February at the Museum of Northern Arizona

As February unfolds, I invite you to experience two extraordinary exhibitions at the Museum of Northern Arizona that showcase the power of art to connect us to place, time, and identity.

Poetry Maps reveals how art and words intertwine to create new perspectives. This unique project began with paintings of the Colorado Plateau from our fine art collection. We then invited members of our community to respond with poetry, layering personal voices onto these visual journeys. Visit before February 28, when the exhibit goes dark for the installation of new gallery lighting. The exhibit will return on March 28.

Meanwhile, Life Extended: Biology as Metaphor presents the mesmerizing work of Flagstaff artist Debra Edgerton. Inspired by microscopic images of local algae, her watercolors are delicate and profound, using organic forms to explore race, identity, and social hierarchies. The paintings shimmer with beauty while offering deep reflections on the African American experience.

I hope you’ll take the time to visit MNA and let these works inspire your own journeys of thought and discovery.

See you at the Museum!

Executive Director & CEO

Museum of Northern Arizona

Visit the Museum Become a Member The Museum Shop

Open 10 am to 5 pm

(Closed on Tuesdays through February)

Purchase admission tickets online or at the door.

Mark Your Calendar

Discovery Camps Registration

Think like a scientist. Create like an artist. Play like a kid! Our 2025 Discovery Camps for children ages 5-11 will be held for three weeks, July 7-11, July 14-18, and July 21-25. Registration is now open for MNA members. If you are not a member, become a member now to get the first choice of camps and a valuable discount on enrollment. Otherwise, open registration begins February 24. Visit our Discovery Camps page for details.

The Artist’s View: Debra Edgerton

Sunday, February 16, 2 p.m.

Join us for a discussion with Flagstaff artist Debra Edgerton. Learn about the origins and processes involved in her fascinating works now showing in the Life Extended: Biology as Metaphor exhibit. Inspired by algae specimens from the Colorado Plateau, Edgerton’s watercolor paintings serve as a metaphorical lens to explore social structures and the African American experience. The talk is free for Museum members; regular admission applies to all others.

Experience MNA Touch Tables

Touch the fossilized tooth and brain of a T-Rex dinosaur and experience the soothing sounds of a Native American flute. Experience and learn about these objects and more at an MNA Touch Tables. Our knowledgeable museum educators and guides are on hand at these tables in the Museum each Saturday and some Sundays in February. You can always check out what’s happening at the Museum of Northern Arizona on our events calendar.

2025 Heritage Festival Call for Artists

Indigenous artists of the Colorado Plateau: Don’t miss an opportunity to show and sell your work at the 2025 Heritage Festival of Arts and Culture at the Museum of Northern Arizona June 28-29. In addition to connecting with hundreds of buyers, accepted artists are invited to submit their work in our Award of Excellence Competition with more than $9,000 in prizes. Submit your festival application by March 10. Learn more and apply.

Shedding New Light in Our Galleries

Things are about to look brighter at the Museum. New lighting in the Lockett Gallery is now being installed and we’ll begin replacing lighting in the Waddell Gallery beginning February 28. For this reason, the Poetry Maps exhibit will take a pause at the end of February and reopen at the end of March. We’re upgrading to more energy-efficient illumination that allows for precise adjustments to better highlight objects and protect sensitive art. The lighting project is made possible through a generous estate gift.

Learn and Explore with a Class Visit

Parents and teachers: The Museum of Northern Arizona hosts tailored tours and class programs for students in preschool through the 12th grade. MNA’s programs align with Arizona standards for social studies, science, and visual arts. Students can explore the diverse cultures of the Colorado Plateau, fostering respect, understanding, and appreciation for the connections between people and nature. Funding support is available. Click here for the details.

Easton Collection Center Tours

February 14, 3-4 p.m. and March 14, 2-4 p.m.

Take a rare behind-the-scenes tour of MNA’s Easton Collection Center. Learn about the impressive piece of environmentally friendly architecture and see part of the Museum’s extraordinary collection of cultural artifacts, natural specimens, and fine art. This tour is led by seasoned guides, providing art and cultural enthusiasts a closer look at pottery, jewelry, artifacts, paintings, weavings, and more. Space is limited; be sure to register today.

Local artists teach classes in ceramics, drawing, watercolor, and landscape painting in Discover Village at MNA. See our classes page for details.

Poetry Maps

Closed February 27–March 28 for lighting upgrades

Showcasing fine art from the Museum of Northern Arizona collections and poems from our community, the Poetry Maps exhibition brings together many viewpoints, expressed in visual art and verse. These paintings and poems serve as a map through place and time, revealing perspectives that form a collective connection to the extraordinary landscapes of the Colorado Plateau.

Life Extended: Biology as Metaphor

Explore the captivating paintings of Flagstaff artist Debra Edgerton. Utilizing the microscopic imagery of local algae, Edgerton creates ethereal watercolors that serve as a metaphorical lens to explore social structures and the African American experience. Through her work, the artist examines themes of race, identity, and hierarchical relationships.

Collecting in a Changing World

Opens March 1

Highlighting newer MNA acquisitions, this exhibit explores the stories behind the additions and reveals how they contribute to advancing knowledge, preserving heritage, and shaping future exhibits. Some objects are visually striking, others are less conspicuous yet hold value for their scientific or cultural significance. The show includes pottery, kachinas, paintings, botany specimens, and more.

This striking sterling silver bracelet with turquoise, spiny oyster shell, and coral was created by Navajo silversmiths Vernon and Clarissa Hale. See the bracelet and more authentic Native American works for sale in our Museum Gift Shop and online at shopmusnaz.org. All proceeds benefit the artists and the Museum of Northern Arizona.