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.”

Group Motion in City Dances / Parkway at the Rodin Museum

Group Motion will next be performing on Saturday, December 12th (with a reception following the performance) and Sunday, December 13th; performances start at 8pm at the CEC Meetinghouse Theater at 3500 Lancaster Ave in West Philadelphia / University City.

For more information please visit www.groupmotion.org or ask me! (Rachel@philaculturati.com, subject line: “Group Motion”)