In Search of Lost Frogs - Zoom with White Memorial Foundation January 30

On Saturday, January 30 at 2 pm White Memorial Foundation in Litchfield has organized a Zoom presentation with Twan Leenders and Roger Tory Peterson from the Institute of Natural History. To register click here.

From a young age Twan Leenders has been fascinated by tropical rainforests and the exotic plants and animals that inhabit them. Growing up in a small town in The Netherlands, he devoured every relevant book his local library had to offer. While finishing up his degree in Biology and Animal Ecology at the University of Nijmegen in the early 1990s, Twan spent six months in the rainforest of Costa Rica to study coral snake mimicry and survey the herpetofauna of the rainforest canopy -  from that point on there was no turning back...

 

After living and working in various parts of Central America for more than a decade, Twan moved to the U.S. in 2000 where he worked as a researcher in the Division of Herpetology and Ichthyology of Yale University's Peabody Museum of Natural History. Since then, he has worked as an Assistant Professor of Biology at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT, and returned to the trenches of conservation research and outreach while leading the Science and Conservation Office of the Connecticut Audubon Society. As Senior Director of Science and Conservation of the Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History (RTPI), he now applies his experience to Western New York. However, Twan returns to Costa Rica and Panama regularly, with or without student researchers in tow, to band migratory birds on their wintering grounds and to study some of the planet's most endangered amphibian populations.

 

Based on the notion that all stewardship starts with education, Twan has always been keenly interested in sharing his experience and knowledge. He has authored four books and numerous magazine and journal articles on the flora and fauna of Costa Rica, including the very first field guide to amphibians and reptiles for that country in 2001. As an avid photographer and wildlife artist, his images adorn the pages of these books. However, Twan's photographs have also appeared in publications by the National Geographic Society, GEO, Dorling Kindersley's 'Eyewitness' publications, and numerous other magazines and books. His field guide illustrations are currently in use for educational purposes and displays at the Royal Ontario Museum, Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History, the California Academy of Sciences,  

and Smithsonian's 'BioMuseo' in Panama City, Panama.

 

In 2013, Twan joined the 'Meet your Neighbours' Global Biodiversity Project as a contributing photographer and administrator. Participants in this project use striking high-key photography to draw attention to the plants and animals living in their backyards - wherever on the planet these backyards may be. Combining his love for photography and his work at RTPI, Twan tries to follow in the footsteps of the Institute's namesake, Roger Tory Peterson, to provide the general public with the tools and knowledge to better understand - and hopefully better protect - the fascinating biodiversity that surrounds us.

 

Join Twan on a mid-winter virtual journey to tropical places and enjoy some of the fascinating creatures he encounters along the way.

 

 

Weekend Winter Walk @ Woodcock Nature Center on January 24

Take a walk with Cindy Olsen, on February 24 from 4:30 pm to 6 pm at the Woodcock Nature Center in Wilton. Olsen is an award-winning certified guide with the Kripalu School of Mindful Outdoor Leadership and a guide with the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy  She is a meditation teacher at Pause To Be Present Meditation and certified with Mindful Schools. Additionally, Cindy is an environmental educator with Sheldrake Environmental Center. 

This walk on the beautiful trails of the center will be a refreshing end to the week. Hikers will participate in a mindful winter walk in the forests of Woodcock Nature Center. Winter is a beautiful time to embrace the natural world with our senses and invite in a slower pace of things to unwind and restore. We’ll gather safely and enjoy the winter sunset as a community. 

​Cindy will provide blankets, seat cushions, hot tea, and other warming comforts for your time with the trees. Extra layers of clothing are essential to staying comfortable as we’ll be moving slowly and spending some time sitting in stillness. 

To register for this walk click here.  The cost of this relaxing experience is $20 per person.

