Upcoming Events
New Harmonies: Celebrating American Roots Music
Smithsonian Exhibit September 18 – November 2, 2010
Listen to America's music and hear the story of freedom. It's the story of people in a New World places they have left behind, and ideas they have brought with them. It is the story of people who were already here, but whose world is remade. The distinct cultural identities of all of these people are carried in song -- both sacred and secular. Their music tracks the unique history of many peoples reshaping each other into one incredibly diverse and complex people -- Americans. Their music is the roots of American music.
The music that emerges is known by names like blues, country western, folk ballads, and gospel. The sounds are as sweet as mountain air, and as sultry as a summer night in Mississippi delta country. The instruments vary from fiddle to banjo to accordian to guitar to drum. But a drum in the hands of an African sounds different than one in the hands of a European. And neither is the drumbeat of an American Indian. Yet all the rhythms merge, as do the melodies and harmonies, producing completely new sounds -- new music. The musics merge because this is America. New waves of music ride ashore in the hearts and heads of new immigrants and they create still new sounds from what they have brought with them and what they find here. And nothing expresses the tensions -- or the triumphs -- of this journey into democracy quite like the music that it spawns.
The main beat of the exhibition is the on-going cultural process that has made America the birthplace of more music than any place on earth. The exhibition provides a fascinating, inspiring, and toe-tapping listen to the American story of multi-cultural exchange. The story is full of surprises about familiar songs, histories of instruments, the roles of religion and technology, and the continuity of musical roots from "Yankee Doodle Dandy" to the latest hip hop CD.
http://www.utahhumanities.org/newharmonies.htm
Past Events
Behind Closed Doors: Points In Time
March 12th 7pm in the Museum's Loyd Pierson History Hall
Explore the Museum of Moabs Archeology Collection with Guest Archeologist Michael "Red" Wolf. Arrow Heads, Scrapers, Knives, Drills, and other tools from the Museum's Lithic collection donated by the Tanner family.
These beautifully shapped tools once served the people of the Southeast Utah in their daily lives. Collected from various sites in the Moab area the lithic collection represents a quandry for Archeologist and Museums. While the pieces are of interest once removed from their orginal sites how do we piece their story back together?
Join us as we explore the story of these the ancient people of the Southwest and the remenants they left behind. Light Refreshments will be served. We hope to see you there.
Museum Annual Membership Dinner
January 20th 5:30pm
The Museum is excited to announce our Annual Dinner this year with guest speaker and performer Christopher Lair. As part of the Museum's build up to our “New Harmonies” musical history exhibit from the Smithsonian, Chris will be delivering a lecture and performance highlighting the musical history of Moab. Chris has worked for many years to foster a love of music in the Moab community, both as Artist-in- Residence for the Moab Music Festival and as a driving force behind the Moab Community Dance Band
The Annual Dinner will be held Wednesday January 20th, 2010 at the Grand Center starting at 5:30pm. From 5:30 to 6:30, we invite you to come and mingle with other Museum members while enjoying drinks and hors d'oeuvres. Dinner will be served at 6:30 with an Italian menu prepared by Pasta Jay’s restaurant. The Annual Membership Meeting will begin at 7:30 with election and re-election of board members and officers. Standing for re-election is Mike Arehart, with Steve Hawks, Barb Webb, Suzan Martin, and Sharyl Kinnear-Ferris being slated for election to the board. After the Museum business meeting we will be treated to our guest speaker Christopher Lair as he illuminates the history of music in our community and America. We hope that you’ll join the Museum at our Annual Dinner. Please RSVP 259-7985
Cold War Time Capsule Project
February 5th – February 19th
Time Capsule and living history project at the MoabMuseum on 118 E. Center Street in Moab from 4:00pm to 7:00pm on Friday, February 5th, 2010.
This special event is open to the public and free to attend. In 2009 the United States Congress passed resolutions designating October 30th as the first National Day of Remembrance to honor uranium miners and nuclear weapons workers from the Manhattan Project until the present day.
In late 2009, two Cold War Patriot time capsules were launched on tours around the country to collect stories and provide a place for workers and families to leave their legacy. The Museum of Moab will host a three week exhibition of the time capsule and its contents starting with a reception and program on February 5th, 2010. Contributions to the time capsule will be accepted at the museum during and after the event.
"The uranium industry played a significant role in Moab and eastern Utah’s history in the decades following World War II. We are proud to honor our local residents and their families who played a vital role in our country’s nuclear security,” said Tim Lerew, a member of the Cold War Patriots Advisory Committee.
“The Museum of Moab will host a reception launching the exhibit, and we also want to gather stories and appropriate memorabilia for inclusion in the time capsule from our area residents,” said Travis Schenck, Museum Director.
After its three-week exhibition in Moab, the time capsule will continue its travels throughout significant sites in America’s nuclear weapons complex, including Grand Junction, Colorado; Oak Ridge, Tennessee; Aiken, South Carolina and Portsmouth, Ohio. All those attending in support of this effort will also receive a color reproduction of the National Day of Remembrance Act and free membership in the Cold War Patriots organization.
Cold War Patriots is a non-profit 501(c4) national organization connecting former nuclear weapons complex workers and uranium miners with the information and resources they need.
Art Walk/ Receptions
Dates will vary
Stroll Moab’s galleries, shops, and cafés and view fine locally created, Moab art. The Moab Art Walk includes featured artists and receptions. Most exhibits run for a month or more so feel free to stop in anytime at participating locations.
http://www.moabartwalk.com/
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