IN THIS ISSUE 10
vol. 33 no. 3
14
24
28
4 Letter from the
18 Fall Exhibits &
6 Volunteer News
22 MOAS 2015 Holiday
Executive Director Volunteer of the Quarter & Intern Spotlight
8 Event Spotlight
France Family Gallery Celebration
10 Zach In Time
BY ZACH ZACHARIAS
The World of the Giant Ground Sloth
14 The Power of Art
Programming Calendar Gift Guide
Unique gift ideas for all ages
24 MOAS Guild News BY KATHY WILSON
Fall Events & More
28 Over and Out BY SETH MAYO
Mysteries of the Milky Way
22
BY BETH DOBBERSTEIN
A look at art through the eyes of children
Recognize this historic Volusia ON THE COVER County landmark? Read more Jack Mitchell Exhibit on display in the Karshan Center of Graphic within the and eventual about itsArts history new West Wing of the Museum of Arts & Sciences. Come see it for yourself at destruction on page 14 the public opening October 30, 2015.
MOAS STAFF
Executive Director ANDREW SANDALL ASHLEY ADAIR, Security TYLER ADAIR, Security LEE ASHTON, Security JACOB BLACKENSHIP, Security MARK CARRUTHERS, Guest Services Assistant JENELLE CODIANNE, Director of Marketing and Public Relations MATTHEW CONNELLY, Security ROBERT CONSOLO, Planetarium Educator COREY COOK, Guest Services Assistant DEAN CORMIER, Facilities Assistant STEVEN DALLAS, Head of Security MEGAN FINLEY, Curatorial Assistant ERIC GOIRE, Director of Operations KELSEY HANSEN, Education Assistant AUSTIN HARDIN, Security WAYNE HARRIS, Security LORI HOEPFINGER, Guest Services Associate ASHLEY HOLLIS BUSSEY, Planetarium Educator SIARA HUNT, Planetarium Educator JESSI JACKSON SMITH, Director of Development ARIEL JENNIS, Planetarium Educator LYNETTE LUFF, Guest Services Associate ERIC MAUK, Curator of Exhibits DAN MAYNARD, Facilities Assistant SETH MAYO, Curator of Astronomy MONICA MITRY, Membership and Volunteer Coordinator AMANDA NEELY, Director of Sales and Special Events PATRICIA NIKOLLA, Guest Relations Manager FREDRIKA PAULIG, Guest Services Associate ANGELO PIERCE, Security CODY ROGERS, Security JASON SCHREINER, Planetarium Educator ROY SHAFFER, JR., Maintenance Supervisor LISA SHAW, Guest Services Associate CARLYN SWAIN, Finance Associate ISRAEL TAYLOR, Physical Plant Assistant AIMEE VAN VARICK, Administrative Coordinator ROBERT WOHLRAB, Curatorial Assistant J. “ZACH” ZACHARIAS, Senior Curator of Education and Curator of History LUIS ZENGOTITA, Science and Education Associate
Editor JENELLE CODIANNE Assistant Editors LYNETTE LUFF MONICA MITRY Contributing Writers BETH DOBBERSTEIN, MA SETH MAYO PATRICIA NIKOLLA KATHY WILSON J. “ZACH” ZACHARIAS Art Director NIKKI MASTANDO, MASTANDO MEDIA
4 ARTS & SCIENCES MAGAZINE
LETTER FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Dear friends, It is an exciting time for everyone at the Museum of Arts & Sciences as during these fall months we will finally conclude two of the largest projects the Museum ANDREW SANDALL has ever undertaken. We are excited to welcome visitors to the newly reinterpreted Root Family Museum and the entirely remodeled West Wing. I know I speak for all of the members of my staff who have worked on these projects when I say that we cannot wait to see your reaction! The West Wing remodel took a lot of hard work behind the scenes just to get us to a point where we were eligible for the funding. This much needed funding allowed us to not only repair the damage caused by the 2009 flooding, but to also raise the level of the wing so that flooding would not be an issue in the future. I can still remember the day that we got the notice that the FEMA grant had been approved – mostly because it was just a couple of weeks after we had announced the construction of the Cici and Hyatt Brown Museum of Art. I was already trying to figure out how we would manage that project alone! We assembled a great team to tackle the West Wing rebuild and somehow managed to balance the demands of all of our construction projects without dominating or taking focus away from any single project. Of course, the first part of the West Wing rebuild opened last summer with the relocation of the new Planetarium. The new Planetarium has been a great success so far with attendance tripling in its first year. This opening set the tone and gave everyone a taste of what was to come. Most of the work on the West Wing has been going on out of sight (at the back of the Museum), unlike the work that was done with the Brown Museum. I know that people are going to be amazed to see what has been achieved when the temporary wall is removed. It is truly a fitting home for the Cuban Museum, Karshan, Marzullo and Gillespy galleries, and one that has a distinctly contemporary feel. Naturally, we are all excited about moving our biggest star – the Giant Ground Sloth – back to its original home and into a gallery specially designed to show off one of our most famous exhibits. We have been making small, but noticeable changes in the Root Family Museum for over a year now, including the enclosure of the Train Station which has allowed us to add an expanded
MOAS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ANDREW SANDALL, WITH CONGRESSMAN JOHN MICA AT THE UNITED STATES CAPITOL IN JUNE. CONGRESSMAN MICA’S WORK IN CONGRESS WAS KEY IN ALLOWING THE MUSEUM TO RECEIVE FEMA FUNDING FOR THE RECONSTRUCTION OF THE WEST WING.
railroad exhibit. The timing of this project’s completion is intentional, as November 16, 2015 marks the 100th anniversary of the patent for the Coca-Cola® bottle that went on to become a worldwide icon. This bottle design set the Root family on the path that is now told in their museum here at MOAS. With the final pieces added, the story of the family and their lives is told alongside exhibits that look at the significance of the bottle they designed which has been such a large part of American culture. My recent trip to visit our colleagues at the Smithsonian Institution in DC really brought home how lucky we are to have the Root Family Museum here at MOAS. I took the opportunity to visit the National Archives and headed to the rotunda to see the Charters of Freedom exhibit, containing the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. In the room was a small case which contained within it the patent grant document issued for the Root Company Coca-Cola® bottle. This was pulled from the records of the Patent and Trademark Office housed within the institution. It made me feel so proud to know that the other copy of that document, the one issued to the Root Company, is on display on the walls of the Root Family Museum back home in Daytona Beach. It was a true reminder of what amazing, worldclass exhibits and artifacts we have right here at our fingertips to see that same document in such illustrious company. We look forward to showing you all of the wonderful changes to the Museum this fall!
