A Holiday Invitation: Come to The Field! With the arrival of fall comes the realization once again of how quickly time passes. Before you know it, the busy holiday season will be upon us. Plan now to enjoy some relaxing activities away from the usual holiday hustle and bustle. The Field Museum is a great place to re-energize yourself and spend precious time with friends and family. Did you realize that The Field Museum is open every day with the exception of Christmas Day? Yes, we’re open Thanksgiving Day, New Year’s Eve day and New Year’s Day! See our website www.fieldmuseum.org for information about extended holiday hours. Page 13 of this magazine contains a list of wonderful permanent exhibitions holiday guests can explore at the Museum. And of course there is always great shopping in the Museum Stores; page 7 has gift ideas for everyone on your list. Beginning in October, The Field Museum will be the exclusive host of the special exhibition The Aztec World (page 4). Trace the rise and fall of the Aztecs and discover the grandeur of one of the world’s great civilizations. And the excitement does not stop there. As you can see on the next page, 2009 will be an exciting year with special exhibitions focusing on everything from pirates to diamonds! As we approach the end of the year, the entire staff of The Field Museum would like to take this moment to thank you for your support and extend our wishes to you for a wonderful holiday season and New Year. Michelle Clayton Director of Membership DIANE ALEXANDER WHITE Shedd Aquarium 5 > Adler Planetarium characters mammals are away cae during the Oceanarium _ Street as they explore the night sky in On renovation, the aquarium is still teeming with 32,500 Sky: Big Bird’s Adventure. The show fo ows B other animals in the Waters of the World galleries, Elmo, and their Chinese friend Hu Hu Zhu as Caribbean Reef, Amazon Rising, and Wild Reef. Special _ the night sky. Another special show, Cosmic ( programs include behind-the-scenes tours, animal shows how catastrophic impacts creat i our f encounters, narrated dives in Wild Reef, and anexciting power our sun, and ended the reign of the di ne pet show featuring the Shedd Aquarium dogs. For more information visit www.adle rpla For more information and current schedules, visit or call 312: 922. STAR. : www.sheddaquarium.org or call 312.939.2438. Looking Ahead to a Great Year in 2009 A PREVIEW OF UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS The new year is just around the corner and it’s a great time to be a Field Museum member! A glance at the exhibitions below will tell you 2009 is going to be a “gem” of a year, with something for every age level and interest. Don’t let your membership expire — renew now by calling 312.665.7700 or visiting www.fieldmuseum.org/membership so you won’t miss these major exhibitions! Sesame Street Presents: The Body (JAN. 31 THROUGH APRIL 26, 2009) The loveable Muppets from Sesame Street welcome children to an exciting collection of hands-on, interactive, and multimedia experi- ences that explore the human body. Kids (and ! adults, too!) will learn why eating well and keeping fit are so important. Masterpieces of Ancient Jewelry (FEB. 13 THROUGH JUNE 14, 2009) A not-to-be missed exhibition featuring 150 pieces of stunning jewelry and accessories, covering 7,000 years, assembled from the world’s great museums. Masterpieces of Ancient Jewelry is not just a window into ancient life and society, but also a chronicle of the cross-currents of FROM Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Real Pirates: The Untold Story enh em of The Whydah from Slave Ship EERE to Pirate Ship (FEB. 27 THROUGH OCT. 25, 2009) In 1717, Sam Bellamy and his pirate crew captured the slave ship Whydah—the most advanced vessel of her day. Just two months later, she sank off the coast of Cape Cod packed with plunder. The Whydah lay undiscovered until 1984, when it became the first authenticated pirate ship ever found. See real artifacts from the ship, discover more about pirate life, and relive this fascinating period in history. Water (JUNE 19 THROUGH SEPT 20, 2009) Water is Earth’s life blood. This family-friendly show features hands-on activities, live animals, artifacts, and special water effects to create an immersive environment to explore how we use — and misuse — water. Learn how living things adapt to extremes of wet and arid environments, investigate how human behavior alters aquatic ecosystems, and be inspired by conservation efforts from around the world. Grainger Hall of