Message from Mary -

The field season started early, or never really stopped, for the MNA archaeology team. Early this month they were working in the cold and wind at Wupatki National Monument, a place they have been many times before. In fact, the Citadel, where they were excavating before the National Park Service rebuilds the path, was first documented by museum founder Harold Colton. MNA staff also supervised the first excavations there in 1934. You can read about the interesting work MNA archaeologists did last summer around the blowholes at Wupatki or watch upcoming presentations on the fascinating artifacts they found along Rt 66.

While the archaeologists are busy in the field digging up new knowledge about the past, work continues here at the museum planning exhibitions and programs. We are almost ready to announce two new exhibitions opening this spring, but before we welcome something new we must say goodbye to two existing exhibitions, so this is the last call to come see Liberating Landscape, before that wonderful exhibition of art by remarkable women of the early 1900s is taken down. Come be inspired by their art, and their stories.

I look forward to seeing you at the museum.

Warm wishes,

Mary Kershaw
Executive Director & CEO
Museum of Northern Arizona
Winter Hours: Open Thursday through Sunday
Closed Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays
Purchase admission tickets online.
Understanding the importance of blowholes
Holes or cracks in the ground where air moves in and out have great importance to the people who live around them. MNA archaeologists recently worked with the National Park Service to expand our understanding of the archaeological significance of blowholes and earth cracks around Wupatki National Monument. In the process, they identified many cultural artifacts and at least one new site. Read more about this project and the findings.
Proud to be an Eco-Friendly Attraction
MNA has been preserving the natural and cultural heritage of the region since 1928, so we are delighted to be recognized with the Discover Flagstaff 2021 Eco-Tourism Award for eco-friendly programming.
Rt. 66 Archaeological Perspectives
Feb. 17, 3 pm via Facebook Live
Archaeologist and Historian David Purcell will share artifacts found along six miles of Route 66 that crosses the Petrified Forest National Park. Over 11,000 artifacts provide surprising insights to the mid-twentieth century motoring experience. Funded by Arizona Humanities
Inside MNA's Collection with Bobby Silas
March 2, 2 pm via Facebook Live
Hopi artist Bobby Silas has painstakingly revived the Sikyatki pottery style that was last done around 1600. Silas and MNA Chair of Anthropology Kelley Hays-Gilpin will look at examples of ancient pottery and discuss what Silas has learned from recreating similar pieces.
Grand Canyon: Butterflies and Skippers
March 14, 3 pm via Facebook Live
More than 130 butterfly and skipper species occur in the Grand Canyon region, including several unique taxa, but their life histories and distributions are poorly known. In this talk MNA’s Curator of Biology Larry Stevens will describe their taxonomy, diversity, distribution, and how the large, deep Canyon landform influences their biogeography. Past Grand Canyon talks are found on the YouTube.
Pop Culture in MNA's Collection
March 24, 2 pm via Facebook Live
Anthropology Collections Manager Anthony Thibodeau will guide visitors through MNA’s Ethnographic Collections, looking at the influence of Pop Culture in Native arts and its use in traditional practices of art making. Funded by Arizona Humanities
Family Fridays: Fire and forests
March 4 at 2:30 pm via Facebook Live
The Coconino National Forests surrounding MNA and Flagstaff are the largest stands of Ponderosa Pine in the world, covering 1.8 million acres. In this program we learn more about the forest, and how fire plays a part in it. Past Family Friday programs are found in the Family Friday playlist on the MNA YouTube channel. These programs are supported by APS.
Residency for artists
Apply by March 1
The Namingha Institute is a short, paid residency for early-career and emerging artists providing them time to explore their creative interests through various media with master artists Dan and Arlo Namingha. Held at the Museum of Northern Arizona in Flagstaff from June 5-18, 2022, applications are due by March 1. Visit https://musnaz.org/namingha/ to learn more and download the application.
Heritage Festival accepting applications
Now through March 31
We invite ALL Native artists from the Colorado Plateau to apply to the 2022 Heritage Festival, which will be held July 1-3. Click here for information on rules, deadlines and how to apply or email to request an application.
Full-time, part-time, and internship positions open
Whether you are an experienced collections professional looking for a new challenge or a student seeking to gain skills, the museum has several positions open now and more opening soon. These are great opportunities to join a lively, dedicated team and be part of the renaissance of this venerable and forward-looking museum.
Taught at MNA's Discovery Village
Potter Chas Frisco teaches ceramics in Milt's Barn at MNA. Students learn wheel throwing techniques and glazing and decorating pots (low fire). To find out more and enroll, contact the instructor at chasarts101@gmail.com.
Several positions open for part-time, full-time, and interns
A new Beginning Watercolor class starts mid-March. Taught by Lisa Lee Pearce, this class will go through the fundamentals needed to start painting with watercolor. Meanwhile, Landscape painter Deborah Mechigian continues to teach an ongoing Landscape Painting classes on Tuesday mornings. To find out more or enroll, email the instructors.
Liberating Landscape ending soon!
Last day Feb. 20
Inspired and empowered by the dramatic landscapes of the American Southwest, women took the lead in developing the arts of the region from 1900 to 1940. This exhibition highlights the pottery, photographs, paintings, and drawings of six women artists: Nampeyo, Kate Cory, Mary-Russell Ferrell Colton, Nora Lucy Mowbray Cundell, Harriet Morton Holmes, and Lillian Wilhelm Smith
These tracks were discovered in November 2020 at a construction site just a couple miles down the road from the museum. The prints are preserved in red sandstone from the Moenkopi Formation, which is estimated to be early to middle Triassic in age (252 to 235 million years). Now they are on view in the Jaime Major Golightly Courtyard.
Created more than a decade ago by Hopi artists Michael Kabotie and Delbridge Honanie, these large-scale paintings tell a story of the human journey through cycles of chaos and discord to places of wholeness and balance. Watch a gallery tour with Dr. Kelley Hays-Gilpin and Ed Kabotie, read about the exhibit in Mountain Living, then make plans to come see the exhibit.
This stunning silver bracelet pictures scenes of daily life familiar to the silversmith, Roland Hogan Begay, who was born on a ranch southwest of Gallup, NM. The Museum Giftshop is a perfect place to find one-of-a-kind gifts like this. Shop online anytime, or visit during museum hours.
Select Museum of Northern Arizona to support MNA with every purchase when you buy through Amazonsmile.