Academy of Natural Sciences Opens Art Gallery

A newly renovated gallery at the Academy of Natural
Sciences will feature changing displays of contemporary and historic
artworks that explore the inherent-but often overlooked-beauty of
science.

The Art of Science Gallery, located on the first floor, will
showcase rarely seen treasures from the Academy’s own world-renowned
collections, works by contemporary artists, and imagery generated by
Academy scientists, past and present.

The current exhibit, which opened Feb. 27 and runs through May
2, is First Impressions: Thomas Horsfield’s printed plants of Java.
Horsfield (1773-1859) was a Bethlehem, Pa., native and Academy member
who became the first American scientist to explore Southeast Asia. The
exhibit features 22 detailed prints made by applying ink to plants he
collected on the Indonesian island of Java. The images are both an
accurate record of the plant life on Java 200 years ago and also are
visually striking artistic compositions. And that’s the point of the
gallery.

“The line between art and science is often a blurry one,”
said Barbara Ceiga, vice president for public operations. “This
gallery gives us the opportunity to introduce our visitors to the idea
that science can be beautiful.”

Upcoming shows will feature a wide range of subjects, from
dramatic X-ray images of fish skeletons (May 15 through August 1) to
colorful illustrations of grasshoppers. Some shows will feature works by
contemporary artists and others will showcase imagery created by Academy
scientists in the course of their own research. Founded in 1812, the
Academy is the oldest natural history museum in the Americas and has a
long history of research, exploration and discovery, and important
collections to show for it.

For exhibit updates, visit www.ansp.org.

TARGET SPONSORS FIRST WEDNESDAYS AT PLEASE TOUCH MUSEUM AND COMMUNITY NIGHT AT THE FRANKLIN INSTITUTE

January 8, 2010, Philadelphia, PA: Target, known for its efforts to make museums accessible to the community, will continue its sponsorship of special free or low-priced admission at two of Philadelphia’s most popular museums through March 2011.  Target Community Night at The Franklin Institute, which takes place on the third Wednesday of the month from 5-8 p.m., welcomes visitors from underserved communities to enjoy free admission. Please Touch Museum at Memorial Hall will also continue its Target First Wednesdays, staying open late on the first Wednesday of each month with $2 admission between 5-7 p.m.

“Target is proud to continue our support with the Please Touch Museum and The Franklin Institute,” said Laysha Ward, president, community relations, Target. “Through these unique partnerships, we hope to help make valuable, hands-on learning experiences more accessible and affordable to Philadelphia families, while providing an opportunity to spend quality time together.”

Jim Henson’s Fantastic World!

September 12 through November 29, 2009
Della Penna-Fernberger | Paton | Smith GalleriesWithout “fences” to limit where his imagination could roam, Jim Henson (1936-1990)—artist, puppeteer, film director and producer—created elaborate imaginary worlds filled with unique characters, objects, environments, and even languages and cultures.

Members do not need timed tickets to view this exhibition, but due to the anticipated popularity of this exhibition, a timed entry system will be used for non-members. To purchase tickets, visithttp://michenermuseum.tix.com/Schedule.asp?OrganizationNumber=2632

Image: Henson and his characters. Photo by John E. Barrett, courtesy of The Jim Henson Company. Kermit the Frog © The Muppets Studio, LLC.

FALL 2009 SCIENCE COURSES OFFERED BY WAGNER FREE INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE

The Wagner Free Institute of Science announces its free science courses for Fall 2009. Courses run from five to nine weeks, and each lecture lasts approximately one and a half hours. The courses are taught on an introductory college level and are appropriate for adults wishing to enrich their knowledge of the sciences, as well as for motivated junior and senior high school students.

The courses are offered free of charge, unless otherwise indicated

BOTANY SERIES~
“Trees of Center City Philadelphia”
Professor Alfred E. Schuyler
Field trip course; 5 sessions beginning September 24, 2009
Academy of Natural Sciences, 19^th Street and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia – 1^st class, 6:30 PM
4 outdoor locations on Saturdays – 10:30 AM to 1 PM
Course is limited to 20 students per trip.
Pre-registration required. Please note there is a pre-registration fee for this class only. To pre-register, call 215-763-6529 x23 beginning Monday, September 14, 2009. Students may sign up for one, two, or three trips at $5 per trip or four trips at $15. Pre-registration will be confirmed by phone or email. To complete the registration process, please bring cash or check to the first class (or check must be received at the Wagner Institute by that date).

PHYSICAL SCIENCE SERIES~
“Physics and the World Wars: How Technology Shaped the Path of History”
Professor Paul J. Angiolillo
Course held at the Wynnefield Branch of the Free Library, 5325 Overbrook Avenue, Philadelphia;
8 weeks on Wednesday evenings at 6:15 PM beginning September 30, 2009

HISTORY OF SCIENCE SERIES~
“On Heavens and Humans: A Brief History of Astronomy and its Influence on Our Lives”
Professor Sylwester Ratowt
Course held at the Independence Branch of the Free Library, west side of 7^th Street, below Market Street, Philadelphia
9 weeks on Tuesday evenings at 6:30 PM beginning October 6, 2009.

