, keepers suspect the likely father of the baby is Kijana (pronounced key JHON ah) the alpha male chimpanzee of the group.

The new baby and the chimp family are most likely to be visible to the public during the 1:30 p.m. scatter feed at the Great Ape exhibit every day. However, keepers note that mom and baby have access to an indoor air conditioned area and have the choice to venture outside or stay inside.

The birth of this chimp comes as the result of the Little Rock Zoo’s participation in the chimpanzee Species Survival Plan (SSP) of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). The SSP is an organization with members from other AZA accredited zoos that makes breeding and companionship recommendations for endangered animals.  The Little Rock Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.

Explore the Mindbender Mansion at the Museum of Discovery

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Mindbender_logo_CMYKIt’s hot outside, but there are plenty of cool things to do inside.  The Museum of Discovery has the exhibit “Mindbender Mansion” now through September 7.

Mister E. and the Mindbender Society invite you to enter the wonderfully puzzling world of Mindbender Mansion, an eclectic place full of puzzles, brainteasers, and interactive challenges guaranteed to test the brain power and problem solving skills of even the most experienced puzzlers. Adults and children alike will enjoy exercising their minds as they try to master each of the 11 individual brain teasers and the three group activities in this fun and unconventional new exhibit.

Visitors to Mindbender Mansion will be greeted by the wacky Mr. E., master brainteaser and puzzler extraordinaire, and current curator of the Mindbender Society. He will explain the mysteries of Mindbender Mansion and how to become a member of the eccentric Mindbender Society by gathering hidden clues and secret passwords. The clues can only be found by solving key puzzles found in select themed areas.

Throughout the exhibit visitors will find a combination of tabletop brainteasers they can solve on their own and larger group challenges that require assistance from their fellow mansion guests.

The group challenges include:

  • Feeding Frenzy-Kitchen mayhem is guaranteed in a race to beat the clock by filling T.V. dinner trays (with five kinds of food) on a fast moving conveyer belt.
  • Spelling Fever-Hopscotch meets Scrabble® in this race to spell correct words within a limited amount of time by hopping on letter squares that light up.
  • Amazing Maze-In this version of the classic steel ball labyrinth game visitors must work together to tilt a table in different directions, guiding a ball into six holes as quickly as possible.

Upon completing each of the select brainteasers and group challenges, visitors will have gathered the necessary clues and secret passwords to become a member of the Mindbender Society and add their portrait to the “Wall of Fame.”

Last day to vote on new chimp name at LR Zoo!

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Mom and baby chimpYou have until midnight tonight to help the Little Rock Zoo select the name of the new male chimp.

He was born July 18, 2015, to chimp Mahale. Name choices for the baby were selected by keeper staff.  Presented in alphabetical order the choices are:

    • Jumoke – Swahili for “everyone loves the child.”
    • Kgosi – a Setswana term for “king” or “chief.” The baby’s grandfather was named “King Richard.”
    • Kibale – named after Kibale National Park in Uganda; this is similar to the baby’s mother, Mahale, who was named for Mahale Mountains National Park in Tanzania.

Voting will take place online at the Zoo website until TONIGHT!  Visit www.LittleRockZoo.com/babychimp to vote.  Results will be posted after noon on Monday, August 3.

This marks the second birth for Mahale, who gave birth to Kendi on August 29, 2015. While paternity tests have not been conducted, keepers suspect the likely father of the baby is Kijana, the alpha male chimpanzee of the group.

The best opportunity to see the new baby and the chimp family is during the 1:30 p.m. scatter feed at the Great Ape exhibit every day. However, mom and baby have access to an indoor air conditioned area; they have the choice to venture outside or not.

The chimp’s birth is the result of efforts by the chimpanzee Species Survival Plan (SSP) of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). The SSP is an organization with members from other AZA accredited zoos that makes breeding and companionship recommendations for endangered animals.

The Little Rock Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.  Look for the AZA logo whenever you visit a zoo or aquarium as your assurance that you are supporting a facility dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for you and a better future for all living things.  With its more than 200 accredited members, AZA is a leader in global wildlife conservation and your link to helping animals in their native habitats.  For more information, visit www.aza.org.

Nikola Tesla’s Birthday Party at tonight’s Museum of Discovery Science after Dark

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ArkMod Dark TeslaNikola Tesla was born in July, and The Museum of Discovery wants you to have the party!  This month’s Science after Dark (tonight from 6pm to 9pm) celebrates his birthday and gives a once in a lifetime chance to experience the Guinness World Record musical bi-polar Tesla coil in the evening.

The tesla coil – named after its inventor Nikola Tesla, the developer of the alternating current system of electricity used today – is a device that creates high-voltage electricity at a high frequency visible to the eye.  The Museum of Discovery’s coil emits electrical discharges to a variety of songs and will share the record for the world’s largest bi-polar tesla coil with the coil at the Hands On Regional Museum in Johnson City, Tennessee.

The device, which can produce 200,000 volts of electricity, was built by Goodchild Engineering in Arizona and donated to the Museum of Discovery by Richard Mathias, founder and president of Tesla Coil Museum Exhibit Program, LLC, through a matching grant program from the General Electric Foundation.

“This world-record tesla coil will literally illuminate the work of this pivotal inventor and help the Museum of Discovery successfully fulfill its mission of igniting a passion for science, technology and math in our very interactive, hands-on environment,” said Kelley Bass, museum CEO. “We are grateful to Richard Mathias and the GE Foundation for making this opportunity possible for our museum and our visitors.”

The coil is housed in a new theater in the museum’s Discovery Hall.

Shows will be free but seating is limited so arrive early to get your ticket. Science After Dark admission is $5, free to museum members.  You must be 21 or older to attend Science after Dark.

New chimp born at LR Zoo. Help pick the Zoo pick the name!

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Mom and baby chimpThe Little Rock Zoo is excited to announce the birth of a male chimpanzee born July 18, 2015, to chimp Mahale. Along with that announcement, the Zoo also launched an online poll asking the public to vote for a name for the new baby.

Name choices for the baby were selected by keeper staff.  Presented in alphabetical order the choices are:

    • Jumoke – Swahili for “everyone loves the child.”
    • Kgosi – a Setswana term for “king” or “chief.” The baby’s grandfather was named “King Richard.”
    • Kibale – named after Kibale National Park in Uganda; this is similar to the baby’s mother, Mahale, who was named for Mahale Mountains National Park in Tanzania.

Voting will take place online at the Zoo website until midnight on Sunday, August 2, 2015.  Visit www.LittleRockZoo.com/babychimp to vote.  Results will be posted after noon on Monday, August 3.

This marks the second birth for Mahale, who gave birth to Kendi on August 29, 2015. While paternity tests have not been conducted, keepers suspect the likely father of the baby is Kijana, the alpha male chimpanzee of the group.

The best opportunity to see the new baby and the chimp family is during the 1:30 p.m. scatter feed at the Great Ape exhibit every day. However, mom and baby have access to an indoor air conditioned area; they have the choice to venture outside or not.

The chimp’s birth is the result of efforts by the chimpanzee Species Survival Plan (SSP) of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). The SSP is an organization with members from other AZA accredited zoos that makes breeding and companionship recommendations for endangered animals.

The Little Rock Zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.  Look for the AZA logo whenever you visit a zoo or aquarium as your assurance that you are supporting a facility dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for you and a better future for all living things.  With its more than 200 accredited members, AZA is a leader in global wildlife conservation and your link to helping animals in their native habitats.  For more information, visit www.aza.org.