Gems (PERMANENT EXHIBITION OPENS OCT. 23, 2009) Explore this newly renovated exhibition that showcases approximately 800 objects including natural formations, dazzling cut gemstones, and incomparable jewelry settings both ancient and modern. Discover beautiful Tiffany pieces from the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition, exquisite rare stones and gold objects, and creations from top jewelry designers. The Nature of Diamonds (OCT. 23, 2009 THROUGH MARCH 28, 2010) Born from billions of years of crushing geological force, diamond is a truly extraordinary mineral. Its beauty has been prized as a symbol of strength, wealth, and love; its mystery has inspired extravagant myths; its physical properties have been incorporated into powerful tools. Against a backdrop of stupendous gemstones, discover the story of diamonds. ITF Top, left: Mount Popocatepetl, considered acred by the Aztecs Top, right (grouping of photos, clockwise from lower left) The Aztec god of rain 1 1=tec name glyph Clay bowl probabl) used for pecial feasts QO 1 he god 17 The Aztec World Exclusive Exhibition Oct. 26 through April 19, 2009 — ee) » David Telisman, Writer 1 hove baby 1 tec on a cradle board carving of a He continues, “The Aztecs began at the bottom of the social hierarchy ind rose up to dominate central Mexico and extend their empire as far as Guatemala.” Co-curator Elizabeth Brumfiel, PhD, of Northwestern University adds, “This exhibition moves beyond stereotypes of Aztec culture to reveal its rich diversity.” The Aztec World is an exclusive exhibition (The Field Museum will be the only venue). And according to Dr. Feinman, you don’t have to be an “Aztecologist” to appreciate its unique blend of art history and anthropology. The Aztecs, who spoke the Nahuatl language, established their capital, Tenochtitlan (now Mexico City) in 1325. For the next 200 years, they built a sophisticated society known for its ingenious agricultural fields, busy markets, monumental architecture, elaborate religious rituals, and prosperous trade networks. The Aztec Empire fell to the Spanish in 1521, but left a lasting cultural legacy. The 10,000 square-foot exhibition presents a metaphorical walk through Tenochtitlan. “As you walk through it, you're figuratively getting closer to the center of the city,” says Hilary Hansen, the exhibition’s project manager VOL. 4, FOLIA 73L FLORENTINE CODEX, “Exelon is pleased to sponsor The Aztec World. We are committed to supporting arts and education, and proud to support The Field Museum in bringing the history of the Aztec civilization to Chicago,” says John W. Rowe, Exelon Chairman and CEO. The exhibition begins with the lake environment, where the city of Tenochtitlan — a marvel of engineering — was built on a series of man-made islands. As you progress through the exhibition, you learn about farming, trade, and warfare: the economic underpinnings of the Aztec Empire. The exhibition also examines the political and religious system enforced by the ruling elite. A gallery featuring religion and sacrifice takes you to the spiritual center of the exhibition, the Templo Mayor or Great Temple, where you'll see ritual offerings and exquisite stone sculptures of Aztec gods. The exhibition concludes with the arrival of the Spanish and their ultimate conquest. A More Complete Picture of Aztec Society In addition to telling a big picture narrative of the Aztecs, the exhibition focuses on the nuances of everyday society. “The Aztecs produced stunning pieces of great art,” says Dr. Brumfiel, “But if you only focus on the great art produced by the Aztecs, you get a very narrow view of Aztec culture, because the great art was sponsored by Aztec rulers, and it reflected their concerns.” “We're taking a comprehensive, holistic view of Aztec culture,” says Hansen. “We're not focusing just on the elite and rulers; we're also including the contributions and roles of people from all levels of society — everyday commoners like you and me. We want it to be inclusive to give a complete picture of what Aztec society was like; we're also paying attention to issues of women and class.” For example, you'll learn the migration stories of the Aztecs and how they regarded themselves as a chosen people. But you'll also discover how the common people fit in—the lifestyles and contributions of farmers, artisans, and merchants, and how religion was practiced on a household level. Emperors like Montezuma II and the warrior ranks of Eagle and Jaguar relied on farmers to grow crops such as maize and maguey, and