Valentine's Day Virtually in Danbury @ the Hat City Ball

Looking for a unique way to celebrate Valentine's Day? Look no further than the Hat City Ball on February 12, 2021, hosted by the Danbury Museum. This year, the ball is virtual! Not to worry, food is still playing a part... you can pick up a 3-course meal that you can pick up at the Amber Room and enjoy (in your favorite PJs or your favorite gown!) in the comfort of your home with your favorite person! Or treat yourself to a delicious pre-Valentine's Day Meal. It is easy to order your meal online using a drop-down menu. To purchase a ticket click here.

The biggest upside of this year's Virtual Hat City Ball is that for each ticket purchased, a meal will be donated to Danbury senior citizens--our storytellers and memory keepers--in cooperation with The New American Dream Foundation and the Amber Room Colonnade. 

These two groups have worked tirelessly since the start of the pandemic to give added food security to our senior population. The Friends of the Danbury Museum are honoring The New American Dream Foundation and the Amber Room Colonnade with our annual award, The Hat City Award for Preservation Excellence, as a way of thanking them for the great work they have done. The goal is to provide all 600+ meals for the Saturday, February 13, delivery.

Winter Weekend Walk to a Lighthouse

 Winter is a wonderful time to get out in the fresh air and explore the beauty of the season. In Connecticut, we have 22 historic lighthouses, most are best viewed from the water like Sheffield Island Lighthouse. The Black Rock Harbor Lighthouse located in Bridgeport can be reached by taking a short walk about one mile long. A walk along the breakwater to the lighthouse gives hikers fabulous views of Long Island Sound. After traversing the breakwater hikers can take a sandy path to the 47-foot tall lighthouse and to the edge of this island. From the shore, if you look out into the Sound, you will also see Penfield Reef Lighthouse just offshore in the distance. The lighthouse is located on Fayerweather Island at the end of a breakwater off of Seaside Park in Bridgeport.

In the 18th century, the city became a shipping center and this lighthouse was built in 1808 on a tract of land purchased from David Fayerweather for $200. The keeper’s dwelling was originally a one-and-a-half-story home, having a kitchen, living room, and one bedroom, but over time, the residence would grow to eleven rooms. John Maltbie, the first keeper, died only five months after taking charge of the light. The lighthouse was destroyed in a storm in 1821. The lighthouse we see today was built in 1823.

Despite the short tenure of the first keeper, the position at Fayerweather Island rarely turned over, and the station only nine keepers in its 125 years of operation. John D. Davis was the last keeper of the lighthouse until it was officially decommissioned on March 3, 1933.

Although you can't get into the lighthouse today, visitors can walk around the lighthouse and imagine what it was like to live in a lighthouse and how exciting it was to help guide boats safely into the harbor. The lighthouse was relit in the year 2000 although it is not used for navigational purposes.

Sunday Fun Day Activities @ The Institute for American Indian Studies - Sunday, January 24, 2021

The Institute for American Indian Studies located in Washington Connecticut is keeping up a popular tradition in 2021 by offering a series of Native American-inspired craft workshops for kids and families every other Sunday in January and February. 

The workshops will be conducted in a safe socially distanced environment with a maximum of just six participants. The silver lining to offering such small workshops is that museum educators will not only be able to give participants more individualized attention, they will also be able to modify the workshop in accordance with the abilities of the participants. 

The second Sunday Fun Day craft workshop is taking place on Sunday, January 24 with one-hour time slots offered from 12 noon through 4 p.m. The focus of this workshop is on Native American beading. 

Beadwork is an art form that has been practiced for centuries throughout Native American communities. Native Americans decorated clothing, dwellings, horse gear, and utensils with materials found in nature such as shells, pieces of bone, stones, seeds, and even porcupine quills. After European contact, many Native Communities began incorporating multi-colored glass beads into their designs. Glass beads were highly valued by Native Americans because they were durable and came in a variety of colors. The beading workshop on January 24 will focus on beading basics and introductory techniques that will get participants started on their own colorful beading project. 

