Museums
Tongass Historical Museum
Past
Exhibits |
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Growing up along the Tongass National Forest is a unique
experience. Fishing for cutthroat trout in forest streams, building
forts beneath 500 year-old Sitka Spruce trees, and hiking through
muskegs amongst the caws of ravens provide endless inspirations for
young minds. This winter, the Tongass Historical Museum partners
with the USDA Forest Service to present forest-inspired works
created by SE Alaska school children in A Forest of Words: Youth
Voices Celebrate the Tongass National Forest.
The United Nations designated 2011 as the International Year of
Forests (IYF), a global celebration of people’s action for sustainable
forest management. Curious to know youth perspectives on our own
forest, Tongass National Forest Supervisor Forrest Cole tasked Faith
Duncan, Forest Interpretive & Conservation Education Specialist,
with developing a school program that answers this question. In early 2011, educational program
packets were distributed to teachers throughout SE Alaska, and students completed personal
reflection statements on the forest. These responses are expressed in
the form of poetry, murals, watercolors, journals, and even videos
included in the exhibit. Kindergarten through eighth grade students
from Ketchikan, Yakutat, Prince of Wales Island communities,
Wrangell and Petersburg participated in the program. Students in
Petersburg also attended a workshop with visiting California artist
Andie Thrams. Under Thrams’ direction, 25 students created
watercolors and painted books combining images and words, which
are featured in the exhibit along with several works by Thrams.
Not to be excluded from the fun, families and children of all ages are
invited to visit the Museum for a Funday of exploring the Tongass
National Forest through the exhibit, taking place February 18.
Visitors can explore different types of trees, animal tracks and hides,
create tree cookie ornaments, and learn about traditional Northwest
Coast Native crafts created with natural forest
materials. All visitors to the Museum can write
their own thoughts and words for the forest on recycled paper leaves, which
will be hung on a central tree in the gallery for all to enjoy. Local artist
Rich Stage has created a dazzling cedar tree of cut steel from which to hang
the these thoughtful leaves.
A Forest of Words will open at the Tongass Historical Museum on Friday,
January 20 with a public reception from 5 to 7 PM. The exhibit continues
through February 25, 2012.
The McCue Family, including participating teacher Loren McCue and artists Riley and Ruby McCue, enjoy the fruits of their labor along with USFS project coordinator Faith Duncan.
Hannah Marr, artist behind the word tree featured on the reverse of the exhibit invitation postcard, poses with her work.
Noah and Reid Parker check out the cut steel cedar tree created by local artist Rich Stage.
A young artist from the Tongass School of Arts & Sciences leaps to point out her vibrant tree art.
Matt Olsen and family enjoy the colorful art while munching on cookies and trail mix during the opening reception.
Reid and Noah Parker crouch down to examine the paper tree collage created by ESL students in Petersburg, AK.
Jacie Johansen is all smiles as she poses with her colorful art featured on the exhibit invitation postcard.
Funday at the Museum, Feb. 18, 2012
Children and families were invited to spend a fun-filled morning exploring the A Forest of Words exhibit with interactive arts and crafts. Visitors were greeted by Woodsy the Owl and moved through the exhibit to several stations. Forest Service wildlife and subsistence staff officer
Ted Schenck helped children learn about animals of the Tongass National Forest by trying to match up their hides, tracks, and scat. Merle Hawkins, a Haida artist and cultural interpreter, taught visitors about traditional Native objects created with forest materials, such as baskets, masks, and fishing hooks. She also guided visitors in making their own Devil's Club beaded necklace. Forest Service ecologist Patty Krosse played a guessing game with children who reached into black boxes to touch Tongass tree sample and then guess their identity with fun clues. Visitors also decorated tree cookie ornaments made from Red Alder rounds and wrote their hope and dreams for the forest on recycled paper cut into the shape of leaves.
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