artisans to create weapons, pottery, and clothing. The exhibition also stresses the science behind the art, where you get a sense of Aztec engineering innovations — Tenochtitlan’s majestic temples, for example, would not have stood but for foundation systems designed to hold their immense weight on top of the swampy lakebed. The Aztec World does not shy away from the ritual of sacrifice. Hansen explains, “We want to talk about it head-on, but put it in its proper anthropological context.” The Rulers gallery of the exhibition features an impressive ceramic figure with its liver exposed, appropriately named the Lord of Death and the Underworld. Other items include a skull mask and several sacrificial knives with blades decorated with grimacing faces. ZABE/AZA © MICHEL “Can’t Miss” Pieces The Aztec World contains many exceptional artifacts including: e Eagle Man A life-size ceramic sculpture representing a deified warrior or a personification of the sun. ¢ Monumental Serpent Head A two-ton, finely chiseled architectural ornament with exposed fangs. e Skull Mask with Sacrificial Knives A human skull with flint blades in place of a nose and tongue. e Lord of Death and the Underworld A ceramic sculpture personifying death with internal organs exposed. Above: Tenochitatlan at the height of Aztec rule. Left: A codex showing an Aztec farmer. ALL PHOTOS BY MICHEL ZABE: REPRODUCTION AUTHORIZED BY THE INSTITUTO NACIONAL DE ANTROPOLOGIA E HISTORIA Though violent, the bloodletting from human sacrifices served a higher purpose: to satisfy the gods and maintain the cosmic order of Aztec society. The concept of sacrifice was important to all social classes. Commoners often sacrificed small animals like quail, and gave offerings of crops. But the practice of human sacrifice was enacted largely by ruling nobles, military elites, and religious specialists. 1TF This exhibition was organized by The Field Museum, Chicago, in collaboration with the CONACULTA-INAH. Major Sponsor: Exelon Corporation This exhibition is supported by an indemnity from the Federal Council on the Arts and the Humanities WINTER 2008/09 « NOVEMBER-—FEBRUARY 5 IN THE FIELD INTERVIEW The Field Museum’s Hunter-Gatherer A Conversation with Jeri Webb By Orly Telisman, Manager of Media Relations The holiday season is here and what better time to talk to The Field Museum’s shopping expert! Jeri Webb, director of our Museum Stores, travels far and wide to find unique merchandise. In the Field asked her to give us a behind-the-scenes look at her job. Director of Museum Stores Jeri Webb. ITF: How do you find interesting items to feature in the Museum Stores? Webb: [ have a big hunter-gatherer instinct in me. My staff and I really enjoy looking for things, comparing objects, and thinking creatively. We regularly go to gift shows on both the east and west coasts, but also travel to artist’s homes and studios, tribal collectives, art shows, and artist workshops. ITF: Are you always looking for items? Webb: I believe in the “Siberian method” of shopping— that’s an old retail phrase. Think of being someplace where supplies are limited and infrequent. You have to buy when you see something you like, because you may not see it again. | might not have a need for the item right now, but if it is unusual and well made, I'll find a place for it sooner or later. ITF: Is it hard to juggle all four stores inside The Field Museum as well as the Museum stores at O’Hare Airport and online? Webb: Yes, those keep my team busy, and don’t forget the special exhibition stores that open and close every six months! For those, we have to be very creative. The store’s staff prides itself on looking beyond an object to see where it fits in with the exhibition’s theme. For example, in the Pompeii exhibition store, we sold items such as Roman bath salts, and Italian gardening books and tools. This may seem like a light-hearted approach to the topic of a destructive volcano, but we succeeded in bringing an ancient culture to life in present-day Chicago. ITF: How do you mix merchandise from different cultures together in one store and make tt look harmonious? Webb: It’s easy because all cultures eat, celebrate special occasions, and have their own interpretations of beauty. The use of color, function, and form blend together in the stores very nicely. ITF: Of more than 16,000 in-store items, what sells out the fastest? Webb: Kids’ items sell fast. Our Dino Balls, which are high-powered rubber balls, are our best sellers. Holiday Gift Ideas from Our Stores THIS YEAR’S ANNUAL DISCOUNT DAYS FOR MEMBERS: DECEMBER 1-7 Director of Museum Stores Jeri Webb says these gifts are bound to get “oohs” and “aahs” from even the pickiest people | on your shopping lists. A plus for members—all Field | Museum members receive a 20 percent store discount Dec. 1-7 (the regular member discount is 10 percent.) 