Our very own 'hidden gems' will be highlighted during the University's first Museum Day
The Flandrau Science Center and Planetarium's "Undersea Discovery" exhibit includes the intertidal touch experience, where visitors can handle living coral reef residents. Flandrau will reduce its admission to $5 for University of Arizona Museum Day.
Visitors on a self-guided tour of the John E. Greivenkamp Museum of Optics should not miss "Desert Flower," a sculpture that blends art and optical sciences.
"High School Artists 2024" at the University of Arizona Museum of Art features artwork by high school artists from across Pima County.
The University of Arizona Insect Collection's bee specimens demonstrate that the Sonoran Desert region is home to more species of native bees than anywhere else in the world.
An interactive tree stump in the Bryant Bannister Tree Ring Building allows visitors to not only count the tree's 50 rings but also see galleries of bark beetles and a core sample.
Middle school students work through a mixed-up Grimm Brothers storytelling activity that Worlds of Words offers alongside the "The Colourful World Beyond the Seven Hills" exhibit on loan from the International Youth Library in Munich.
If you often find yourself walking past campus museums or attractions and thinking, "I should really check that out someday," you'll have a great excuse to do just that on Saturday.
The University will hold its first-ever Museum Day on Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., offering free or reduced admission to nine participating venues. The Office of Research, Innovation and Impact, which oversees the University's museums and research centers, is sponsoring the event.
Pamela Pelletier, community planner for outreach and environmental education for the Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research, coordinated the day's programming with help from staff members in the participating venues.
"I think our museums are the hidden gems that the greater Tucson community may not be fully aware of," Pelletier said. "The hope with Museum Day is to really open people's eyes to the wonders that are available right here on our campus."
Those wonders include venues rooted in science disciplines, such as the Tree-Ring Lab or Insect Collection, and others focused on the arts and humanities, such as the University of Arizona Museum of Art and Worlds of Words – and others still that blend art and science.
"I really see so much interconnectedness between art and science because art is such a cool way to bring in the public to engage and understand scientists' work," Pelletier added. "An event like this allows for that interconnectedness to really shine."
The University's Museum Day is separate from International Museum Day, an annual event in May coordinated by the International Council of Museums. The date for the University's Museum Day was selected based on venues' schedules and staff capacities, Pelletier said.
This year's event will serve as a pilot program to potentially hold again in the future, perhaps with more venues.
Lo Que Pasa asked a director, curator or expert from each of the nine participating museums to answer his question: What's the one thing – an item, exhibit, specimen – visitors to the archive should not miss if they stop in on UArizona Museum Day? See their answers below, along with hours, admission prices and other key details for each venue.
Sara Swayden, archivist: "The things to see at AVA are original works of art from our featured artists, Robert McCall, Sarah Wallach, Frances O'Brien and Edward Gallagher. Furthermore, visitors have a unique opportunity to interact with the collections, view exhibits and learn about what an archivist does in regard to collections preservation."
Established: 2007, with the donation of a collection of works by NASA artist and illustrator Robert McCall.
Museum Day hours: Tours scheduled every half hour from noon to 4 p.m.
Museum Day admission: Free but registration is required. To register, fill out a form for a tour time by visiting the Museum Day website and navigating to "Museum Details" beneath the description of the Archive of Visual Arts. If a time is full but is your only opportunity to join, email Myriam Sandoval at msandoval1@arizona.edu.
Museum address and nearest parking: 1014/1018 E. Sixth St. Nearest parking is available in the Sixth Street Garage or Tyndall Avenue Garage, which are free on weekends.
Darlene Lizarraga, director of marketing: "We are excited that two dozen highly acclaimed basket weavers from the U.S. Southwest and northwest Mexico will be demonstrating and selling their work. This is a rare opportunity to visit with such a large group of distinguished and award-winning Native basket weavers at one time."
Established: 1893
Museum Day hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (Event with Native weavers runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.)
Museum Day admission: Free, no reservations required.
Museum address and nearest parking: 1013 E. University Blvd. Nearest parking available at Main Gate Parking Garage and Tyndall Avenue Garage, which are free on weekends.
FLANDRAU SCIENCE CENTER AND PLANETARIUM
Bill Plant, director of exhibits: "The exhibit I'd want visitors to make sure not to miss is our new 'Undersea Discovery' exhibit on the lower level of Flandrau. It features several large saltwater aquariums that are teeming with beautiful sea life, from colorful corals to charismatic pufferfish. It's a very relaxing and calm space that I think folks will really enjoy exploring."
Established: 1975
Museum Day hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Museum Day admission: Special reduced rate of $5 per person for science exhibits. Planetarium shows are normal rate.
Museum address and nearest parking: 1601 E. University Blvd. Nearest parking is available first-come, first-served in spaces along Hawthorne Street, directly across from the planetarium. Ask at the front desk for a permit to place on your dashboard. Additional nearby parking is available at Cherry Avenue Garage, which is free on weekends.
JOHN E. GREIVENKAMP MUSEUM OF OPTICS
Daewook Kim, director of the John E. Greivenkamp Museum of Optics and associate professor of optical sciences and astronomy: "One of the crowning jewels of the Greivenkamp Museum of Optics is the Desert Flower. Only if you look at its inside from the face on, everything comes into focus, and you will find the beautiful Desert Flower from the total internal reflections. It demonstrates the beauty of both art and optical sciences."