 Sunday Fun Day in-person workshops that will highlight a specific Native American craft or art form are planned to take place every other Sunday in February from noon to 4 p.m. Unlike previous years, in order to maintain the highest standards of safety, all workshops require pre-registration for one of the four one-hour time slots. There will be no walk-ins. The cost of participation is admission to the museum ($10 for adults, $8 for Seniors, and $6 for children) plus $10 for workshop materials. Members of the museum are free. Masks are required and hand sanitizer is always available. To make a reservation call the museum at 860-868-0518 or email them at events@iaismuseum.org to schedule a time slot. 

About The Institute for American Indian Studies 

 Located on 15 acres of woodland acres the Institute For American Indian Studies preserves and educates through archeology, research, exhibitions, and programs. They have a 16th c. Algonquian Village, Award-Winning Wigwam Escape, and a museum with temporary and permanent displays of authentic artifacts from prehistory to the present that allows visitors to foster a new understanding of the world and the history and culture of Native Americans. The Institute for American Indian Studies is located on 38 Curtis Road, Washington, CT.

Weekend Walk...Ice House Trail @ White Memorial Foundation in Litchfield

In days gone by the only way to keep food cold was to build an ice house and haul ice harvested in frozen lakes into the house for safekeeping. The ice would be used throughout the spring and summer months to keep food and drinks cold. 

White Memorial Foundation in Litchfield is located on Bantam Lake, the largest natural lake in the state that also has a long history in ice harvesting. Ice was harvested by farmers for family use and by large crews for commercial use.

On the grounds of White Memorial Foundation, visitors can take the yellow-blazed lake trail to the ruins of the ice house on its' grounds. Access the Ice House Ruins Trail by taking the 1-mile Lake Trail loop, which begins in the Main Area of the property (near the Museum). For a PDF to print out of the Ice House Ruins Trail click here.

There are eight points of interest to see along this trail that includes sites where there was a conveyer that brought the ice from Bantam Lake and a canal where the ice blocks went through a planer that shaved the cakes into a uniform size. Look for the remains of the old railroad bed where the ice cakes were loaded onto railway cars and shipped as far as New Yirk City. When you see the ice house foundation, think of a building some 36 feet high and 110 feet wide. This foundation has a marker and is to the left of the trail. A path to the left of the trail leads to the remains of the elevator and pump house foundation as well as the end of the inland canal. Just in front of the trail is a large ice harvest field that once had 14 compartments that held more than 4,000 tons of ice each. On either side of the road were dorms where the workers slept and ate. Keep your eyes peeled for the railroad spur that led out to the mainline of the Shepaug Railroad.

Ice was normally harvested from late November through early March. This historic walk gives visitors an idea of the harsh work that went into cutting and hauling blocks of ice and makes us appreciate our refrigerators that much more!

Bradley International Airport Nominated as “Best Small Airport” in the U.S.

 The Connecticut Airport Authority is pleased to announce that Bradley International Airport has been nominated for a USA Today 2021 10Best Readers’ Choice travel award.

 

The USA Today expert panel selected Bradley International Airport as a contender for ‘Best Small Airport’ in the nation.

 

“We are thrilled to kick off the new year with this nomination,” said Kevin A. Dillon, A.A.E., Executive Director of the Connecticut Airport Authority. “Even during these challenging times, Bradley International Airport continues to innovate and stand out in the airport industry. We invite our community to show pride for its home airport and bring this significant, national recognition to the region.”

 

On its website dedicated to voting, USA Today noted that Bradley International Airport “ranks as the second-busiest airport after Boston Logan, yet it remains a convenient option with on-site parking, lots of charging stations, free WiFi and proximity to both New York and Boston.”

 

The contest gives voters an opportunity to vote once per day for four weeks for the candidate of their choice at  https://www.10best.com/awards/travel/best-small-airport-2020/

 

To vote for Bradley International Airport, visit https://www.10best.com/awards/travel/best-small-airport-2020/bradley-international-airport-windsor-locks-connecticut/ or https://bradleyairport.com/votebdl/

 

Voting is active now and ends Monday, February 1^st. The winners will be announced on 10Best on Friday, February 12th.