1 For Dad: How to Stay Alive in The Woods hy Bradford Angier ($19.95). “A practical, readable and potentially indispensable manual for anyone venturing into the great outdoors.” ITF: On a personal level, has working at The Field Museum opened | 2 Newborn: Sleep Sheep ($33). “Soothing sounds made your eyes to different cultures you may have been unfamiliar with before? from inside this cuddly soft sheep that helps both baby and if F c mom and dad get a good night’s sleep!’’ Webb: Yes, I’ve learned a lot more about Chinese antiques and American Indian arts and crafts. I spend a lot of time learning so 3 Dinophiles: Dino Chess set ($125) or amber jewelry I can select the best of the best. 4 (necklace shown is $119). “Display your love of fossils in a fun way and contemporary way.” ITF: Do you have a favorite item? : . ? ; : 5 Foodie: Chicago Spice Set ($32). “These spices showcase Webb: I like everything! Even Martha Stewart gave us her seal the ethnic diversity of our city and celebrate the melting of approval. When she came to visit a few months ago she simply pot that is Chicago.” stood there and said, “Magnificent!” ITF : ! ‘ 6 Women: Hand embroidered shawl from India ($112). “Use it as a wrap or a table runner while supporting the women’s collective that creates them by hand. Gorgeous!” 7 Gardeners: Hand embroidered Huipile bags from Guatemala ($58). “Each piece is individually made by women who bring imagination to life with sewing artistry.” 8 Jet setters: Bamboo blanket ($45). “Comfy, lightweight, and good for the environment.” 9 When money is no object: Embera woven figures from Panama ($900). “It takes the weaver over six months to do one piece; they are incredibly intricate and detailed.” 10 Stocking stuffer: A fetish (prices vary —several are available for under $30). “Hand-made fetishes work on so many different levels for different people.” Remember, you can shop online 24 hours a day at aI www.fieldmuseum.org w | PROCEEDS FROM THE FIELD MUSEUM STORES GO DIRECTLY TO SUPPORT THE MUSEUM'S SCIENTIFIC AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS. OF SPECIAL INTEREST Taking Science to the Community By Krystal Villanosa, Writer The Field Museum is coming to a neighborhood near you! The Museum's Education Department recently launched Café Science, a new program for adult audiences. Café Science is held on weekday evenings in cafes, bookstores, and pubs in areas such as South Loop, Andersonville, Lakeview, and Hyde Park. The discussions are moderated by local scientists, including many from The Field Museum, and focus on “hot topics” such as cloning, evolution, and the environment. Café Science provides a comfortable and informal forum to openly discuss everything from global warming to genetic engineering. Many recent scientific advances have social implications and impact our lifestyles and daily decision making. Café Science aims to engage local communities in the economic, political, and ethical dimensions of science. Held in convenient venues around the city, Café Science gives you a voice and allows your insights to be heard. Science is a dialogue and we want to hear what you have to say! The next Café Science program is entitled We Are What We Eat and will take place at 7pm, Thursday, Nov. 6, at Whole Foods, 1101 S. Canal St., Chicago. This free discussion will be moderated by Field Museum anthro- pologist L. Antonio Curet, PhD, and William J. Pestle, a PhD candidate at the University of Illinois at Chicago. The scientists will lead a discussion about the diets of native peoples who lived in Puerto Rico prior to the arrival of the Europeans, as well as the role it played in their social organization Dr. L. Antonio Curet and lifespan. They will also discuss the methods used to uncover the diets will moderate a Café Science of past populations, including traditional excavation and chemical analysis in November. of human bones. Join Dr. Curet and Mr. Pestle for We Are What We Eat and learn how the diets of peoples in the past have implications for us in the present. Visit our website at www.fieldmuseum.org for more details and for information on upcoming Café Science programs. ITF This project is made possible through the support of The Grainger Foundation Archival