ANTHROPOLOGY SERIES~
“Death, Aging, and Mortality: Cultural and Biosocial Perspectives”
Professor Janet Monge
Course held at the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, 33^rd and Spruce Streets, Philadelphia

6 weeks on Monday evenings at 7:00 PM beginning October 19, 2009.

For full course information and syllabuses or for more information, please call 215-763-6529, ext. 21 or visit www.wagnerfreeinstitute.org<http://www.wagnerfreeinstitute.org>. Please note that the schedule for the Free Library may change when the city budget is passed. Because this may force us to change the times or locations of courses scheduled at our branch library partners, check with the Wagner Institute prior to the first class.

Founded in 1855, the Wagner Free Institute of Science is a museum and educational institution that is nearly unchanged from the nineteenth century.  The museum building, a National Historic Landmark completed in 1865, houses a natural history collection begun by William Wagner in the early nineteenth century and expanded by biologist Joseph Leidy in the 1880’s.  The collection includes skeletons, fossils, shells, minerals and mounted animals.  The Museum is open to the public Tuesday-Friday, 9 AM to 4 PM.

The Institute’s free public education courses in science are in their 154^th year, making them the oldest program devoted to free adult education in the United States. The Institute also has a strong commitment to children’s education.  It offers a range of programs for visiting school groups, and cultivates special partnerships with neighboring elementary schools.

Seaport Starlight Cinema

Tuesday, August 18, 7 pm

“Throw Things at Popeye!”

Enjoy an evening of madcap mayhem at Independence Seaport Museum’s outdoor amphitheatre showing of the Robert Altman film, Popeye, starring Robin Williams and Shelly Duval with audience participation a la The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Could Olive be Janet, Popeye Brad, and Bluto Dr. Frank-N-Furter? Hit the thrift shops and come dressed as your favorite Popeye character (Popeye, Olive Oyl, Bluto, Swee’pea, Wimpy, Poopdeck Pappy or any of the cartoon’s characters) and compete for the rare and coveted Golden Can of Spinach Award.  Audience members will be armed with fun “props” to interact with the movie, including green confetti to throw at the sight of spinach, bubbles to blow when Popeye smokes his pipe, kazoos to toot whenever a character breaks out in song, and more. There will be free popcorn, give-aways, activities, trivia contests, and a life-size Popeye to pose with – bring your camera, family, friends, a blanket, and a picnic supper for a delightful evening.

Doors open at 7 pm; movie begins at sunset. The Seaport’s featured exhibit, Skin & Bones – Tattoos in the Life of the American Sailor, will be open for viewing prior to the movie.  Find the tattooed Popeye in the exhibit. Admission is $5 per person.  In case of rain, movie will be shown in tented second-floor balcony overlooking the Delaware River. Independence Seaport Museum, 211 S. Columbus Blvd. & Walnut St., Philadelphia.  215-413-8655. www.phillyseaport.org

WHAT TO DO NEARBY?

The easiest way to get to and from the Independence Seaport Museum is by foot over the Walnut Street pedestrian bridge. If you’re parking, there is a lot at Penns Landing or metered parking on Front Street. If you’re bussing, the 21, 42, 17, and 12 all take you within blocks of Front and Walnut St. Or the El drops you off at 2nd and Market. Old City is chock full of eating establishments for all culinary inclinations and wallet sizes.

An outdoor movie a la Rocky Horror screams date night so why not hit up The Franklin Fountain for a Sundae (open til midnight!) or try happy hour at Positano.

Can you handle the creepy crawlies of the bug world? Back for a second year, the Academy of Natural Sciences will host Bug Fest on Saturday, August 15th and Sunday, August 16th. Visitors will see more than 50 species of live insects including battle-ready stag beetles, huge rhino beetles, toe biters (giant water bugs), camel crickets, and 8-inch-long stick insects. Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania will demonstrate advances in robotics with insectlike robots, and visitors interested in starting their own collection can learn how to collect and pin insects.

There will be plenty to please visitors of all ages, including dozens of live insects, bugs to eat, insect robots, roach races, entomology talks and displays, and a buggy field trip. Yes, bugs to eat! Cajun chef Zach Lemann will cook up samples of delicious creepy crawly cuisine to sample. Not sure you can stomach it? Well there’s also a Roach Race, lectures, story-telling and more.

AND it’s all free with regular museum admission. The Academy of Natural Sciences is located at 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway. It is open M-F 10-4:30pm and 10-5pm on the weekends. Adults are $12 admission. Children and seniors are $10. Visit www.ansp.org or call 215-299-1000 for more information.

WHAT TO DO NEARBY?

Why not wash those bugs down with a margarita at The Mexican Post? Or take the family for some burritos for lunch. The Mexican Post is located at 1601 Cherry Street.

Also, the Academy of Natural Sciences also has a decent cafeteria if you’re making a day of Bug Fest and want to stay at the museum. The Academy is located on the Parkway, which is mainly a business district and many of the local cafes and lunch venues are closed on the weekends. Luckily, Rittenhouse is just a few blocks south from there, so if you’re looking for more things to do, we suggest walking down 19th Street towards Chestnut and Walnut Streets.