BOARD OF TRUSTEES AND SPONSORS MAJOR SPONSORS
2015 BOARD OF TRUSTEES
GOLD Bright House Networks Brown & Brown, Inc. Cici and Hyatt Brown Guild of the Museum of Arts & Sciences Halifax Health Gene and Diane Rogers Travel Host Magazine Zgraph, Inc.
Thomas Hart, President Melinda Dawson, Vice President Bridget Bergens, Second Vice President SILVER Bethune-Cookman University Linda M. Hall, Secretary Cobb Cole J. Lester Kaney, Assistant Secretary Daytona Beach News-Journal Chris Lydecker, Treasurer Daytona International Speedway Cory Walker, Assistant Treasurer Jon Hall Chevrolet Mastando Media Carol Lively Platig, Past President NASCAR ® Cici Brown, Trustee Liasion RLF Architects Liz Chanfrau Thurman Gillespy, Jr., MD BRONZE Bahama House Lucas Haber Best Western Aku Tiki Inn Todd Huffstickler Bomar Construction Janet Jacobs Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Kim A. Klancke, MD Encore Catering of Central Florida Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center Carl W. Lentz, III, MD, FACS Gary R. Libby Trust Eileen McDermott Giles Electric Family Katherine Hurst Miller Tom and Peggie Hart Ellen O’Shaughnessy Consuelo and Richard Hartmann Ed and Pat Jackson Maria Rickling Dr. and Mrs. Kim A. Klancke Kathy Wilson, MOAS Guild Representative Jill Simpkins and L. Gale Lemerand Amy Workowski Stuart and Lisa Sixma Barbara Young David and Toni Slick SunTrust Bank Allison Morris Zacharias Tom and Sena Zane
HONORARY TRUSTEES
ABOUT THE MUSEUM ABOUT THE MUSEUM OF ARTS AND SCIENCES The Museum of Arts and Sciences is a not-for-profit educational institution, chartered by the State of Florida in 1962 and accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. Museum collections and research include Cuban and Florida art, American fine and decorative arts, European fine and decorative arts, pre-Columbian and African artifacts, Pleistocene fossils, Florida history and regional natural history. Permanent and changing exhibitions, lectures, and classes highlight educational programs. The Museum houses changing arts and sciences exhibition galleries, permanent collection galleries, a gallery of American art, paintings, decorative arts and furniture, the Charles and Linda Williams Children’s Museum, the Cici and Hyatt Brown Museum of Art, the Cuban Fine and Folk Art Museum, a state-of-the-art planetarium, library, the Frischer Sculpture Garden, maintains nature trails in a 90-acre preserve in adjacent Tuscawilla Park, and operates Gamble Place in Port Orange. The Museum of Arts and Sciences is recognized by the State of Florida as a cultural institution and receives major funding from the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture. Major Museum programs and activities for members, school children and the general public are also supported by grants from the County of Volusia, the Guild of the Museum of Arts and Sciences, the Junior League of Daytona Beach, Target®, Elfun Community Fund, and the UCF Educational Partnership. MUSEUM HOURS: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Sunday
Miriam Blickman Anderson Bouchelle (Deceased) J. Hyatt Brown Alys Clancy (Deceased) Tippen Davidson (Deceased) Susan Root Feibleman (Deceased) Herbert Kerman (Deceased) Chapman Root (Deceased) Jan Thompson (Deceased)
The Museum of Arts and Sciences is committed to the Americans with Disabilities Act by making our facility and programs accessible to all people. If you have any special requirements, suggestions, or recommendations, please contact our representative, Executive Director, Andrew Sandall, at 386.255.0285. If you prefer, you may contact the Cultural Council of Volusia County representative at 386.257.6000, or the Division of Cultural Affairs, The Capitol, Tallahassee 850.487.2980, or TT 850.488.5779.
Executive Director Emeritus
A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE WITHIN THE STATE. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. THE TOLL-FREE NUMBER IS 1.800.435.7352. FLORIDA REGISTRATION #CH-1851
Gary R. Libby
Arts & Sciences is published quarterly by the Museum of Arts & Sciences, 352 S. Nova Road, Daytona Beach, Florida 32114, telephone 386.255.0285, web site www.moas.org. Income from contributors helps offset a portion of the expense involved in the production of this publication. ADVERTISING INQUIRIES All inquiries regarding advertising should be directed to the MOAS Communications Department at 386.255.0285, ext. 320.
VOLUNTEER NEWS
Volunteer of the Quarter Carol Ann Moritz
6 ARTS & SCIENCES MAGAZINE
Carol Ann grew up along the East Coast of the United States. She cherishes memories of autumn foliage in New England, blue crab fishing on the Chesapeake Bay, picking tobacco in North Carolina and participating in the Easter Egg Roll on the White House lawn.
time she traveled all over Asia, canoeing on the Mekong River, visiting the Forbidden City in China, playing with koalas on a pineapple plantation in Australia, and traveling the length and breadth of Japan. Love and life brought Carol Ann back to Florida.
She called Daytona Beach home as a young woman. She married, had two wonderful children, went to college and began a teaching career. Later in life, she went on an adventure that lasted fourteen years, teaching English to Japanese business people. During this
“Being a docent at the Cici and Hyatt Brown Museum of Art is like taking a weekly tour of my favorite spots in Florida, past and present. Sharing some of Florida’s history and introducing these marvelous paintings to our guests is truly a labor of love.”
Intern Spotlight Cody Conrad Cody’s roles at the Museum include assisting the teachers at the Summer Learning Institute, enlightening children about the beauty of science through outreach to schools and summer camps, and organizing He is currently working on dual future exhibits. majors of Spanish and Marine Sciences at the University of Cody attributes a great deal of his Florida. thirst for knowledge and desire Cody Conrad has been volunteering at the Museum of Arts & Sciences for six years and attended the Summer Learning Institute at the Museum as a child in elementary school.
to teach to his time spent at the Museum.
Cody aspires to research elasmobranchology in graduate school and thereafter become We wish Cody luck as he a professor of a field in continues his educational marine sciences or continue pursuits. researching and advocating for the conservation of the oceans.
MOAS EVENT SPOTLIGHT
France Family Gallery Celebration On July 16, the Museum was joined in celebration by members of the France family for the dedication of the France Family Gallery at the Cici and Hyatt Brown Museum of Art at MOAS.