Field Museum Photos Now Available for Purchase Many images in the Museum’s photo archives are available for viewing and purchase at fieldmuseum.org/urbanlandscapes (click on the Illinois Digital Archives link in the sidebar on the right.) Images date back to 1894 and serve as a historical record for not only the Museum but also for the City of Chicago and its parks and neighbor- hoods. They also document the Museum’s move from Jackson Park to its present location in Grant Park. Field members receive a 10 percent discount on all photo purchases. Email photos@fieldmuseum.org for more information or to purchase an image. Don’t forget to include the negative number or identifier of the image in your email! CSGE03812 Field memberships make great gifts! Call 312.665.7700 - M-F 8:30am—4:30pm Visit www.fieldmuseum.org/membership Fi NOVEMBER-FEBRUARY ) Seeree aN useum b5] A, i 2 " “A : = i vee N -_ 4. & v= calendar Ee na \" > ; “ * i ' Dozin’ with the Dinos! Dozin’ with the Dinos is a unique opportunity for families with children ages 6-12 to spend the night at The Field! Overnights are scheduled for the following FRIDAYS in 2009. JANUARY 9 & 16 - FEBRUARY 6 & 20 > MARCH 6 & 27 + APRIL 24 > MAY 15 & 29 JUNE 26 - AUGUST 14 - NOVEMBER 20 & 27 NEW FOR 2009! Families can sign up for Premium Package 1 and sleep in our Evolving Planet exhibition, or book Premium Package 2 and sleep in our Evolving Planet exhibition and add a behind-the-scenes tour with a Field Museum scientist! Overnights begin at 5:45pm and end the following morning at 9am. No one will be admitted after 8pm. Standard Overnight: $60/families, $50/members and groups Premium Package 1: $72/families, $62/members; Premium Package 2: $85/families, $75/members Pricing is per person. Register by visiting fieldmuseum.org/overnights National Geographic Live! The National Geographic Live 2008-2009 season at The Field Museum brings you entertaining and visually spectacular presentations by dynamic National Geographic explorers, scientists, photographers, and naturalists. Remaining dates and events: NOVEMBER 18, 2008 « 7:30pm MARCH 10, 2009 « 7:30pm BORNEO: PARADISE UNDER SIEGE CELTIC HEART, CELTIC SOUL with Photographer Mattias Klum with Photographer Jim Richardson DECEMBER 9, 2008 * 7:30pm APRIL 21, 2009 * 7:30pm FACES OF INDIA with Photographer Ami Vitale SECRETS OF SHANGRI-LA with Himalayan Mountaineer Pete Athans FEBRUARY 10, 2009 * 7:30pm MEGAFISHES: FRESHWATER GIANTS with Biologist Zeb Hogan Purchase a 3-part package for February—April, starting at $60 or purchase single-event tickets NATIONAL / starting at $22. For more information on tickets, please call 312.665.7400 or visit www.nglive.org. GEOGRAPHIC ! Proud Sponsor of the National Geographic Live! Series and its accompany fion programe: A 1 ed ory & “0 312.665.7400 312.922.9410 www. fieldmuseum.org vane bane Please note: Refunds will be issued by Field Museum staff, minus a $10 processing fee, for group and family overnights only. : Cancellations must be made 24 hours in advance of the overnight in order to receive a refund. No refunds or exchanges are permitted any other programs. Fees for programs that are cancelled by The Field Museum will be refunded in full. xO oe cs november december NAHUI OLLIN—AZTEC DANCE®* Performance Enjoy a spectacular performance by Chicago-based dance troupe Nahui Ollin! Watch as they perform indigenous ceremonial dances from Mexico using native instruments such as the jarana, huehuetl drum, rattles, whistles and a guitar made from a turtle shell. NOVEMBER 1, 12pm CHICAGO YOUTH SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA* Performance The Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra features gifted musicians 7-18 years old who perform great orchestral works. Under the direction of Musical Director Allen Tinkham, this concert will feature works by Marquez, Copland, Moncayo and Falla. NOVEMBER 1, lpm AZTEC CODICES Family Program Gain a further understanding of Aztec culture though their own writings. We will look at the meaning of different Aztec codices while creating a codex of our own. This is a bilingual (Spanish/ English) program. NOVEMBER 15, 10am-11:30am + $7, members $4 Pre-registration required. FAMILY FIELD DAYS* Family Program Take part in fun and free art and science activities in the Crown Family PlayLab and in the rest of the Museum. Be an explorer, scientist, artist and much more! On the third Saturday of every month. NOVEMBER 15, llam-2pm SCIENTIST AT THE FIELD* Demonstration Meet a Field Museum scientist and see rarely