Peculiar things at the Museum

We took a trip to the New Jersey State Museum in Trenton on Saturday with Frank for the grand re-opening of the Planetarium. Unfortunately, since the days shows were free, we didn't manage to snag any tickets as they went FAST. So instead we strolled through the many exhibits in the museum.

The New Jersey Native American exhibit really caught Ava's eye. She really liked their necklaces whose beads were made from shells. When we came accross a pair of mocassins, Ava's only response was, "That's awfully peculiar." She had never seen a pair of shoes that looked anything like them.

Checking out the longhouses.

We made our way up to the third floor gallery where Ava swooned over the Lennox vases and tea cups. "Is that real tea for their tea party?" she questioned.

Past the Lennox was the Gallery which to my surprise was hosting the many works of a widely known professor from my former college.  "Artist As Curator" featuring many of Mel Leipzig's colorful and contemporary works pleased both mine and Ava's eyes. While purusing the walls I came accross a portrait of my former Student Advisor and Professor, Ross Davies, who had succumbed to his cancer in 2004. It was a little comforting to his face again out of the blue. Since school is still new for her it was also nice to show Ava one of my teachers and that I went to school just like her!

We later found a wall of watercolors which Ava thoroughly enjoyed as she described the colors and what she thought each abstract represented.

Downstairs on the main floor was my favorite exhibit, "Rising Tide: Climate Change & New Jersey." The museum did a fabulous job making this a very interactive and engaging exhibit for visitors of ALL ages. It was very informative and impactful as some parts literally showed the damage we are doing to our world and the speed in which it is happening.

We are sure to head back for another weekend to check out the "One World, One Sky" show at the Planetarium. With Big Bird and Elmo narrating the trip into outer space, I'm sure Ava will go nuts!