Molly of Denali: An Alaskan Adventure
Explore Alaska by way of this interactive exhibit that brings the acclaimed PBS KIDS® series produced by GBH Kids, MOLLY OF DENALI®, to life! Set in the fictitious rural Alaskan village of Qyah, the show follows the adventures of Molly Mabray, her family, friends, and dog Suki and is infused with Alaska Native values, history, traditions, and language.
The exhibit showcases Alaska and Molly’s life in both the summer and winter seasons. Visitors can pretend to fly a replica bush plane, drive a snowmobile, and navigate a snow maze in snowshoes. The center of the exhibit features the Trading Post and the Tribal Hall from the series where guests will have the opportunity to explore the great outdoors of Alaska and Alaska Native life including camping, ice fishing, discovering replica ice sculptures, and caring for sled dogs.
Reflecting the series’ educational focus on introducing Informational Text (IT) curriculum to young learners, technology is integrated throughout the exhibit, including opportunities for visitors to be part of Molly’s vlog, games, and other hand-on activities and apps available on the PBS KIDS® website. Visitors will explore Alaska Native culture with interactive learning opportunities at the Tribal Hall and the Trading Post will feature Alaska’s geography, unique activities, and native animals.
New/Now: Contemporary Art Acquisitions
Contemporary art is, simply put, the art of our time. New/Now highlights works created between 1996 and 2020 that have been added to the D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts’ permanent collection in the last two years. The exceptional prints, paintings, and mixed media works speak to the varied experiences of their makers, reflect the current moment, and support the Museums’ goal of diversifying the collection.
Featured prominently are five works by artist, activist, and author Faith Ringgold (American, born 1930). Best known for imaginative textile artworks called story quilts, Ringgold draws on her lived experience and on collective histories to create captivating narrative images. Since the 1990s, Ringgold has used silkscreen prints, such as those on view in this exhibition to share her work more widely. In her prints, Ringgold revisits her childhood in Harlem and amplifies the stories of people she admires.
Also on display through the month of February is a vibrant serigraph by Nelson Stevens (American, 1938-1922) who used printmaking to disseminate beautiful and empowered depictions of Black people. In March, the work will be installed in the exhibition Nelson Stevens: Color Rapping. Additionally, face masks created by Ai Weiwei (Chinese, born 1957) in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, and work by the environmentalist and painter Marlene Yu (Taiwanese-American, born 1937), who is inspired by the natural world, are highlighted.
Image: Groovin’ High, 1996, silkscreen by Faith Ringgold (American, born 1930). Museum Purchase, 2022.D05. Photography by John Polak.