Established: After growing its collection over many years, the museum was named in Greivenkamp's honor in 2022.
Museum Day hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Museum Day admission: Free
Museum address and nearest parking: The museum's self-guided tour begins on the third floor of Meinel Optical Sciences, 1630 E. University Blvd. Visitors can enter from the north-facing entrance off University Boulevard. The tour directs visitors to take the elevator from the third to the eight floor, then descend to see exhibits continue on the seventh, sixth, fifth and fourth floors. Nearest parking is available at Cherry Avenue Garage, which is free on weekends.
LABORATORY OF TREE-RING RESEARCH
Pamela Pelletier, community planner for outreach and environmental education: "What I think is really engaging for children is our interactive tree stump, which is in our lobby. It's a tactile cross-section with 50 rings, there's a hidden flap that reveals bark beetle galleries, there's a core sample that pulls out to show all the rings inside the tree, there's a fire scar. It's a really great example of how we can work with a donor to create an interactive piece."
Established: Officially established in 1937 and originally housed in the basement of Arizona Stadium. Current building completed in 2013.
Museum Day hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. A special lecture by associate professor Margaret Evans will begin at 1 p.m. Docents will lead 20-minute tours throughout the day to meet with scientists and see labs. More information on tours will be available in the Tree-Ring Lab lobby.
Museum Day admission: Free
Museum address and nearest parking: Bryant Bannister Tree Ring Building, 1215 E. Lowell St. Nearest parking is available in the Sixth Street Garage, which is free on weekends.
Sarah Kortemeier, library director: "Pick up a 'Found in Translation' scavenger hunt activity sheet and build a poem of your own using books of translated poetry in our collections. When you're finished, share your found poem on our flyer wall so everyone can admire it!"
Established: 1960
Museum Day hours: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Museum Day admission: Free
Museum address and nearest parking: 1508 E. Helen St. Free parking is available all day on weekends in Zone 1 parking areas that surround the building. Additional nearby parking is at Highland Parking Garage, which is free on weekends.
UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA INSECT COLLECTION
Wendy Moore, curator and associate professor in the Department of Entomology: "Did you know that the Sonoran Desert region is home to more species of native bees than anywhere else in the world? In recent years, we have been working as part of the Tucson Bee Collaborative to make our specimen holdings reflect that remarkable species diversity. Do not miss the opportunity to see these beautiful pollinators, learn more about their roles in the ecosystem and about our efforts to develop DNA-based resources to aid in species identification."
Established: Formally established in 1954.
Museum Day hours: Tours scheduled for 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Museum Day admission: Free but registration is required by 5 p.m. on March 22. Ten people maximum per tour. To register, email Gene Hall at wehall@arizona.edu.
Museum address and nearest parking: Department of Entomology, Room 410, Forbes building, 1140 E. Campus Drive. Nearest parking available at Sixth Street Garage or Tyndall Avenue Garage, which are free on weekends. (Please note: Forbes will be locked. Pre-scheduled tour attendees can meet on the steps on the west side of Forbes.)
UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA MUSEUM OF ART
Chelsea Farrar, curator for community engagement: "I would want to make sure that visitors check out the Our Stories Gallery on the second floor, which currently is exhibiting 'High School Artists: 2024,' an annual favorite of our staff. The diversity of media and depth of ideas by these young artists always impresses me. With over 40 young artists from Pima County in the show this year, it's impossible for me to choose one. But it is well worth your time to check out these emerging artists. You will be inspired by their creative and technical skills."
Established: First art exhibition was organized at the University in 1924, which later led to the establishment of the Art Gallery at the campus library – in what is now the Arizona State Museum – in 1933.
Museum Day hours:
- 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m.: Museum open and free all day
- 10 a.m.-2 p.m.: Smile AZ PhotoBooth will be offering photos for families and visitors for free
- 10-11:30 a.m.: Art Sprouts, an art-making program for kids ages 3-5 and their families (Registration required. RSVP here.)
- 10:00 a.m.: Bilingual story time
- 12:00-2:00 p.m.: Cyanotype print workshop with artist Annie Lopez (Registration required. Please email Chelsea Farrar at cjfarrar@arizona.edu.)
Museum Day admission: Free
Museum address and nearest parking: 1031 N. Olive Road. Nearest parking available at Park Avenue Garage, which is free on weekends.
WORLDS OF WORDS: CENTER FOR GLOBAL LITERACIES AND LITERATURES
Rebecca Ballenger, associate director: "'The Colourful World Beyond the Seven Hills' invites discussion around Grimm Brothers stories that have been shared around the world, and that's our main focus for Museum Day. However, we also set up a special exhibit to honor donors from our first-ever crowdfund campaign, because they made it possible for us to expand our art archives. While I can't pick a darling among them, I do look forward to sharing a sample of these classic, award-winning and global pieces while celebrating the power of illustration in storytelling."
Established: 2007
Museum Day hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Museum Day admission: Free
Museum address and nearest parking: Education, 1430 E. Second St., Room 453. Nearest parking is available at the Second Street Garage, which is free on weekends.