The gallery, named for the family, is the Museum’s largest changing gallery. Visitors can currently enjoy exhibits that showcase paintings on Florida weather and Florida cities and communities. The France family contributed a gift of $2 million to the endowment fund set up by Cici and Hyatt Brown before the new museum opened to the public. Above: Hyatt Brown, right, makes a toast to the France Family, Betty Jane France, Jim and Sharon France, Lesa France Kennedy and Bill Cristy during the dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremonies for the France Family Gallery at the Cici and Hyatt Brown Museum of Art at MOAS. 8 ARTS & SCIENCES MAGAZINE
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ARTS & SCIENCES MAGAZINE 9
By J. ”Zach” Zacharias Senior Curator of Education and Curator of History
The Museum’s Giant Ground Sloth that roamed the Volusia County area 130,000 years ago, died on a small riverbank and became entombed in mud, presumably lost forever. Fast forward to 1975 when two amateur paleontologists, Don Serbousek and Roger Alexon, discovered the fossil site in a borrow pit 2.5 miles south of the Museum. Today this site is known as Reed Canal Park on Nova Road. A monument marks the location of the archaeological dig and states that evidence of 13 giant ground sloths were excavated at this site and yielded enough bone material for two Paleontologists, Don Serbousek and Roger Alexon, at complete skeletons. the Daytona bone bed, now known as Reed Canal Park This fossil site is so on Nova Road unusual because it marks the largest natural die off of giant ground sloths in the world not associated with a tar pit or sinkhole. Giant ground sloths began evolving some 50 million years ago and were one of the most unusual animals of the last ice age. They evolved primarily in South America, where the continent was isolated from other continents. As landmasses changed, these large beasts finally had an opportunity to move from their large island continent. Many animals began taking advantage of the newly formed Isthmus of Panama which allowed crossings from South America to North America and vice versa upon its formation 3 million years ago. Fossil remains dating back even further to 10 million years ago in Florida indicate some sloths moved out of South America prior to the land bridge, probably taking advantage of past sea level changes. In fossil record, there are many different types of giant ground sloths, making it difficult to keep a family tree of them. Species ranged in size and weight from 400-10,000 pounds. Skeletal clues of the Museum’s specimen tell us about its life and times in a colder world. The sloth lived during the last ice age, called the Pleistocene or Wisconsinan Glaciation Period which lasted from 2.1 million to 13,000 years before present day. Giant sloths loved the lowland semi-swampy area of Daytona Beach. The type of flora that was present at the time can be identified from fossil seeds and pollen recovered from the dig site. The giant beast was a browser, choosing to eat a diet of leaves, twigs, and small branches with giant peg-like teeth that grew its entire life. It had five upper and four lower teeth on each side of the jaw, which it needed to grind up heavy plant material. It could rear up on 10 ARTS & SCIENCES MAGAZINE
its hind legs and balance itself on a short, powerful tail, allowing it to reach the tops of the trees. It consumed upwards of 300 pounds of plant food daily. Large and robust forelimbs helped the animal grab branches and pull them to its mouth where a large tongue that was up to 2 feet long helped consume the vegetation. Huge muscles, lots of fat, and reddish brown fur that may have smelled bad, acted as a defense mechanism to help keep predators, such as dire wolves, at bay. Nine cervical vertebrae, instead of the usual seven for mammals, and a multitude of unusually strange joints made this creature unique. Its unusual lower lumber vertebrae possessed extra processes which let it rear up on its hind legs and balance itself like a tripod. Tree sloths, armadillos, anteaters, extinct glyptodonts, and giant armadillos share this same lower vertebra characteristic. Comparative anatomy tells us that all of these animals shared some type of common ancestor and are all cousins in the same group that evolved in South America. These animals thrived until the last ice age.
The World of the GIANT GROUND SLOTH
By J. ”Zach” Zacharias Senior Curator of Education and Curator of History
Paleontologists are like forensic detectives, except their clues and evidence have been left outside in the elements for thousands, and in some instances millions, of years. Scientists have engaged in spirited debates for decades about the cause of the downfall of giant ground sloths, wooly mammoths, and other related ice age inhabitants. Analyzing bones, geological clues, and sampling ice cores have led researchers to fall into two camps of thought, with each poking holes into the opposing party’s theories. One group holds the theory that climate change caused mass extinctions at the end of the last ice age. The other group of scientists argue that the appearance of humans with sophisticated throwing weapons, like the atlatl, caused them to die
large animals seemed to disappear from the fossil record. For whatever mysterious reason, the birth rate could not keep up with the death rate.
Former Museum of Arts & Sciences Curator of Science, Steve Hartman, and Curator of Vertebrate Paleontology from the Royal Ontario Museum in Canada, Dr. Gordon Edmund, working on the skeletal frame of the Giant Ground Sloth.
off. Archaeological evidence throughout the Americas show us that there was an arrival of a group of nomads called the Clovis People who hurled large spear points. Wherever these people show up,
New research just released in July 2015 from the American Journal of Science, swings the extinction debate pendulum back to the climate change theorists as cause for the extinction of the giant ground sloth. Recent analysis of ice cores and ancient animal DNA showed that rapid climate warming killed off these large animals very suddenly. Ice core samples show quick temperature rises from 7 to 29 degrees Fahrenheit in just a few decades. Continiued on page 12
display. The skeleton was put together in sections with the rib cage, arms, neck, and cervical vertebrae and the hips and legs as one unit. Money was raised to build a permanent gallery by the community and organizations such as the Junior Service League, the Lions Club and many individual donors. In 1980, this world-class specimen found a permanent home, not at the Smithsonian or the Royal Ontario Museum, but at the Museum of Arts & Sciences, which at that time was a small museum in Daytona Beach. In 2009, the Sloth was temporarily moved out of its permanent display when the Museum began a multi-year, multiphase renovation project to the West Wing. Now that the permanent home for the Giant Sloth is ready, the Museum has contracted with the Raymond Rawls Design Group out of Gainesville, Florida to help disassemble, move and reassemble the skeleton. On August 14, the Rawls team arrived in Daytona Beach to begin the delicate task of moving the skeleton. The sloth is put together in sections with the hips and legs being one entire piece. The cervical vertebrae and the skull make up another section. The two giant arms, or forelimbs, are each their own piece. The biggest and most delicate section to move is the rib cage. The Rawls Design group will work carefully with museum staff to avoid any type of breakage. In the event that any part is damaged or broken, they have personnel who can make the repair. Moving and remounting a 130,000 year-old skeleton is risky business and the process takes three days to complete. When the skeleton is remounted once again, it will continue to stand the test of time.
2015 marks 40 years since the discovery of the Giant Ground Sloth and the 35th year of The Raymond Rawls Design Group working to detach the head and neck of the Giant Ground Sloth.