 

 

About Bradley International Airport (BDL)

BDL Cares about your safety. In response to COVID-19, the airport has implemented new precautions, and was one of first airports in the nation to open an in-terminal COVID-19 testing site. Recently, the airport’s efforts were recognized with a health accreditation from Airports Council International (ACI) World.  Bradley International Airport is the second-largest airport in New England. The award-winning airport is operated by the Connecticut Airport Authority, and its operations are entirely self-funded.  The airport contributes nearly $3.6 billion to the regional economy. For more info, visit www.flybdl.org.

 

About The Connecticut Airport Authority

The CAA was established in 2011 to develop, improve, and operate Bradley International Airport and the state’s five general aviation airports (Danielson, Groton-New London, Hartford-Brainard, Waterbury-Oxford, and Windham).  The CAA Board consists of 11 members with a broad spectrum of experience in aviation-related and other industries, as well as government.  The goal of the CAA is to make Connecticut’s airports more attractive to new airlines, bring in new routes, and support Connecticut’s overall economic development and growth strategy.

 

December 30 is Connecticut's Valley Forge

When Americans think of the hardships faced by starving, shivering Continental Army troops during the harsh winters of the Revolutionary War, they usually remember the infamous winter encampment at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania in 1777–1778. What few realize, however, is that the eastern division of the Continental Army under the command of General Israel Putnam endured virtually identical trials and tribulations one year later while encamped in the vicinity of Redding, Connecticut.

The choice of Redding was a strategic one for Putnam’s division of troops: they had spent the previous months patrolling and skirmishing along the crucial Hudson River Valley, and from their camp in western Connecticut, they could still easily dispatch troops or couriers to West Point, Westchester County, New York City, or the interior of New England. Once the troops settled in for the winter in November 1778, however, what little energy they had left became fully devoted to surviving the same type of brutal winter conditions suffered by their compatriots at Valley Forge the year before. Compounding the harsh winds, snow, and frigid temperatures was a critical lack of supplies, including food, blankets, and winter clothing. Even worse, the troops had been paid in devalued paper Continental currency, rendering many of them unable to provide financial support for their families at home.

All of these miseries, and the frustrations that came with them, culminated in an attempted mutiny which took place at the Redding encampment on December 30, 1778. That day, a large number of troops decided to abandon the camp and march on Hartford to demand relief from the state General Assembly. Sometime that morning, General Putnam got word of the forthcoming uprising and rode his horse to where the disgruntled troops were gathering. There, according to several sources, he rode among them and delivered a rousing speech, rebuking them for deserting their country in its hour of need and appealing to their sense of patriotism and honor:

“You have behaved like men so far; all the world is full of your praises, and posterity will stand astonished at your deeds; but not if you spoil it all at last. Don’t you consider how much the country is distressed by the war, and that your officers have not been any better paid than yourselves? …Let us all stand by one another then, and fight it out like brave soldiers. Think what a shame it would be for Connecticut men to run away from their officers.”

Putnam’s inspiring speech to his starving troops worked well enough to restrain them from carrying out the planned mutiny.  And having regained control of his command, Putnam was lenient on the mutineers. Out of the many soldiers involved, only one was identified as an unrepentant ringleader and confined.  (He was later shot to death by a sentry while trying to escape).

While the uprising of December 30th was narrowly prevented, the grueling winter and terrible conditions continued, with only limited relief in the form of food and supplies. The Connecticut encampment was plagued by threats of desertion and mutiny for the entire length of the troops’ stay in Redding, which later acquired the fitting nickname of “Connecticut’s Valley Forge.”

Today, the site of Putnam’s winter encampment is open to the public as Putnam Memorial State Park. Established in 1887, Putnam Memorial was the first public park owned and administrated by the State of Connecticut. A dramatic statue of Israel Putnam on horseback greets visitors at the park’s entrance, and an obelisk with quotes from Putnam’s speech of December 30, 1778, commemorates the patriotic troops who stayed and suffered there during the harsh winter of 1778 – 1779.

