Native American Demonstrations Mark Heard Museum West Anniversary
The Heard Museum West is celebrating their first anniversary on Sunday, June 24, 2007. Hoop dancer Lane Jensen will perform between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., along with other artists. Visitors can enjoy the latin sounds of NosotroSOUND beginning at 12:30 p.m. Refreshments will be available as long as supplies last.
Lane Jensen, a Navajo/Maricopa hoop dancer from Scottsdale, Arizona, placed third in the Heard Museum's 17th Annual World Championship Hoop Dance Contest in February 2007. He uses various hoops demonstrating the sacred elements connecting humanity with the earth in a visually amazing exhibition performed to rhythmic heartbeat of drumming.
In partnership with the City of Surprise, the Heard Museum West is currently showcasing two exhibits: Our Stories: American Indian Art and Culture in Arizona and Buggin' Art. The Our Stories: American Indian Art and Culture in Arizona exhibit utilizes 400 objects from the Heard Museum's permanent collection to tell the story of the diversity of American Indians - their homelands, families, communities, cultures and art - from ancient times through modern-day Arizona.The centuries-long connection to the land, brought to life in Jensen's hoop dancing, is a unique aspect of the Native American peoples in the Southwest. Buggin' Art examines the many creative ways artists use and depict insects including scorpions, butterflies, spiders, crickets and dragonflies in their art.
During this fist year of operation, the Arizona Republic reports that nearly 17,000 people visited the Heard Museum West at 16126 N. Civic Center Plaza in Surprise, AZ. To get there from W. Bell Road, take Bullard south to Paradise Lane, turning left onto Paradise Lane. The museum is just east of the new Surprise Stadium. The Museum is open 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Children under 6 and American Indians are admitted free at all times. Admission for all is Free on Second Sundays, on other days admissions costs are $5 for adults, $4 for Seniors over 55, and $2 for students.
NOTE: A Grand Opening Celebration is being held Saturday, June 30, 2007 from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. for the Heard Museum North Scottsdale's exciting new facilities at The Summit at Scottsdale, 32633 N. Scottsdale Road. The new location includes two exhibit galleries, a new shop and a garden cafe. Grand Opening Celebration events will include the unveiling of two exhibit galleries and a native plants and sculpture garden as well as refreshments, random Museum Membership giveaways, artist demonstrations, hoop dance performances and goodie bags for the first 1,000 visitors.
