Museum of Northern Arizona update for May 17 — May events at MNA

The summer festival season begins on Memorial Day Weekend with a celebration of Zuni culture, and this year the summer festivals will include tours of the Easton Collection Center and garden workshops, in addition to traditional music and dance performances and artist demonstrations. Members have the opportunity to attend a special barbecue with the artists on Friday night. The following Thursday, our courtyard begins staying open late once-a-week with live music. So tell the snow to go away – its time for summer!
Zuni Festival Members Preview
May 24, 5 pm -8 pm
Festival season returns with the Zuni Festival over Memorial Day Weekend, and this year members are invited to join the artists for a barbecue and awards ceremony that Friday evening. This special Members Preview provides more opportunity to meet and mingle with the artists, as well as have the first pick of the artwork for sale. Be sure to RSVP.
Thirsty Thursdays return with Tha ‘Yoties
May 30, 5 pm -8 pm
Free for members/$6 nonmembers
Put on your dancing shoes and bring the family. Tha ‘Yoties open the lineup of summer music on Thursday evenings in MNA’s Golightly Courtyard. Remember to bring cash for dinner and drinks.
If you’re not a member, it’s time to become one!
Horticulture Tour: Golightly Courtyard
June 1, 10 am -11 am
Living Exhibitions like the Life Zones in the Golightly Courtyard take a special kind of care and curation. Learn about the plants featured in and around the museum exhibits building; how they are selected, planted, and cared for; and their place in the natural landscape. Feel free to bring a picnic lunch. Tickets required.
Summer Camp Registration
10% off for MNA Members
Camps run weekly from June 10-Aug. 2
Ages: 4-14
This summer, kids can come to MNA to play with clay, camp out in National Parks, learn to cook Hopi foods, perform Shakespeare, and much, much more. Select from 40 art and science (STEAM) camps, all led by professional educators. Extended care and scholarships available. Download theDiscovery Camp schedule and start planning a summer of fun, learning, and exploration. Sign up now
San Juan River Exploration – For ages 11-14
June 17-21, 2019
Raft the mighty San Juan from Bluff to Mexican Hat, Utah. Explore the archaeology, geology, flora and fauna of southern Utah, and experience the sights and sounds of Canyon Country on this special adventure. This weeklong camp starts on the MNA campus Monday (9-4), then goes in the field Tuesday through Friday. Sign up by calling 928-774-5211 ext. 222 or Online
STEAM Second Saturday: Wild for Wolves
June 8 at 2:00 pm
Free for members and kids age 9 and under
Wolves have a fascinating history in northern Arizona. Come explore wolf behavior, pack structure, and hunting habits through games and activities with the Grand Canyon Wolf Recovery Project. We will See the schedule of upcoming STEAM Second Saturdays.
Navajo Weaving Workshop
May 25-27, 9 am -4 pm
$325 members/$375 nonmembers
Join renowned Navajo weaver Marilou Schultz for a three day weaving workshop at the Museum of Northern Arizona. Learn basic weaving techniques to create your own piece and gain insight into this beautiful and traditional art form. Loom and most supplies included. Perfect for all levels including beginners.Sign up for the workshop by calling 928-774-5211 ext. 222 or register Online
SP Crater Day Hike
May 18, 2019, 8:30 am-4 pm
Explore two textbook small volcanoes in one day with geologist Kent Colbath. The short but rigorous hikes lead to glimpses into SP Crater and Doney Crater, as well as spectacular views of the San Francisco Peaks volcanic field. Sign up by calling 928-774-5211 ext. 222 or Online.
San Juan River Music Excursion
May 20-23, 2020
Join MNA songwriting residency musicians, Chris Brashear and Peter McLaughlin, for a musical river adventure. During the day, float through the magnificent Goosenecks and hike side canyons. Spend the evenings enjoying music by two premiere western songwriters beneath the stars. These trips fill up early. Sign up by calling 928-774-5211 ext. 222 or Online.
DesertArtLAB: Ecologies of Resistance
Now open; headphones recommended
The DesertArtLAB interdisciplinary art collaborative transformed a tract of blighted land into a thriving dryland ecosystem with native plants and Native voices. This exhibition illustrates the process through the use of artifacts, archival materials, botanical samples, and a cell phone audio component. Bring your own headphones for the best experience.
In Retrospect: Growing Our Own Artists
Open until May 27
From 19th century landscape paintings to contemporary sculptures, the MNA fine art collection is as diverse and expansive as the Colorado Plateau. This retrospective exhibition explores the legacy of the donors who helped build the collection over the past 90 years through 46 paintings, sketches and sculptures, including iconic works by Mary-Russell Ferrell Colton and Gunnar Widforss. This exhibition is supported by Delmas, The Framing Department, and AEC Printing.
90 Years of Ideas
Now open
The Museum of Northern Arizona was founded 90 years ago with some big ideas – that a museum can be core to the culture of a community; that science, art, and culture belong together in one museum; that a museum can and should advocate and educate. Come see a graphic presentation of MNA history highlighting some of these ideas and research.
Volunteer at the Festivals
Our summer festivals fill the museum buildings and spill out across our grounds. These fun events require many volunteers to direct visitors, set up tables and chairs, check artists in, provide hospitality and much more. Be part of making the festivals run smoothly this summer. Email msoliday@musnaz.org to help out and thank you, for supporting the museum!
New Zuni items
Cindy De Angelis at the Museum Shop works directly with artists to offer some of the most finely crafted pieces of art and jewelry for sale. She recently returned from a trip to Santa Fe with spectacular Zuni fetishes, inlaid jewelry, pottery and more. Come see them during the Zuni Festival, or Browse & Buy online. Remember, MNA members get a discount on most shop items.
If you’ve felt it, you love it
Soft and warm, with just the right weight to keep warm on a cold night, the commemorative Pendleton blanket from MNA is as useful as it is beautiful. It’s an investment that will last a lifetime. And the “back” side is just as lovely as the front side, so it’s like two blankets in one. Both sides feature the Sunset Crater Kachina, a symbol of hope that is closely connected to Flagstaff and MNA. Buy your limited edition blanket online or stop by the MNA shop.
Select Museum of Northern Arizona to support MNA with every purchase when you buy through Amazonsmile.