"Why Treaties Matter" with our Partner Bois Forte Museum

 

Visit Bois Forte Heritage Museum! They have been a HUGE partner and resource for us with our new permanent exhibits. We've just put out a grant to fund the installation of it, so we're keeping our fingers crossed! In the meantime, living and loving nature the way that most Iron Rangers do, Treaties do Matter. 

Review of "Why Treaties Matter" by Mai Vang, Curator

The exhibit was extraordinarily informative. With only 20 panels and a touchscreen interactive, the exhibit designers were able to teach about the complex history and nature of treaties. Treaties are legally binding agreements between sovereign nations, here it is between the United States and Native nations. One of the great strengths of this exhibit are the first hand quotes like the one below that succinctly sums up what the treaties were all about.

"I understand what you want... from the few words I have heard you speak. You want land."

—Flat Mouth [Aish-Ke-Vo-Go-Zhe, or Bird with Leaf Green Bill], Ojibwe leader at 1855 treaty

Not only were the historical content in the exhibit both deep and thorough covering a long time period and many different tribes and groups in Minnesota, but this exhibit was community-based. Which is, in the museum world, cutting edge. Community members were consulted from different Ojibwe and Dakota bands, which is why I believe this exhibit is so successful and strong. The voices of the people guide the direction of the exhibit adding multiple views but able to maintain a consistent flow. I know I'm biased because I work in this field, but this is one of the best exhibits I've seen. Not once was I bored, and I actually WANTED to read all of the words and labels. Props to the designers. The web companion is full of even more information to explore. So take a trip out to Bois Forte Heritage Center and explore another culture that's in your backyard.

(I'm using "band" here as a general way to describe each sovereign nation, but I understood from the interactive touch screen in the exhibit that some groups do not like to be called bands because they are not merely a group of people who banded together, but a group of organized sovereign people. See?! Case in point, I learned a lot from this exhibit.) www.treatiesmatter.org
http://www.boisforte.com/divisions/heritage_center.htm

Furs!

I received furs in the mail! My exhibit team and I are working on renovating our permanent exhibit. One of the stations we wanted to have is a tactile, touchable, station where visitors can feel different kinds of fur. I searched, and literally, emailed every single email I could find for taxidermists in the state of Minnesota. Viola! I found four kinds that I'm looking for!

Can you guess which belongs to which animal?

Clue:

Bear
Deer
Caribou
Moose

Coming up for air...

from an fantastic week of exciting FUN!

One of the Community Quilts

What a week! We had 140 5th graders, five paraprofessionals, and six teachers, from Roosevelt Elementary School visiting for their Community Quilts' big open with cake and juice. The Going to Pieces Quilters Guild put together five quilts with squares made by the students. These will hang around the town of Virginia, so you'll be seeing it in your neighborhood. One of our major goals this year is to connect with our communities. But we didn't just want to connect with them, we wanted them to connect with each other, too.

That was Kathy Annette's (President/CEO of the Blandin Foundation) major point, that leaders cannot work alone, today at Empowher. That also applies to communities. Kathy pointed out that there are so many elements that must be balanced in order to make create a healthy community. Just looking at the quilts, you can see all the different pieces that puts together a community for these 5th graders. Olcott Park, Thunderbird Mall, Virginia High School, the Minnesota Loon, homes, hockey, the police, Blue Devils are a handful of Virginia's community represented on these quilts. Come and see them at the Minnesota Discovery Center. They'll also be 'hanging' out at the Virginia Public Library this summer and other places in the community in the upcoming year.

Tomorrow, Saturday, May 12 will be a celebration of quilts for the Going to Pieces Quilters who have contributed so much to our communities. They make quilts for shelters, babies, homes, they keep fiber arts traditions alive, and they volunteer so many hours for our communities. Join our community tomorrow to enjoy the quilt arts with your families!

Phew.

