What's the Story?

This year, Pueblo Grande Museum is excited to be participating in the international Museum Week events! For those of you that don't know:

Hosted over 19 – 25 June, #MuseumWeek is an international online event celebrating and showcasing all things from cultural institutions over 7 days, 7 themes, 7 hashtags! It will provide an opportunity for them to share and discuss their special passions with the public on social networks, using hashtags dedicated to the event.

Today's theme for Wednesday, June 22, 2017 is stories. And when PGM staff got to thinking about this theme, our Curator of Collections Lindsey Vogel-Teeter, came up with the idea of an object whose story is unknown. And all the crazy ideas, backstories, and theories that go along or evolve from them.

Lindsey then shared this object from our collection: 1998.37.89. Because it always makes her think... what is its story?

It’s a partial dental plate (partial dentures) that was found in a privy (outhouse) during excavations in downtown Phoenix, prior to the construction of the Sandra Day O'Connor U.S. Courthouse. Previously, the area where the dental plate was found was owned by the Dorris family.  Mrs. Sally Dorris ran a boardinghouse and Mr. J.W. Dorris began as a confectioner but later went into the grocery and wholesale business.  The privy was filled between 1900 and 1910.

Here’s my question – How did these dentures end up in an outhouse? Did they fall in by accident or was it on purpose? Dentures are expensive and these are really worn down, so someone must have missed them. Did they belong to someone in the Dorris family? Or maybe a boarder? There’s really no way to know.

What's the true story of these dentures...  only the outhouse is privy to the truth!

Proud to be a Blue Star Museum

Pueblo Grande Museum is one of more than 2,000 museums across America to offer free admission to military personnel and their families this summer in collaboration with the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, and the Department of Defense 

Today, Pueblo Grande Museum along with more than 2,000 museums across America, announced the launch of Blue Star Museums, a collaboration among the National Endowment for the Arts, Blue Star Families, and the Department of Defense, to offer free admission to the nation’s active duty military personnel and their families from Memorial Day through Labor Day. The program provides families an opportunity to enjoy the nation's cultural heritage and learn more about their community, especially after a military move. A list of participating museums is available at arts.gov/bluestarmuseums. 

“Pueblo Grande Museum is proud to be a Blue Star Museum for the fifth year in a row. The Blue Star Families program is a great opportunity for military families to spend quality time together. I wish this program had been in place when I was growing up as an Air Force brat! This is an extra special way to say thank you to not only those who serve in the armed forces, but to their families too,” Laura Andrew, Visitor Services Supervisor at Pueblo Grande Museum. "

The Blue Star Museums program is a great opportunity for the NEA to team up with local museums in every state in the nation to support our service members and their families," said NEA Chairman Jane Chu. “It means a lot to offer these families access to high-quality, budget-friendly opportunities to spend time together.” 

This year’s Blue Star Museums represent not just fine arts museums, but also science museums, history museums, nature centers, and dozens of children’s museums, including newly participating museums: the Edgar Allen Poe Museum in Richmond, Virginia; The Blues Foundation's Blues Hall of Fame Museum in Memphis Tennessee; the Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument in Hagerman Idaho; and the Buffalo Bill Center of the West in Cody, Wyoming. Museums are welcome to join Blue Star Museums throughout the summer. 

“Whether they want to blast off at a science museum, take a walk through nature, or encounter animals at the aquarium, Blue Star Museums will help service members and their families create memories this summer,” said Blue Star Families Chief Executive Officer Kathy Roth-Douquet. “This fantastic collaboration with the NEA brings our local military and civilian communities together, and offers families fun and enriching activities in their home towns. We are thrilled with the continued growth of the program and the unparalleled opportunities it offers.”

May Artifact of the Month

What’s the oldest object that we have at Pueblo Grande Museum?

CHARCOAL!

This charcoal sample was collected from a hearth in the north valley. It’s one of the oldest archaeological specimens in the Phoenix Metro area! When the specimen was processed, a charred mesquite seed radiocarbon dated to 2925 BC (+/- 30 years). 