Special Event: A talk by Tehama M Lopez Bunyasi “Stay Woke”

 

2020 is the year that many Americans woke to the enormous disparities still faced by people of color in the United States.  One question facing white Americans is how can they responsibly bridge some of these differences in their minds and everyday lives. Dr. Lopez Bunyasi,  Professor at the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution at George Mason University will discuss her co-authored book Stay Woke: A People's Guide to Making All Black Lives Matter, and expound upon how to continue the commitment to antiracism in a Biden-Harris administration. Bunyasi’s work is broadly concerned with matters of race, racism, and antiracism,  especially with racial attitudes, ideologies, marginalization, and the politics of whiteness.

She illuminates lessons from the current Movement for Black Lives to equip people to become effective racial justice advocates and antiracists. Blending together a wealth of scholarly work with critical reflections from popular culture, Stay Woke sheds light on the precarious nature of Black lives in the United States by unmasking structural racism and explaining how even well-meaning people can reproduce racial inequality. Created as a toolkit and written in accessible language, Stay Woke empowers its readers to become more knowledgeable participants in public dialogue, activism, and American politics.

The program will be presented live on Zoom by the Scoville Memorial Library

on Thursday, January 6 at 2:00 pm. Registration for the talk is posted on the library’s event pages https://www.scovillelibrary.org/events/.

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Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo Welcomes New River Otter Following Renovation of Habitat

 Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo is the new home for Tahu, a one-year-old female North American river otter newly arrived from the Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, Wash. After the Zoo’s last river otter passed away in 2019 from advanced age, the Zoo engaged in long-planned improvements to the otter habitat. With renovations complete, Tahu has joined the Zoo family and will be joined by a male companion in the future. 

 

As a species, river otters have suffered from habitat loss, water pollution, and fur trapping. Their numbers are on the rise due to reintroduction programs in parts of the U.S., better water quality, and protection of their habitats.

 Zoo Director Gregg Dancho said, “Our river otters have always been some of the most popular animals who make their home here at the Zoo, for their playful nature and intelligence as well as their role as an iconic North American animal. We’re pleased to welcome Tahu to the Zoo.” Tahu joins the Zoo at the same time as the Amur tiger, Changbai. 

About North American River Otters

River otters, members of the weasel family, can run on land as well as swim. They are playful and agile athletes, sliding down hills of mud or snow to land with a splash in water. Their tails are muscular and comprise up to 40 percent of the otter’s body length. They can move through the water as fast as eight miles per hour and can dive to 36 feet. Found throughout most of North America, the river otter lives in aquatic habitats: streams, rivers, lakes, ponds and marshes. They prefer unpolluted water with minimal human disturbance. 

About Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo

Let your curiosity run wild! Connecticut’s only zoo, celebrating its 98^th year, features 300 animals representing primarily North and South American and Northern Asian species. Guests won’t want to miss our Amur tigers and leopards, maned wolves, and Mexican grey and red wolves. Other highlights include our new Spider Monkey Habitat, the prairie dog exhibit, and the Pampas Plain with Giant anteaters and Chacoan peccaries. Guests can grab a bite from the Peacock Café and eat in the Picnic Grove. Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo is a non-profit organization approaching its 100^th year at a time when the mission of helping fragile wildlife populations and eco-systems is more important than ever. 

 

The Zoo reopened on June 1. Tickets must be purchased on the Zoo’s website at beardsleyzoo.org. Face masks are required for everyone over the age of two, with the exception of those with medical conditions that preclude wearing them. 

 

 

Amur Tiger Changbai Returns To Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo

 Changbai, a thirteen-year-old Amur tiger and the mother of cubs born at the Zoo in 2017, has returned to Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo. After arriving from her most recent home at the Columbus Zoo, Changbai underwent a normal quarantine period. Once again comfortable with her surroundings, Changbai is now residing in the tiger habitat in the predator area, next to her daughter, Reka.