This did not allow the animals enough time to adapt to the change. This rapid increase in global temperatures changed vegetation and rain patterns causing a ripple effect of extinction. This study is the first to link specific climate events to the localized extinctions of mega fauna. More evidence and more debate will certainly ensue. Putting the Museum’s Giant Ground Sloth back together was no easy task since prior skeletons were only 50 percent complete. In 1978, the Museum contracted with the world’s foremost giant ground sloth expert, Dr. Gordon Edmund, 12 ARTS & SCIENCES MAGAZINE
Curator of Vertebrate Paleontology, from the Royal Ontario Museum in Canada. Don Serbousek and Roger Alexon carted hundreds of pounds of bones across the border into Canada for the assembly of Eremotherium, one of the largest North American giant sloths. Dr. Edmund, a graduate of Harvard University, faced a difficult task fitting each piece together without the ability to look at other complete skeletons. At a cost of approximately ten thousand dollars and one year’s work, Dr. Edmund completed an armature, a replica skull, and figured out the complete mounting of the skeletal
its display to the public. The previous exhibit at the Museum endured multiple flooding problems over its history, leading it to be shut down periodically so that repairs could be made. With a new state-of-the-art home in the West Wing, opening at the end of October 2015, the Giant Ground Sloth will thrill Museum guests for decades to come.
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ARTS & SCIENCES MAGAZINE 13
By Beth Dobberstein, MA Art Instructor: MOAS Summer Learning Institute and Sugar Mill Elementary, Port Orange, FL 14 ARTS & SCIENCES MAGAZINE
SUMMER LEARNING INSTITUTE SPOTLIGHT
W
hat do you see? “I see a big alligator, a small ship, green palm trees, and tall grass blowing in the wind.” What do you think is going on? “I think the alligator is getting ready to jump into the water to eat a fish.” What do you wonder? “I wonder if there is another alligator under the water.” The quotes above are from students ages 7 - 9 who attended the 2015 Summer Learning Institute (SLI) at the Museum of Arts & Sciences (MOAS). They were participating in a creative process designed to improve their Visual Thinking Skills (VTS).
Wolff Painting by Mia
Children are naturally curious about what they see. They think differently than adults. They wonder about the unknown and incessantly question the world in which they live. The new Cici and Hyatt Brown Museum of Art at MOAS offers the perfect place for children to practice their Visual Thinking Skills. The VTS strategy used for this arts activity is part of Artful Thinking Program, Project Zero, Harvard Graduate School of Education, titled: “I see…I think...I wonder….” As one of 40 teachers chosen nationwide to attend a 2015 Power of Art Conference in Washington DC, funded by the Rauschenberg Foundation, I met with educational curators from the Smithsonian National Gallery. The
experience allowed me to practice activities that I knew would greatly benefit my art students. What I gleaned and gathered from experts in the field of Art Education and Museum Studies I knew I could implement at MOAS. This is my 6th summer teaching at the MOAS Summer Learning Institute. Each year brings forth excitement and joy as I watch students fall in love with different aspects of the Museum. This year, the recipient of their joy and love was the Brown Museum. One would think or maybe even assume that children have little interest in visiting an art museum, however, this simply is not true. With great anticipation, this year’s group of campers eagerly meandered across the MOAS campus to the Brown Museum. Surrounded by sunsets and palm trees, the students enjoyed a tour led by a very knowledgeable docent. She explained the history of the paintings and described the artists. For a full hour the docent patiently Continiued on page 16
Children a re nat about wha urally curious t they see . think diffe rently than They a dults. They wond er about t he unknown a nd incessa question t n t ly he world in which they live.
en childr n e t l l m ugh a iration fro o h t l A t insp , they sough e painting ique m un the sa umented tyles. iple s ly doc visual ves in mult ecti persp answered the children’s questions. I could not help but notice that the attention of the children kept returning to the painting titled, “Big Al” (1997) by artist Clara Mitchell Carter. I asked the children, “What do you see?” They listed everything from the obvious alligator to the tiny sailboat on the horizon. Next I asked, “What do you think?” and “What do you see that makes you think that?” Experts from the Harvard Graduate School of Education have discovered that this type of activity helps children to distinguish between observations and interpretations. By encouraging students to wonder and ask questions, the routine stimulates curiosity and helps students reach for new connections. The next day, equipped with clipboards, paper and pencils the students sat with crossed legs in front of “Big Al.” They continued the conversation from the previous day. More questions, further speculations, and a silly joke or two bubbled from the mouths of the students. The active dialogue no longer needed adult intervention. The lively discussion was motivated by pure childlike curiosity and excitement. With paper and pencil in hand the students enthusiastically captured the visual image before them. By participating in the VTS activity “What do I see?” the day before, the students were already familiar with the painting and could easily begin drawing some of the things they had spied. Carefully, they overlapped fluffy clouds with tropical palm trees – in doing so gaining a better understanding of how an artist uses background and foreground to create depth in a painting. As the students’ drawings progressed, one could observe the evolution of the “What do I think?” element of the VTS activity. Although all ten children sought inspiration from the same painting, they visually documented unique perspectives in multiple styles. Some of the children embellished their piece with additional alligators while others added a sunset and intricate flowers to the tranquil scene. Back in the classroom at the main Museum, the students continued their exploration through the mixing of color and the application of paint. “I wonder how to create: gator green?” or “I wonder what will happen if I blend these two colors on my palm tree.” With each swirl of the paintbrush, the children discovered their own magical response to color. “A masterpiece!” one child proclaims as he pulled his final stroke. However, their masterpiece was not yet finished. The Power of Art Conference has been a 20 year tradition hosted by the Lab
16 ARTS & SCIENCES MAGAZINE
School of Washington DC. The school’s heartbeat places a vital emphasis on an artinfused curriculum. This means that EVERY subject, from math to reading, incorporates elements of art. The founder of the Lab School discovered that by infusing art into core subjects, students retain the information easier and can better understand the material. Students who learn differently, whether it be dyslexia or ADHD, can be successful in this type of setting. Imagine a school where every child succeeds and actually enjoys learning. The term “literacy” is not usually followed with high fives, however it should be. Studies have found that students who possess strong literacy skills are more successful in other core subjects. There are different types of literacy. Visual literacy involves the ability “to read” an illustration, painting, photo or even a human expression. Literacy in its traditional sense involves the reading and writing of words. An arts-infused curriculum integrates both aspects of literacy in a fun and meaningful way. Back in the classroom, I explained to the students that they would be using their imaginations to create art with words by writing an “I am” poem. I asked the students to look at their “Big Al” artwork and consider one element that most reflects who they are. For example: “Are you most like the alligator, water, grass, or sky?” Using a template from a workshop at the Smithsonian, the students created a poem. The creation of an “I am” poem encourages students to express personal voice through poetry while at the same time improving their literacy skills. The finished poem was proudly recited by each student to “Big Al” and our SLI class in the Brown Museum Seeing, thinking and wondering about art is not just an activity for a classroom. After the final SLI art class, I stopped by the Brown Museum to take one last look at “Big Al.” The front desk attendant informed me that I had
Top: Students participating in a Visual Thinking Skill activity. Bottom: Mia Wolff reading her “I Am” poem.
just missed two of my students and their moms. The children were teaching their mothers how to see, think and wonder about art. The use of Visual Thinking Skills and literacy activities is a wonderful way for children and adults to better understand art. The Brown Museum will continue to provide an exciting springboard for experiencing art with our eyes, hands, minds and hearts.