PGM Artifact of the Month

Meet Artifact of the Month 98.37.63: 

From 28 October through 20 December 1996, Desert Archaeology, Inc., conducted a data recovery project on an area between Washington and Jefferson Street, and 4th and 6th Avenue within blocks 72 and 73 of the original #Phoenix townsite. Prehistoric and historic archaeological features were excavated, and over 50,000 artifacts were recovered.  Most of the items recovered were historic materials removed from wells and outhouses; glass and metal made up almost 87% of the recovered assemblage. 

This essentially complete reconstructed polychrome porcelain vase with appliquéd figures was one of the artifacts found during those excavations. The rim is outlined by a painted burgundy/mauve line. The design on this vase is very similar in style to the descriptions of Chinese Rose Mandarin and Rose Medallion patterns. Both patterns employ panels of people in garden settings separated by flowers, birds, and butterflies. The Rose Medallion pattern is more similar in that this takes place in four panels instead of the flora and fauna being incorporated into the borders. The borders here include green foliage, pink peonies, and can also employ gold in the border as well as in the women's hairdos. The Rose Mandarin pattern was popular until 1840 while the Rose Medallion pattern dates from 1796 - 1820. However, these patterns have been widely copied in the late 19th and 20th centuries with Rose Medallion being readily available in stores in Chinatowns throughout the U.S.

Storytelling & ART-eology Summer Programs at PGM

SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE FOR ART-EOLOGY PROGRAMS! Click here to apply!

Pueblo Grande Museum (PGM) is offering fun, hands-on storytelling, art, science, and craft summer programs this June and July for children in kindergarten to eighth grade!  Families can plan ahead and register for PGM's summer programs by clicking on the "Register For" links following each program description, online at the Phoenix Parks & Recreation registration site, or drop-in the day of, and pay at the front desk. 

Arizona Authors 

Summertime Storytelling &Craft Saturdays

Meet Arizona authors and enjoy fun, hands-on children’s storytelling and crafts every Saturday in June from 10 a.m. to noon at Pueblo Grande Museum! Each book is read by the Arizona author followed by story related crafts and activities. These programs are perfect for children in pre-kindergarten through fourth grade, whether they are budding bookworms or just learning their ABC’s. Each program is $5, includes a light snack, and Museum admission for the participant. All participants must be accompanied by an adult.

JUNE 3 
Story: A Squirrel's Story by Jana Bommersbach 
Shirlee Squirrel needs a safe nest for her babies, far from the clutches of a menacing black cat! When she moves into a birdhouse designed to house wood ducks, she and her babies create “home sweet home” in a North Dakota backyard. Raising her children under the watchful eye of the nice man and woman―Rudy and Willie―whose yard they inhabit, Shirlee teaches young Sammy and Sally everything gray tree squirrels need to know. Register for Activity 17507 

JUNE 10 
Story: Burro's Tortilla's by Terri Fields 
What do you get when you cross The Little Red Hen with a burro and his friends? Burro’s Tortillas! In this humorous Southwestern retelling of a childhood favorite, Burro finds it difficult to get any help from his friends as he diligently works to turn corn into tortillas. Register for Activity 17508 

JUNE 17 
Story: Bad Monkey Business by Michael Hale
It’s a rainy, rainy day. Mrs. McGoodie is about to have a cup of tea when a little monkey appears on her doorstep… And he means business. Can she stop the monkey from ruining her clean house? Or is there something else going on that she does not understand? A rhyming story about an unsuspecting woman and a Monkey on a mission. Register for Activity 17509 

JUNE 24 
Story: Starry's Haircut by Phoebe Fox 
The story of an endearing sheep, living at a school in urban Phoenix. Spring is in the air and it's time for Starry's first haircut. She wonders: Who will come to shear my coat? Will the haircut hurt? How different will I feel without my cozy wool? Young children will smile when they find out that getting a haircut isn’t so bad, even for a sheep! Starry is afraid to have her wool sheared, but learns an important lesson. Register for Activity 17510

ART-eology Summer Program for K to 3rd Grade

Learn how the ancient Sonoran Desert people, the Hohokam, used their environment for survival and inspiration in their everyday lives! Join us for a single day or all 3-days of programs where you will learn about Hohokam pottery and jewelry, create beautiful rock art and discover a variety of uses for native plants and animals. Ideal for younger explorers from kindergarten to 3rd grade! Cost is $25 per day and those enrolled for all 3-days of programs will receive a free family membership to Pueblo Grande Museum!