Born on May 24, 2007, at the Philadelphia Zoo, Changbai resided at Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo for two years before being transferred to Columbus as part of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ (AZA) Species Survival Plan. Amur tigers are very rare and are critically endangered in the wild. According to the AZA, today Amur tigers are thought to occupy less than seven percent of their original range. Threatened by habitat loss and degradation, poaching, tiger-human conflict and loss of prey, four of nine subspecies have disappeared from the wild just in the past hundred years. The future of the Amur tiger has been a major concern of the world’s zoos for many years. 

Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo’s Deputy Director, Don Goff, is the Co-Chair of the National Felid Taxon Advisory Group (TAG). He leads a committee of AZA-accredited zoo members whose goal is to help have sustainable populations of felid species.

“The planned transfer of animals to other member zoos ensures the sustainability of a healthy, genetically diverse, and demographically varied AZA population,” explained Goff. “We’re happy to welcome Chang back to the Zoo, where she can continue to be an ambassador for her species, educating our guests about the importance of conservation.”

About Amur tigers

The Amur tiger is a rare subspecies of tiger and the largest cat in the world. Adult male tigers can weigh up to 675 pounds, with females weighing up to 350 pounds, although they average 200-250 pounds. Chang is large for a female Amur tiger, weighing 340 pounds. Similar to people’s fingerprints, no two tigers have the same striped pattern. Amur tigers differ from other tigers with fewer, paler stripes, and a mane that helps to keep them warm. They live in southeast Russia as well as small areas of China and North Korea. They live for 10-15 years in the wild and up to 22 years in captivity.

About Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo

Let your curiosity run wild! Connecticut’s only zoo, celebrating its 98^th year, features 300 animals representing primarily North and South American and Northern Asian species. Guests won’t want to miss our Amur tigers and Amur leopards, maned wolves, and Mexican grey and red wolves. Other highlights include our new Spider Monkey Habitat, the prairie dog exhibit, and the Pampas Plain with Giant anteaters and Chacoan peccaries. Guests can grab a bite from the Peacock Café and eat in the Picnic Grove. Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo is a non-profit organization approaching its 100^th year at a time when the mission of helping fragile wildlife populations and eco-systems is more important than ever. 

The Zoo reopened on June 1. Tickets must be purchased on the Zoo’s website at beardsleyzoo.org. Face masks are required for everyone over the age of two, with the exception of those with medical conditions that preclude wearing them. 

 

Choose an Audubon Adventure

The  Bent of the River Audubon Center in South Britain is offering personalized guided outings. Participants are invited to join a Bent of the River naturalist for a personal outdoor adventure at the sanctuary. 

The guided nature experiences offer fun themes to choose from. You may have up to 9 people attend your program session. Please make sure each member of your party brings and wears a mask. Each program is up to two hours and is a daytime event unless otherwise noted.

The guided walks include the following options:

BIRD WALK - $150

• Available any time of year
• Suitable for ages 8 and up

 

NATURE HIKE - $150

• Available any time of year
• Suitable for ages 6 and up

 

POMPERAUG RIVER EXPLORATION - $150

• Available June and July only
•  Suitable for ages 8 and up

 

OWL PROWL - $225

• Available January and February only
• Evening event
• Suitable for ages 8 and up

 

WOODCOCKS AND WHISKEY - $250

• Available April only 
• Evening event
• Ages 21 and up only

 

PEEPER PROWL - $200

• Available March and April only 
• Evening event
• ​Suitable for ages 8 and up

 

AFTERNOON VERNAL POOL STUDIES - $150

• Available April, May, and beginning of June only
• Suitable for ages 8 and up

 

PLEASE NOTE: Ticket purchases are final and non-refundable. If you cannot attend the program for any reason, you can share your ticket with another guest. In the event of extreme, inclement weather, we will work with you to reschedule. By signing up for this program, you are consenting to receive emails from Audubon about this program and our conservation work. You may opt-out of our emails at any time.

 

After booking your program, one of our naturalists will reach out to you (or your giftee) to discuss the date, time, and personalized program you are interested in doing.

To register click here.