Below is an example of poems written by SLI students.
“I am Alligator” By Mia
I am an alligator I hear the wind I wonder if I will swim today I worry about other alligators I know I can swim I feel brave I dream of swimming to the island I am alligator
“I am Water” By Logan
I am water I hear a swimming alligator I wonder if I am home to many animals I worry that I am polluted I know that I am a river I feel bored I dream of being a lake I am water
Are you d r iv ing fo r t he a rts ? Purchase a Florida Arts License Plate and support the arts in your county.
The Florida Arts License Plate is available in all local tag offices or through the mail. Locate your tag office at
w w w. f l h s m v. g o v / o f f i c e s
Fall Exhibits Forms of Fancy: Sculptures from the MOAS Collection
THROUGH FALL 2015
From the oldest piece, an ancient tomb figure from China, to the newest, a 21st century painted ceramic “Kitty Hawk”, this exhibition represents 2000 years of sculpture from across the globe.
Jack Mitchell, Photographer & Collector
OPENING OCTOBER 30 THROUGH FEBRUARY 21, 2016
Jack Mitchell was a wellknown photographer, famous for his photographs of dancers and celebrities. Included in this exhibition are pieces by Jimmy Ernst, Bryce Hammond, Lowell Nesbitt, Robert Rauschenberg and Andy Warhol among others.
Contemporary Paintings from the MOAS Collection
THROUGH FALL 2015
A fascinating yet little known grouping of contemporary art in a variety of sizes and media from the MOAS collection. Artists include Antoinette Slick, Hiram Williams and James Rosenquist as well as David Swoyer, whose study in mixed media on paper is both a serious and delightful fantasy.
53rd Annual Halifax Art Festival
Faces from the Past: Portraits from the MOAS Collection THROUGH FEBRUARY 28, 2016
18th through 20th century portraits in a variety of mediums from the MOAS collection.
John James Audubon: A Selection of Prints from the MOAS Collection THROUGH FEBRUARY 28, 2016
NOVEMBER 7 & 8, 2015
Enjoy art from over 250 artists from around the country on historic downtown Beach Street, from Orange Avenue to Bay Street at the Riverfront Shops of Daytona Beach.
John James Audubon was a French-American ornithologist noted for his bird drawings and paintings. Enjoy a selection from the MOAS collection of Audubon’s life devotion to painting birds and other animals.
Stay in touch! For the latest exhibit and programming information, sign up for our e-newsletter at MOAS.org/newsletter.html!
Exhibits and dates subject to change. 18 ARTS & SCIENCES MAGAZINE
FALL PROGRAMS Ongoing Events
November
December
Wednesday Yoga in the Gallery Wednesdays, 5:30pm-6:30pm Take a break from your busy day and enjoy weekly Yoga in the Gallery at the new Cici and Hyatt Brown Museum of Art. Meet in the lobby to join registered yoga instructor, Ashley Brooks of Holistic Movements, for an hour-long session that will provide you with an opportunity to practice a series of gentle yoga poses. Class is open to all levels. Please bring a mat, towel and water. Space is limited, registration is required. RSVP to the Museum at 386-255-0285. $10.00 for general admission, $5.00 for members. Wednesday Yoga in the Gallery will be taking a break for the holidays starting November 18th and will resume on January 6th.
November 3 3:00pm-4:00pm Ruth Law Join local historians and authors, Ron and Alice Howell, in the Root Family Auditorium to learn about the Daytona aviation pioneer, Ruth Law. Ruth Law flew her planes off the hard packed sands of Daytona Beach in the early 1900’s, long before Amelia Earhart and Charles Lindberg. A book signing of Ruth Law, Daytona’s Pioneer Aviator will follow the presentation. $5.00 for general admission, free for members or with paid museum admission.
December 3 3:00pm-4:00pm Tram Tour of Gamble Place Preserve Join Senior Curator of Education and Curator of History, James “Zach” Zacharias, for a fun eco tram tour of Gamble Place. There are five distinct ecosystems that make the Museum preserve unique. Learn about the plants, animals and habitats that make this area protected. This tour is weather permitting. Seating is limited and RSVP is required. Call the Museum at 386-255-0285 to reserve your spot. $10.00 for general admission and $7.00 for members.
New Planetarium Show – Mysteries of the Milky Way Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 4:00pm through October, November and December. A special live show about the wonders of the Milky Way.
October October 9 4:00pm-4:45pm Special Planetarium Show: Seeing Double with Spica featuring ERAU’s Dr. Jason Aufdenberg, Associate Professor of Physics & Astronomy State-of-the-art measurements in April 2015 from the Center for High-Resolution Astronomy (CHARA) Array on Mt. Wilson in California have allowed us to make images of Spica’s (the brightest start in Virgo) two stellar components for the first time. Come learn about Spica’s role in the history of astronomy and what we are learning about Spica from modern-day stellar interferometry. $5.00 for adults, $3.00 for children, free for members or with paid museum admission. October 10 7:00pm-9:45pm Second Saturday Laser Rock Concert 7:00pm Laseropolis 8:00pm Laser Zeppelin 9:00pm Fright Light – Halloween Show $5.00 for one show, $7.00 for two shows or $9.00 for three shows. October 16 2:00pm-3:00pm Porch Talk at Gamble Place: Gamble Place Hour-Long Tour Join Senior Curator of Education and Curator of History, James “Zach” Zacharias, at Gamble Place in Port Orange for a unique look at the James Gamble Place property. Take a tour of each building and learn about the history of the industrialist’s life at the hunting lodge. Kindly RSVP in advance to 386-255-0285. $5.00 for general admission, free for members. October 21 1:00pm-2:00pm Meet Me in the Gallery: Cici and Hyatt Brown Museum of Art, Discover the Masterworks Discover the masterworks that make up the permanent gallery at the Cici and Hyatt Brown Museum of Art and learn about Florida history through the amazing pieces of artwork that date back as far as the 1830’s. Join Senior Curator of Education and Curator of History, James “Zach” Zacharias, for this unique look that reflects art, history and science. Free for members or with paid museum admission.