July 11 - The Art of the Hohokam

The Hohokam were well known for their pottery designs and shell jewelry, see examples of this beautiful artwork in a tour of the Pueblo Grande Museum collections! Try your hand at creating your own pottery, learn how to make cordage and make your very own shell pendant. Let’s not forget about the science! Learn about the chemistry behind the Hohokam’s famous acid-etched shell jewelry and ornaments and how it mirrors natural processes such as ocean acidification and acid rain. Register for Activity #17716

July 12 – The Art of Rock

Learn about the different types of rock art made by the Hohokam and see if you can figure out their meanings by playing a round of Pictionary! Tell your story by carving out your very own petroglyph and create a one of a kind pictograph on special sun-sensitive paper! Register for Activity #17717

July 13 – The Art of the Desert

Do you think that deserts are just hot, dry and dusty? Think again! The Sonoran Desert is a secret world just filled with different plants and animals waiting for you to discover! Learn what plants can be gathered from the desert for food, what the Hohokam grew then make your very own corn and mesquite flour! Bring out your inner artist as you learn the ancient art of weaving and fabric making and experiment with different building materials to see if you can keep out the cold! Register for Activity #17718

ART-eology Summer Programs for 4th to 8th Grade

The Hohokam were masters of survival in the ancient Sonoran Desert! They also used their surroundings to inspire their creativity. Join us for a single day or all 3 days of programs where you will learn about rock art, Southwest music and the science behind Hohokam architecture! Perfect for adventurers in grades 4 to 8. Cost is $25 per day and those enrolled for all 3-days of programs will receive a free family membership to Pueblo Grande Museum!

                                       

 

July 18 - The Art of Rock

Learn about the different Hohokam styles of rock art, their meanings and why we need to preserve them in our hands on demonstration and activity! Join us for a round of Petroglyph Pictionary as we explore the abstract meanings of rock art, then carve out your very own petroglyphs to learn the sophisticated skills of these ancient artists. Discover the world of rare pictographs, produce your own designs and watch as they magically appear on special sun-sensitive paper! Register for Activity #17719

July 19 – The Art of Music

Do you love music? The Hohokam did too! Learn what role music plays by watching traditional Native American performances and listening to music. Try your hand at making musical instruments inspired by our collection of drums, gourd rattles, ankle tinklers and more! Be amongst the first to try our brand new STEAM based content! Learn about the science of sound, vibrations and pitch with our hands on interactive activities!
Register for Activity #17720

July 20 – The Art & Science of Architecture

Learn about the Hohokam people and the various types of shelters that they constructed at archaeological sites such as Pueblo Grande. Experience the art side of architecture as you try your hand at the ancient art of Adobe brick making and improve your drawing skills as you use charcoal and pencils to draw our unique replica houses! Let’s not forget the science, be amongst the first to try our brand new STEAM based content! Learn about the concept of insulation and how the Hohokam and modern day architects have used different building materials to help protect us from the heat and cold. Last but not least, explore the Urban Heat Island effect in Phoenix and how we can develop sustainable solutions for urban living. Register for Activity #17721

Graffiti vs Elephant Snot

A group of volunteers, archaeologists, and Park Rangers showed some T.L.C. to a rock art site during a recent clean up project at South Mountain. Many petroglyph panels along the Beverly Canyon trail were unfortunately spray painted over, and these dedicated preservationists, came out to help restore these prehistoric resources. 

Take a look at some before and after photos taken during this clean-up project. And thanks to the South Mountain Rock Art Project - an Arizona Heritage Funded, Arizona State University-City of Phoenix recording project, we have drawings of what these panels looked liked before they were defaced. Petroglyphs are non-renewable cultural resources that are important to many of the surrounding tribes in the Valley and as primary research sources for archaeologists and historians.

How did they clean the petroglyphs without hurting them you ask?

They used "Elephant Snot" of course! This is a product that was introduced by archaeologists at the Kaibab National Forest and the Bureau of Indian Affairs who have used it successfully in similar projects. 


With the help of some great site steward volunteers, public volunteers, and two archaeologists who are experienced with graffiti removal processes - Ashley Bitowf from the Gila River Indian Community Cultural Resource Management Program and Jewel Touchin from Logan Simpson, they were able to remove the graffiti and restore the petroglyphs. 