Join the Chowda Club for a Tasty Chowda...this December

This year upwards of  20,000 people were not able to attend the 13th Annual Chowdafest due to its postponement and enjoy the unlimited chowder, soup, and bisque sampling from 40 New England restaurants that are invited to participate.   This annual people’s choice event determines the best in New England. During the course of the year, Chowdafest goes all over the region in search of restaurants that produce the best to invite to compete.

The Chowda Club was created a few months ago to keep the Chowdafest brand alive and provide some semblance of normalcy to those who are fans of both chowder and the event. Every month they announce two featured restaurants representing past award winners as well as those new to the chowder scene! This month the Chowda Club is currently taking online orders for both a decadent lobster bisque from Rory’s in Darien CT and a popular cheeseburger chowder from the Smithsonian Cafe & Chowder House in MA. Orders are taken online now through Dec. 23rd and arrive at your home on Dec. 30th via FedEx.

Giving the taste of memories past makes quite a gift” said Jim Keenan, creator of Chowdafest and the Chowda Club. “Plus it also makes a great present they can enjoy anytime” he added. Each order includes a quart of each soup. For more details and to make an order, go to www.chowda.club/store.

Bid and Buy @ Institute for American Indian Studies Online Auction

The Institute for American Indian Studies https://www.iaismuseum.org located on 38 Curtis Road in Washington Connecticut is hosting its’ first online auction this year from December 3 – December 16, 2020. This online auction offers fans of the museum and of Native American art to switch from being observers of art to active collectors. Whether you are a long time collector of Native American art and artifacts, art-curious, or a first time collector, this online auction offers a rare opportunity to purchase items specially curated by the Institute for Native American Studies.

The Institute’s online auction is offering nineteen items at a variety of price points that make looking and bidding easy and fun. The proceeds from the auction will raise essential funds for the Institute’s core mission and will help to underwrite new educational programs and exhibitions. The artists represented in this first online auction play an intrinsic role because all items featured are authentic and have been carefully curated by one of the leading Native American museums in the country. Bidding on one of the four Iroquois Corn Husk dolls offered, a hoop-dancer, a lacrosse player, with bow and arrow, and a doll with a shield is the chance to own an iconic figure that represents a cherished Native American legend. The Iroquois People’s legend of the Corn Husk doll tells the story of how the first doll was made by the Corn Spirit. It says that this doll had a beautiful face and played with Iroquois children. When the doll saw its reflection, it became vain and treated the children badly. After many warnings, the Corn Spirit took the beautiful features away from the doll as a lesson in humility. Since that time, the Iroquois people do not put a face on their Corn Husk dolls to remind them not to think that they are better than anyone else.

Another hard to find item offered are handmade one-of-a- kind porcelain dolls by Navajo artist Cheryl Yazza of Four Corners. The dolls are not only realistic they are also highly collectible. Yazza creates her own molds and hand pours the porcelain. After she fires the porcelain three times, she meticulously hand paints each face. The clothes are handmade and the jewelry is hand stung or hand sewn on the clothes. Bidding starts at $125 for dolls that often cost over $500. Two of the most unusual items in this auction include an authentic fox bow quiver wall hanging by Navajo artist Curtis Bitsui that comes with a certificate of authenticity. This wall hanging was made by hand using genuine Red Fox fur including the tail, leather fringe, beads, a medicine wheel, and prayer feathers. It also has a hanging cord making it easy to display. The handwoven twined bag by Abenaki artist Vera Longtoe Sheehan is another gem offered in this auction. This twined bag is based on traditional fiber arts that have been passed down for countless generations. It represents the way Vera preserves the tradition of her ancestors with the knowledge of Wabanaki culture to create one of kind bags like this work of functional art. The auction also offers a distinctive selection of jewelry from turquoise cuff bracelets to necklaces and earrings.

If you are in the market for a truly stunning sculpture, don’t miss the chance to bid on the piece called “Strength of our People” by Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux artist, Janice Albro of South Dakota. The sculpture is signed and numbered 3 out of 20 pieces that date to 1993. This spectacular bronze depicts a fire with smoke rising up, forming into the image of the head of a person holding a pipe that transforms into a skull and finally into a crow. The crow symbol signifies wisdom, some Native American tribes believe that the crow has the power to talk and is considered the smartest bird. The crow is also the sacred bird of the Ghost Dance.

