s an diego mu seu m o f ma n • m e m b e r n ews l e t t e r
discovery
2017 Vol. 34 No.1
Photo by Josh Lake
sparking conversations that matter Change starts with a conversation. Whether it’s about how race affects us in our daily lives or how examining a taboo topic can lead to greater understanding of others, we’re striving to spark conversations that matter in our exhibits, programs, tours, and daily running of the Museum.
This school tour is so popular, it makes up 15% of all education programs, with 1,500 students participating in the tour since its debut last February.
One way we’re doing this is with our new school tours and teacher resources based on our core exhibit Race: Are We So Different? and its new expansion Inter + FACE.
By engaging with students and encouraging conversations, we’re taking steps towards a more inclusive, open future. As 6th grader Roxanne said, “We can stop racism by just treating others how we want to be treated and not calling people names just because they look different.”
Instead of a traditional lecture-style tour, this new tour challenges students to discuss and engage with the science, history, and lived experiences of race and racism in the United States.
We hope you’ll join us for a conversation soon and help us become a space filled with compassion and love, where you feel at home talking about the experiences that unite us all as human beings.
This year’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Day community conversation.
living with animals brings new look to older gallery In Living with Animals, visitors will take a journey to discover how we live and interact with the animals in our daily lives— from our beloved pets and irksome pests, to the meat on our dinner plates. It’s a journey that’s enhanced and enlivened by the exhibit’s whimsical, creative design. “I hope visitors gain a new perspective after visiting the exhibit, like when you see an amazing piece of art or you’ve been on a great trip—you come back changed and can’t wait to tell others about it,” said Exhibit Designer David Reynoso. “It’s a springboard for more conversations about how we interact with animals.”
While designing the exhibit, which replaced the Human Lab and Time Tunnel exhibits, we’ve focused on creating a unique, exploratory visitor experience that blends seamlessly with the historic architecture of the building. Curved walls and pathways, tactile elements, and immersive environments will delight visitors and give them freedom to explore at their own pace and discover information in unexpected and interactive ways. “People should be able to touch things, and this space encourages visitors to be a participant, not an intruder,” said Reynoso. “This exhibit is built around the visitor—they’re at the core of what we do.” See Living with Animals on March 11, 2017: http://museumofman.org/animals