November 11 4:00pm-4:45pm Special Planetarium Show: A New Era of Commercial Space With their ambitious sights set to deep space missions, NASA is now hoping to rely on the commercial space industry to launch spacecraft closer to home on low-Earth orbit flights. Fly through space with us and learn about the new role that space companies are taking and how they are shaping the future of exploration. $5.00 for adults, $3.00 for children, free for members or with paid museum admission . November 13 2:00pm-3:00pm Porch Talk at Gamble Place: The Timucuan Indians Sit on the front porch of Gamble Place and discover the world of the Timucuan Indians with Senior Curator of Education and Curator of History, James “Zach” Zacharias. Learn about the history of these first true natives of the Northeast, how they interacted with Europeans, and eventually their demise. $5.00 for general admission, free for members. November 14 7:00pm-9:45pm Second Saturday Laser Rock Concert 7:00pm Laser Beatles 8:00pm Laser U2 9:00pm Laser Metallica $5.00 for one show, $7.00 for two shows or $9.00 for three shows. November 18 3:00pm-4:00pm Talk and Tour: The World of the Giant Ground Sloth Learn the story of the Museum’s Giant Ground Sloth from its extinction to the discovery of its skeleton. Tour the gallery in the West Wing with Senior Curator of Education and Curator of History, James “Zach” Zacharias, and learn about this world-class specimen. Free for members or with paid museum admission. November 20 12:00pm-1:30pm Lunch and Learn: Cici and Hyatt Brown Museum of Art Join Senior Curator of Education and Curator of History, James “Zach” Zacharias, for lunch at the HoneyBaked Ham Café at the Brown Museum and learn about the unique paintings of people, places and things that make this world-class collection of Florida art so inspiring. Seating is limited and a RSVP is required. Call the Museum at 386-255-0285 ext. 312 to place your lunch order and reserve your spot. Lecture is $5.00 plus paid lunch for general admission and free plus paid lunch for members.
December 9 6:30pm-9:30pm Celebrate the Holidays, Florida Style Florida and seasonal beverages, Florida food, and Florida clothes – join us for a night of holiday cheer, the Florida way. Sip on a Florida themed beverage and bring out your inner child by playing a classic board game. Take a photo with our surfing Santa, enjoy a special holiday laser show in the Planetarium, decorate cookies and create a holiday ornament that reminds you of your childhood. Come in your Florida wear, or dress to impress for our ugly holiday sweater contest. Prizes will be awarded for the top three ugliest sweaters. This holiday event is for ages 21 and older. Tickets are $15.00 per person. To purchase your ticket, call the Museum at 386-255-0285. December 10 6:00pm-9:30pm Holidays Under the Stars Celebrate the holiday season in the Planetarium and enjoy shows and activities that are great for the entire family. Holiday themed planetarium and laser shows will be playing throughout the evening. There will be special musical offerings by EmbryRiddle’s acapella group, the Acafellas, who will be singing holiday songs in the Planetarium synced to beautiful full dome images and animations. Weather permitting, there will also be telescopes set up outside for night sky gazing. Schedule: 6:00pm Laser Holidays – Laser music show 6:45pm Season of Light – Planetarium show about the origin of holiday traditions 7:30pm Acafellas Performance – songs of the season under the dome 8:15pm Season of Light – Planetarium show about the origin of holiday traditions 9:00pm Laser Holidays – Laser music show General Admission: $10.00 for adults, $6.00 children (6-17), children under 6 free Members: $5.00 for adults, children are free December 12 3:00pm-4:30pm Afternoon with Florida History As we celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the end of the Civil War, join the Museum for an afternoon of Florida History. The Story of Fort Pickens Learn about the important history of Fort Pickens during the Civil War. This massive fort, designed to protect the city and harbor, is one of the few forts to see heavy military action between Union and Confederate troops early in the war. Join Senior Curator of Education and Curator of History, James “Zach” Zacharias, to discover the long operational history of this amazing coastal fort. The Story of the Battle of Olustee Join local historian, Joe Vetter, and learn about the largest battle fought in Florida during the Civil
Join us December 9th at "Celebrate the Holidays, Florida Style!" See calendar listing for details!
War, involving more than 10,000 troops. The horrific battle in Baker County was fought on February 20, 1864 and was a spirit-raising win for the Confederacy. $5.00 for general admission, free for members or with paid museum admission. December 12 7:00pm-9:45pm Second Saturday Laser Rock Concert 7:00pm Laser Vinyl 8:00pm Pink Floyd – The Wall 9:00pm Pink Floyd – The Dark Side of the Moon $5.00 for one show, $7.00 for two shows or $9.00 for three shows.
CHILDREN’S PROGRAMMING October October 1 1:30pm-3:30pm Galileo Galilei (Ages 7-13) Learn about Galileo’s contributions to astronomy. For example, discovering Jupiter’s moons. $15.00 for general admission, $10.00 for members. Kindly RSVP in advance to 386-255-0285. October 6 1:30pm-2:15pm Preschool Percussion (Ages 3-5) Learn about Latin rhythms. This class is brought to you free of charge by PNC Bank. Kindly RSVP in advance to 386-255-0285. October 13 1:30pm-3:00pm Electricity (Ages 4-6) Learn about magnetic electricity and how to build circuits and control robots. $15.00 for general admission, $10.00 for members. Kindly RSVP in advance to 386-255-0285.
November November 3 1:30pm-2:15pm Preschool Percussion (Ages 3-5) Learn about African rhythms. This class is brought to you free of charge by PNC Bank. Kindly RSVP in advance to 386-255-0285.
Kindly reserve your Annual Dinner tickets:
November 5 1:30pm-3:30pm Isaac Newton (Ages 7-13) Learn about Isaac Newton’s contributions to science. For example, discovering the laws of motion. $15.00 for general admission, $10.00 for members. Kindly RSVP in advance to 386-255-0285.
Please select one entrée selection for each attendee: Fish____ Chicken____ Vegetarian____
November 10 1:30pm-3:00pm Physics (Ages 4-6) Discover how thrust, drag, lift and gravity interact. $15.00 for general admission, $10.00 for members. Kindly RSVP in advance to 386-255-0285.
Name(s): ________________________________________________
December
Address:__________________________________________________
December 1 1:30pm-2:15pm Preschool Percussion (Ages 3-5) Learn about Asian rhythms. This class is brought to you free of charge by PNC Bank. Kindly RSVP in advance to 386-255-0285.