To join the Institute in celebrating the exhilarating intersection of collecting and patronage visit https://www.auctionninja.com and start bidding! The sale closes on December 16, 2020, at 3 p.m. Pick–up for items is available at the Museum from Tuesday – Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday, from noon to 4 p.m. Shipping is available for an additional fee. About the Institute for American Indian Studies Located on 15 acres of woodland acres the Institute For American Indian Studies preserves and educates through archeology, research, exhibitions, and programs. They have the 16th c. Algonquian Village, Award-Winning Wigwam Escape, and a museum with temporary and permanent displays of authentic artifacts from prehistory to the present that allows visitors to foster a new understanding of the world and the history and culture of Native Americans. The Institute for American Indian Studies is located on 38 Curtis Road, Washington, CT

Two Ways to Shop this Holiday Season @ Institute for American Indian Studies

The holiday season is here and, this year it will be more challenging than ever to find a thoughtful gift for that special someone on your list. Not to worry, the Institute for American Indian Studies has you covered at their annual Native American Holiday Arts and Crafts Market. This year, the Institute is providing shoppers with two choices, a visit to the museum to shop in person and an online shopping experience. Admission to the Institute's Gift Shop and the Holiday Market is free, but capacity is limited in accordance with State regulations, and masks are required.

In Native societies art was integrated into the act of making everyday things, and art objects were often ceremonial. Some of the most famous Native American artists have been painters, sculptors, jewelers, basket makers, beaders, and potters. Native American artists in the 21st-century preserve, present, and represent their culture, heritage, and traditions using a variety of genres and mediums. Some Native artists create contemporary works of art, while others use materials that are more traditional. Some of the most interesting works of art invoke cultural heritage framed by values rooted in a distinctly indigenous worldview and blended with contemporary life.

If you plan to shop at the museum, get in the mood by visiting the Institute’s exhibitions that take visitors on a Native American journey through time with displays of astounding artifacts and exhibits that present information from prehistoric to contemporary time. A highlight is a special exhibit on Trading Posts and Native art. The Holiday Arts and Crafts Market at the Institute is open Saturday, December 5 and Sunday, December 6, and Saturday, December 12 and Sunday, December 13. If you plan on shopping in person at the Institute, give them a call in advance at 860-868-0518 or email them at events@isismuseum.org to reserve a spot.

In addition to the Holiday Arts and Crafts Market, the Gift Shop at the Institute of American Indian Studies is open and chock full of a variety of items to fit every budget. The Gift Shop offers an excellent selection of Native American jewelry, crafts, artwork, tea, smudge, and books. The Museum and Gift Shop is open Friday - Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 12 noon to 4 p.m. and will be closed on December 24 and 25 and 31 and January 1. If you can't get to the Institute in person, visit the Virtual Holiday Market that opens November 27 and runs through January 3, 2021, on the Institute's website. Here you will find a curated webpage of the bios and contact information of Native American Artists that you can purchase from directly.

Several of the featured artists including Dawn Spears (Narragansett – wearable art, corn husk dolls, and paintings), Vera Longtoe Sheehan (Elnu Abenaki – hand-woven textiles, baskets, and accessories), Brenda Hill (Tuscarora – pottery), Jeanne “Morningstar” Kent (Abenaki – gourd artwork), Sarah Sockbeson (Penobscot - baskets) and Annawon Weeden (Mashpee Wampanoag - jewelry) will do Zoom-based presentations and submit videos demonstrating their work and explaining how they incorporate cultural elements. These programs will be listed on the Institute's website and will add meaning to the gift items that they are offering for sale. On December 5 from 1 pm - 2 pm Sarah Sockbeson will be hosting a virtual Zoom call for information click here. On Sunday, December 6, from 1 pm - 2 pm Vera Longtoe Sheehan wll be hosting a zoom program, for more information click here.