-Empowher was an event held at the Minnesota Discovery Center on May 11, to promote and encourage women (and men) leaders in our community.

-Going to Pieces 30 year celebration starts at 9 am. Darlene Zimmerman, accomplished quilt expert, will speak at 10 am. Demonstrators galore. Admission applies for our events.  Members always free.

How are quilts judged? talk at MDC update

Quilt Exhibit at MDC. Photo by Deborah McCauley

The Minnesota Discovery Center will be holding events in honor of National Quilting Day in partnership with the Going to Pieces Quilt Guild 

March 17, 2012 from 11:30 AM – 3 PM

How are quilts judged in contests?

Tips from Karen Lamppa, a previous judge.

• Demonstrations on paper piecing and embellishment by Karen Lamppa
• Share the joy of quilting with children through kids' quilting crafts and a story time about quilts

 Regular admission applies $5/adults; $3/children; members Free.

11:30 AM – 12:30 PM Karen Lamppa talk about judging quilts in contests

12:30 PM – 3 PM Kids Crafts and story time

1 – 3 PM – Karen Lamppa demonstration

"How are quilts judged?" Talk at MDC

The Minnesota Discovery Center will be holding events in honor of National Quilting Day in partnership with the Going to Pieces Quilt Guild 

March 17, 2012 from 11:30 AM – 3 PM

How are quilts judged in contests?

Tips from Karen Lamppa, a previous judge.

• Demonstrations on paper piecing and embellishment by Karen Lamppa and Barbara Rinne
• Share the joy of quilting with children through kids' quilting crafts and a story time about quilts

 Regular admission applies $5/adults; $3/children; members Free.

11:30 AM – 12:30 PM Karen Lamppa talk about judging quilts in contests

12:30 PM – 3 PM Kids Crafts and story time

1 – 3 PM – Barb Rinne and Karen Lamppa demonstrations

Medals of Congressman John A. Blatnik

John A. Blatnik

Pins and buttons from the John A. Blatnik Collection.

Congressman John A. Blatnik was born in Chisholm, MN. He was chemistry teacher in Chisholmbefore serving as senator from 1940-1944. At the age of 29 in 1940, he was the youngest member ever elected to the Minnesota State Senate. In 1942, he joined the United States Army Air Corps as chief of the Office of Strategic Services’ mission. His familiarity with the Slovenian and Serbo-Croatian languages helped him while working behind German lines as an intelligents agent. He set up a system that rescued nearly 400 downed airmen, earning him the rank of captain and many medals.  

In 1946, Congressman Blatnik was elected to congress and won 13 times more. He wrote the Clean Water Act, which passed in 1972.

Bronze Medal Star, the fourth highest combat award. John A. Blatnik Collection.

USFA Medal. John A. Blatnik Collection

It's Been A While: Updates and An Old Wrench

We are chugging away developing programs and exhibits for our next busy season. In the meantime, join us for sensational music by local musicians and see our current exhibits!

Acoustic Cafe with Band

Acoustic Café ~ Every Thursday from 5-9 p.m. ~ Enjoy acoustic music by talented local musicians. ~ Appetizers, drinks and homemade soups available on our menu.  Admission is free.  Come check it out!

Going to Pieces Quilt Exhibit:  Now through June 17^th

Going to Pieces Quilt Guild celebrates its 30 year anniversary with approximately 30 members. The exhibit showcases 90 quilts and quilted objects from 18 members. You can see the creative advances from their first to most current quilts. Within each quilt the women’s personalities show through from humor to artistic vision.

Sketchers & Carvers Exhibit in the Community Gallery: Now through April 1^st.

OBJECT OF THE MONTH

Antique Wrench from the Minnesota Discovery Center Artifact collection

Notice all of the different sizes on one tool? Cool, huh? 

Can you find interesting tools around your house?

To receive emails about our upcoming events and exhibits contact Deborah McCauley at dmccauley@mndiscoverycenter.com