Number of individual tickets ______ @ $45 I am unable to attend but want to contribute: $____________
City, State, Zip: _____________________________________________ Phone: ______________________E-mail: _______________________ Please charge my credit card: ___MasterCard ___Visa ___American Express ___Discover Card Number:________________________________Exp. Date: _______Security Code______ Signature: _____________________________________________________________
I have enclosed a check or money order for: $____________
MAIL REPLY AND PAYMENT TO: MUSEUM OF ARTS & SCIENCES, 352 S. NOVA RD., DAYTONA BEACH, FL 32114 For more information, contact MOAS at 386.255.0285
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December 3 1:30pm-3:30pm Albert Einstein (Ages 7-13) Learn about Albert Einstein’s contributions to science. For example, his theory of relativity. $15.00 for general admission, $10.00 for members. Kindly RSVP in advance to 386-255-0285. December 8 1:30pm-3:00pm African Art Gallery (Ages 4-6) The African artifacts collection has been reinstalled in its new home in the newly opened West Wing. Learn about how this culture lived through their artifacts. $15.00 for general admission, $10.00 for members. Kindly RSVP in advance to 386-255-0285.
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GUILD NEWS
MOAS Guild is Busy Planning Fall Events By Kathy Wilson, Guild President
Fall is that time of the year when the MOAS Guild is in full swing with two major fundraising events. Legions of volunteers are ready to help in many ways for the 53rd Halifax Art Festival on November 7th and 8th, followed by the Festival of Trees November 15th through December 3rd. The Halifax Art Festival (HAF) brings the streets of Daytona Beach alive with amazing artists, sculptors, and crafters, many vying for the $25,000 in prizes that are awarded. The HAF weekend draws huge crowds walking the festival and enjoying food and drinks while listening to the music that fills the air. It is a great, pet-friendly, family event.
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Do not forget, you can become a Patron of HAF by donating at several levels which benefit all of the Museum’s programs throughout the year, as well as supporting the artistic talent represented during the HAF weekend. These are the ways that your Patron dollars are put to good work! This year, the Festival of Trees (FOT) begins with “Tea for Two,” an afternoon soiree of tea and delectable food on Sunday, November 15th. This event is jointly sponsored by the Guild of MOAS and the Daytona Beach Symphony Guild. On the evening of Thursday, November 19th, the FOT Gala takes place, this year in the newly renovated West Wing of the Museum of Arts & Sciences. Come view the beautifully decorated Holiday Trees which will be available for silent auction bids through December 3rd.
Enjoy an amazing sampling of food from over 20 area restaurants along with complimentary champagne. This Gala event is always a crowd pleaser. Remember to give a special thanks to all our volunteers who together make these events possible and memorable. We could not do all that we do without our volunteer Guild members.
For more information:
HAF Chair: George Fortuna info@halifaxartfestival.com PATRON Chair: Kathy Wilson katwilso@prodigy.net FOT Chair: Carol Ann LaRoza carolannlaroza@bellsouth.net
Become a Patron of the Arts NOW The successful Patron Program for the Halifax Art Festival returns again this year. The Guild of the Museum of Arts and Sciences designed the Patron Program primarily to reward and support the Festival’s artists and artisans. Please choose below your generous level of commitment and become an Art Patron to your favorite artist. Level
Your Commitment Level
=
Your Patron Dollars
Pearl
$100.00
$50.00
Emerald
$250.00
$125.00
Ruby
$500.00
$250.00
Diamond
$750.00
$325.00
OR, support MOAS with a donation of $50.00 and UP and become an “ARTFUL Friend of the Festival!” Exclusive for Patrons: Enjoy a Patron Welcoming Party and special Patron Relaxation Station at the 2015 Halifax Art Festival! Make your check payable to “ Halifax Art Festival” and mail today to Halifax Art Festival, PO Box 291170, Port Orange, FL 32129 or call Kathy Wilson at 386-756-2342 or e-mail: Katwilso@prodigy.net HAF COMMITTEE: FROM LEFT - GERMAINE CUPOLO, JOAN HORNEFF, KARRIE HOULTON, MARILYNN STERNBERG, PAM FIELDUS, GLORIA KEAY, MARILYN WILLHOIT, PAT MASOTTI-ABERNATHY, MIKE ARMSTRONG, GEORGE FORTUNA (HAF CHAIR), DIANE ROGERS
The Festival is presented each year by the Guild of the Museum of Arts and Sciences. The Festival is the major fundraiser for the Museum of Arts and Sciences as well as it’s Charles and Linda Williams Children’s Museum and the Cici and Hyatt Brown Museum of Art.
26 30 ARTS 26 ARTS ARTS& &&SCIENCES SCIENCES SCIENCESMAGAZINE MAGAZINE MAGAZINE
november 20 Munich Symphony Orchestra january 8 Toronto Symphony Orchestra january 13 Parsons Dance Special Event
january 22 Aida Teatro Lirico D'Europa january 24 Polish Baltic Philharmonic february 24 Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra february 26 Giselle Moscow Festival Ballet
•
march 20 Cirque de la Symphonie Jacksonville Symphony P E A B O DY AU D I TO R I U M
for more information
| 386.253.2901
or
dbss.org
OVER AND OUT
BY: SETH MAYO, CURATOR OF ASTRONOMY
Look closely at the night sky, if you notice a wispy band of light arcing overhead then you have fortunately found the Milky Way. This dairy inspired diffused glow is a celestial wonder that many people around the world cannot witness due to the encroaching influence of human-made light pollution. When observed in the darkest of skies, the Milky Way reveals itself to be a complex network of light, riddled with bright and dark blotches that intersect the constellations. Although the Milky Way can seem unfathomable, decoding its mysterious nature has helped to tell a story about our home in the universe.
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Background: This 360 degree panorama is one of the most detailed images created of the entire Milky Way. The bright region in the middle is the galactic center about 27,000 light years away from Earth. Image Credit: ESO/S. Brunier
Right: An artist's rendering of the entire Milky Way galaxy with labels on many of its primary structures. Halfway between the center and bottom of the image is the location of our sun inside the minor arm known as the Orion Spur.
Image Credit: NASA, JPL-Caltech, ESO, R. Hurt
Spilling Across the Sky
When the ancient Greeks and Romans marveled at the night over 2,000 years ago – an era when darkness was truly abundant – they saw the Milky Way as an integral part of their godly legends. One story revolves around an infant Hercules, later known as the mighty hero, who was the cherished son of the God Zeus and born of a mortal mother named Alcmene. It was told that Hercules became an immortal being when Zeus secretly brought his son to his sleeping wife, the goddess Hera, to unknowingly transfer immortal power to him by the act of breastfeeding. Awoken from the ordeal, a confused and angry Hera pushed Hercules away, violently spilling milk across the sky. The Greeks called the resultant band of light, galaxias, derived from the word milk, or gala, that lends its meaning to the modern term “Milky Way”. The Greeks, and eventually Romans, were not the only civilizations to mythologize the Milky Way. Even before their time, the ancient Egyptians also held the belief of milk streaming overhead, originating instead from the sacred cow-goddess Bat, who would later be combined with their goddess known as Hathor.