This work was performed under City Archaeologist Laurene Montero’s Arizona Antiquities Act blanket survey permit, and Laurene will write a report on the clean-up activity for the Arizona State Museum. 

Thanks to everyone who came out to show some love to these petroglyphs: 

Justin Olson, Park Ranger II Ashley Bitowf, Archaeologist from Gila River Indian Community’s Cultural Resources Management Program Jewel Touchin, Associate Archaeologist from Logan Simpson Angela De Luna, Arizona Site Steward Paul Grillos, Arizona Site Steward Steve Rascona, Volunteer Laurene Montero, City of Phoenix Archaeologist.

Arizona SciTech Festival Lectures 2017

As part of the 6th Annual Arizona Scitech Festival, Pueblo Grande Museum will be hosting The Science of Sound & Music lecture series, presented each Friday in February at noon. These 45-minute lunch time lectures are free and open to the public, and will explore the science of constructing traditional and modern electronic musical instruments as well as current research being conducted with sound and neuroscience. This lecture series is sponsored in part by the Phoenix Chapter of the Arizona Archaeology Society, Chipotle, and the Pueblo Grande Museum Auxiliary.

February 3 at noon

Topic: Radio Healer: Building Indigenous Electronic Instruments

Speaker: Cristobal Martinez Postdoctoral Fellow, Arizona State University, Artist, Radio Healer, Artist, Postcommodity


In this short lecture, artist Cristóbal Martínez will demonstrate several musical instruments built by the indigenous led artist collective Radio Healer.  During his demonstrations, Martinez will discuss the role of these instruments within Radio Healer's performances, as well as provide some basic knowledge for how to build a Radio Healer instrument of your own!

February 10 at noon

Topic: Hits of the Hohokam and the Science of Soundwaves

Speaker: Danielle Vernon, Pueblo Grande Museum Outreach Coordinator



Do you like music? So did the ancient people of the Sonoran Desert! Join Pueblo Grande Museum Outreach Coordinator, Danielle Vernon for an informal drop-in interactive presentation on the archaeological and ethnographic evidence of Hohokam music, get to handle some replica artifacts and listen to some Native American music.

Let’s not forget the science! During this informal presentation, guests will also learn about the science of soundwaves as we construct a giant wave machine out of candy! Drop-in anytime between noon to 1 p.m. to learn more and participate in this exploration of Hohokam musical instruments.

February 17  at noon

Topic: Primal Rhythm & Brains

Speaker: Stephen Helms Tillery, Associate Professor, Director, Sensorimotor Research Group, School of Biological & Health systems Engineering ASU, and Alex Kohli, Animator, Composer, Musician, Board of Directors for the Arizona STEAMshop 

Music taps deeply into the neural systems which sense and control the body.   Both melodies and rhythms tap into the deepest parts of the brain, and those newest portions that make us human. Not only that, but as a tribe we use music also to bind together our brains and generate common states. What are the underlying basics of these?

In this lecture we will learn about the ways in which neural systems respond to the elements of music, and explore the ways that music can entrain brains to auditory rhythms, and the ways that can be tapped to entrain multiple brains one to each other.

February 24 at noon

Topic: The Evolution of Stringed Instruments: From the Shaman's Bow to the Computerized Guitar

Speaker: William Eaton Director, Roberto-Venn School of Luthiery

Musician and instrument maker William Eaton will present a broad overview about the evolution of stringed instruments. William will share his insights about the fundamentals of how stringed instruments create 'sound' through vibrating strings that are coupled to various shapes and cavities. These variations have become the family of stringed instruments that have emerged on every continent. Building guitars since 1971, William is a co-founder and current director of the Roberto-Venn School of Luthiery, a guitar making school that he started with his partners and mentors John Roberts and Bob Venn in 1975. William will feature several of his one-of-a-kind multi-stringed instruments during the presentation, including his double neck harp guitar, which incorporates a computer to accomplish instantaneous tuning changes.

This lecture series is sponsored in part by the Phoenix Chapter of the Arizona Archaeology Society, Chipotle, and the Pueblo Grande Museum Auxiliary.