| Dear Museum Friends,
As the vibrant colors of autumn arrive, we invite you to the Museum of Northern Arizona for a month of colorful events and cultural experiences.
Please join us for the 21st Annual Celebraciones de la Gente held with Flagstaff Nuestras Raíces on October 26 and 27. The weekend festival honors the spirit of Día de los Muertos with remembrances, Latino art, mariachis, food, and a gathering of community. You’ll especially enjoy a meander through the Jaime Major Golightly Courtyard on Saturday evening to experience the traditional ofrendas (altars) glowing against the night sky.
Our Horse & Rider exhibit, a unique exploration of the important relationship between Indigenous people and horses, is closing at the end of the month. Don’t miss seeing the art and artifacts that underscore this enduring bond. On October 22, Diné horseman Clayson Benally and his father Jones will give an evening presentation of dance and storytelling centered on the exhibit’s theme.
I’m excited to see you at the Museum this month. |
| Mary Kershaw
Executive Director & CEO
Museum of Northern Arizona |
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Celebraciones de la Gente
October 26, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; October 27, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Experience vibrant traditions at the 21st Annual Celebraciones de la Gente! Join us for a weekend filled with color, culture, and celebration. Presented in partnership with Flagstaff Nuestras Raíces, Celebraciones honors the spirit of Día de los Muertos with heartfelt remembrances and joyful festivities. Experience Mariachi Rubor, festive dances, authentic Mexican food, arts and crafts, Courtyard After Dark, and much more. Purchase tickets in advance or at the door. |
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Dance & Stories with Clayton, Jones Benally
October 22, 6-7:30 p.m.
Join us for an evening with Diné horseman and healer Clayson Benally and his father Jones, a respected elder, healer, and award-winning hoop dancer. They will present the horsetail dance and stories underscoring the importance of horses in Diné culture. This special event is held in conjunction with the Oct. 28 closing of our Horse & Rider exhibition, which explores through art, artifacts, and stories the deep and enduring bond between Indigenous people and horses. |
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Wupatki National Monument SymposiumNovember 3, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
The National Park Service will commemorate the 100-year anniversary of Wupatki National Monument with a symposium at the Museum of Northern Arizona. Join us to learn about the history of the monument, the enduring connection of Indigenous communities, and current events at the monument. Indigenous artists will demonstrate their work and artwork by Wupatki artists-in-residence and science information will be on display. |
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Become a Volunteer Museum Guide
Sessions begin October 17
Tour guides, also known as docents, are MNA volunteers who go through an intensive learning experience. You too can study the history, culture, and art of the Colorado Plateau with the goal of giving guided tours at the Museum of Northern Arizona. Weekly training sessions occur Thursdays, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., October 17-February 6. To join the docent program, email your interest to Volunteer Manager Mari Soliday at msoliday@musnaz.org. |
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Nature Journaling is back at MNA
Saturday sessions run thru Dec. 8, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Avid nature journalist and artist Christine Snyder teaches the foundational skill sets needed to tune into creativity and sharpen observational skills. Each session focuses on a specific topic, teaching you how to quickly sketch and paint the subject using the ink-and-wash method, and end with an outdoor exploration to practice your newly found skills. Fall Leaves session takes place Oct. 13 with other sessions following. Sign up today. |
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Apply for Namingha Institute 2025
The Namingha Institute Master Class, led by Hopi-Tewa artists Dan Namingha and Arlo Namingha, provides a two-week residency learning experience for early-career artists. The institute is a paid residency held at the Museum of Northern Arizona April 27-May 11, 2025. The program is open to all artists 18 years of age or older. Completed applications must be received before 5 p.m. on January 13, 2025. Learn more. Or contact MNA Education Manager Sacha Siskonen at naminghainstitute@musnaz.org. |
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| Art Classes
Local artists teach classes in ceramics, drawing, watercolor, and landscape painting in Discover Village at MNA. See our classes page for details. |
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This highly anticipated exhibition explores the origins, heritage, and ongoing use of an iconic geology map first published by MNA in 1976. Alongside a display of the original map are rocks from the Grand Canyon formations, descriptions of the geologic layers, and bygone map-making instruments. Copies of the map and other related collectibles are for sale in the Museum Gift Shop. |
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Horse & Rider: A Southwest Story
Closes October 28
The history of horses in North America is being rewritten as radiocarbon dating reveals that Indigenous people had ridden and cared for horses earlier than previously thought. The new research was the impetus for this exhibition that combines fine art and artifacts from our collections with first-person accounts of the cultural and spiritual importance of horses in Diné, Hopi, and Zuni culture. |
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Selling the Southwest
In the early 20th century, travel industry entrepreneurs employed artists to create a sense of wonder and mystery about the American Southwest that attracted tourists and established a romanticized vision that has remained to this day. Many of the artists are now prominent names in the canon of classic Southwest art. See works by Thomas Moran, Louis Akin, and Gunnar Widforss, alongside pottery, rugs, jewelry, and artwork by Indigenous artists. |
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This unique ceramic travel mug is a replica of a beautiful clay pot handcrafted by award-winning artist Hubert Candelario of San Felipe Pueblo. The mug is a practical way to bring the beauty of Pueblo pottery designs into your everyday life. Authentic Native American works are available in our Gift Shop inside the Museum. Or shop online at shopmusnaz.org.All proceeds benefit the artists and the Museum. |
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