A common theme among societies throughout Eastern Asia along with Australian Aboriginals was that the Milky Way was in the form of a celestial river meandering through the stars. The Cherokee Native Americans believed that a dog was chased away into the heavens where he spilled stolen cornmeal along his path through the sky. Even while these legends of the Milky Way reigned supreme in the collective thoughts of many civilizations, some influential thinkers as early as 400 BCE believed in far less fantastical explanations. The Greek philosophers Anaxagoras and Democritus held strong notions that the Milky Way may contain distant stars and these same ideas were shared with many Persian and Arab astronomers hundreds of years later.
Science Takes Hold
The idea that the Milky Way is composed of stars finally became an observable fact when the Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei pointed a telescope at the celestial conundrum in 1610. Through his self-built telescope he discovered that the patches of light were packed with
countless faint stars at huge distances away, proclaiming that “the Milky Way is nothing else but a mass of innumerable stars planted together in clusters”. In the mid to late 18th century, the German philosopher Immanuel Kant (who also studied astronomy) correctly theorized that the Milky Way was a gravitationally bound rotating group of stars, which he popularly called an “island universe”. From our perspective, Kant believed the nebulous band seen at night was our edge-on view of this rotating disc of stars seen from within. He also expanded on this idea, believing that other “island universes” existed beyond our own Milky Way. The “island universes” theory was intriguing to many scientists and astronomers, and was controversial up until the 1920’s. The big debate about this idea within the astronomical field was finally squelched when American astronomer, Edwin Hubble, utilized – at the time – the largest telescope in the world at the Mount Wilson Observatory to observe and calculate the distances to other “galaxies” (the same terminology that originated from the Greeks in ancient times).
Sharing the Milky Way
Research of the Milky Way is now a joint effort of not just professional astronomers, but anyone in the public with interest and a connection to the Internet. Within the popular Zoouniverse – a website dedicated to a growing community of “citizen scientists” that collectively help by taking part in real research in many scientific fields – is the Milky Way Project (milkywayproject.org). Its ambitious goals are to study the evolution of the galaxy by watching for odd looking gaseous bubbles that spawn new stars and to create detailed maps of this stellar formation. This dazzling image of the Milky Way's central region was captured by three Great Observatories
in space: the Hubble Space Telescope, Spitzer Space Telescope and the Chandra X-ray Observatory. The image is in infrared and x-ray light, and spans the width of the full moon. The bright white area just below and to the right of center is the actual galactic center where it is believed that a super massive black hole exists. Image Credit: NASA, ESA, SSC, CXC, and STScI
Hubble confirmed that neighboring galaxies found in the sky are well beyond our own Milky Way, opening up our understanding of the true vastness of space.
Galaxy 101
Through more modern observatories and technologies, scientific study of the Milky Way galaxy has brought forth astonishing revelations about its monumental scale. Stemming from an early Hubble classification scheme, the Milky Way is considered to be a barred-spiral galaxy. This means that a bar of stars, gas and dust runs through the center, and from this point is where large spiral structures, known as arms, wrap around and around. Our solar system lies within a minor arm called the Orion Spur, named after the constellation from which the arm can be seen. Within the Orion Spur, we travel around the Milky Way’s central region at about 220 kilometers per second (approximately 492,000 mph). At this speed it takes about 240 million years for our solar system to complete an orbit, and the last time Earth was in the same spot, dinosaurs roamed the planet. This orbital period also means that Earth is only about 18-20 “galactic years old” from when it was first formed 4.5 billion years ago. The enormous time it takes to orbit the galactic center is not surprising when you take in to account that the Milky Way is estimated to be around 100,000 light years across. If it was possible to travel at nature’s designated speed limit of light, it would still take 100,000 years to traverse the galaxy end to end. The quantity of stars in the Milky Way has been difficult to pin down. Estimates range from 100 to 400 billion stars, with some speculation indicating even more. Thousands of planets orbiting many of these stars outside our solar system (exoplanets) are being found within our galaxy possibly totaling in the hundreds of billions as well, indicating the high probability of Earth-like worlds existing. 30 ARTS & SCIENCES MAGAZINE
A prominent area of research in astronomy focuses on the Milky Way’s massive galactic center at its heart, about 27,000 light years distant from our planet. This bright central region can be found rather easily in the summer night sky by gazing in between the constellations Scorpius (looks like a giant “s”) and Sagittarius (similar to a teapot) just above the southern horizon. This is the location of a complex of objects known as Sagittarius A- the approximate position of our galaxy’s center. The galactic center is believed to be a super massive black hole – an unimaginably dense region in space where gravity is so immense that even light cannot escape. Intriguing evidence of this comes from observations by the VLT (Very Large Telescope) in Chile and the Keck Telescopes in Hawaii that have measured stars racing around the region at the incredible speed of 5,000 kilometers per second (just over 11,100,100 miles per hour). This occurs – relatively speaking – in a small area in space wherein a black hole as massive as three million suns may be required. It is believed that many galaxies throughout the universe harbor massive black holes at their centers.
Centered on this image inside the Milky Way is a large gas bubble with two smaller bubbles on its top left and bottom, indicating where new stars have formed as their intense radiation carves out interstellar gas. The infrared image was captured by the Spitzer Space Telescope, and was found by volunteers taking part in the Milky Way Project - a citizen scientist organization that is searching for these large bubbles. Image Credit: NASA, JPL-Caltech, University of Wisconsin
The project allows users to look through and categorize objects within hundreds of thousands of images of the Milky Way captured by the space-based Spitzer Telescope, which sees the infrared light, or heat signature of this cloudy band. This outsourcing of work to a willing public has aided scientists in breaking up the workload of looking through massive amounts of data that computer automation still cannot assess easily. With all that we are beginning to understand about the Milky Way, it is simply still a breathtaking sight to behold. Just as many appreciate the natural wonders of Earth through national parks and untouched wilderness, the Milky Way belongs in that category as well. Seen in those fleeting dark environments once the sun dips well enough below the horizon, the faint glow of this far off light is always worth the wait.
Join us in the Planetarium to watch the newly created live-presented show, Mysteries of the Milky Way, and experience the mythologies, history, and science of the Milky Way in full dome. The special feature will run at 4:00pm on Friday, Saturday and Sunday from October through December.
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