displayed specimens from our collections. NOVEMBER 15, llam-2pm IN THE LAND OF THE HEADHUNTERS SYMPOSIUM* Film Screening & Lecture View the Edward Curtis 1914 film “In the Land of the Headhunters” and hear from film historians and Kwakwaka’wakw nation members. Event includes a public lecture and screening as well as cultural demonstrations. NOVEMBER 16, 10:30am-12pm Film Screening 12pm-2pm Special Artists at The Field DOZIN’ WITH THE DINOS Overnight Family Program Sue the T. Rex is having a sleepover! Join us for a night of family workshops, tours and performances and spread your sleeping bag amidst some of our most popular exhibitions The event includes an evening snack and breakfast in the morning. NOVEMBER 28, 5:45pm-9am + $55, members $47 Pre-registration required. FREE WITH MUSEUM ADMISSION WWW.FIELDMUSEUM.ORG AT THE ART STUDIO® Family Program Calling all young artists! Our theme for this month is “Story Time!” People around the world have many special ways of telling stories. Come tell a story through voice, dance, and song! DAILY IN DECEMBER, 10am-2pm TSUNAMIS ON AMERICAN SHORES WITH TOM SKILLING, CHIEF METEOROLOGIST, WGN NEWS* Lecture Hear about the largest tsunami wave on record as Tom Skilling takes you on an adventure through Alaska to explore the history of tsunamis in the United States. DECEMBER 6, 2pm USDA SCIENTISTS AT THE FIELD Demonstration Visit Underground Adventure and learn more about the complexi- ties of soil with these real life scientists. You’ll get a chance to see and feel different types of soil, see how various elements of soil react in water, and try your hand at some soil trivia. DECEMBER 11, llam-2pm Free with admission to Underground Adventure ARTISTS AT THE FIELD* Demonstration Bring your pencils and your brushes and get tips from professional artists throughout the Museum as they study, weave, draw, paint and sculpt. DECEMBER 13, llam-2pm SCIENTIST AT THE FIELD* Demonstration Meet a Field Museum Scientist and see rarely displayed specimens from our collections. DECEMBER 20, llam-2pm MISTER ROGERS’ NEIGHBORHOOD SWEATER DRIVE & STORYTELLING FESTIVAL* Family Program I’m Mr. McFeely, from Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. You know, every day on Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, Mister Rogers zips up his comfortable sweater, but not everyone has a sweater. In fact, some people COURTESY OF FAMILY COMM don’t even have enough clothes to keep them warm. If you have an extra sweater, would you consider donating it to someone who might need it? From 12/26 to 12/31, our friends at The Field Museum’s Crown Family PlayLab will make sure that your sweaters will be delivered to Chicago area children, teenagers, and adults who can really use them. After dropping off your sweaters you are invited to celebrate the spirit of neighborhood care with a variety of storytellers, authors, artists, dancers and musicians free with general admission. We hope you'll be part of the Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood Sweater Drive & Storytelling Festival at The Field Museum. Thank you and Speedy Delivery! DECEMBER 26-31, llam-2pm + EACH DAY (Fri.—Wed.) “FREE WITH MUSEUM ADMISSION WWW.FIELDMUSEUM.ORG january AT THE ART STUDIO* Family Program Calling all young artists! This January our theme is Animal Tracks! An animal’s tracks can tell us an amazing story. From prehistoric dinosaurs to present day woodland animals, come experiment with pace, stride and pattern! DAILY IN JANUARY, 10am-2pm KRAFT STORY TIME* Family Program Take a seat in the Crown Family PlayLab to hear a story and make an art project to take home—all in 20 minutes! SATURDAYS & SUNDAYS IN JANUARY, 11:30am & 1:30pm TWO OF US: SLEEP TIGHT* Family Program Many animals enjoy a long winter nap called “hibernation.” Spend your Mondays in January learning about the way that bears, snails, skunks, turtles and ladybugs nap. Featured books include Time to Sleep, by Denise Fleming. MONDAYS, JANUARY 5-26, 10am-llam FM/TIFFANY PLATE DOZIN’ WITH THE DINOS Overnight Family Program Sue the T. Rex is having a sleepover! Join us for a night of family workshops, tours and performances and spread your sleeping bag amidst some of our most popular exhibitions. The event includes an evening snack and breakfast in the morning. JANUARY 9 & 16, 5:45pm-9am + $60, member $50 Pre-registration required. CRETACEOUS CRIME SCENE!* Family Program Psst... word is there’s a mystery to solve in the Crown Family PlayLab. Someone did in Tommy Thescelosaurus! The suspects include Johnny Two-Fingers Tyrannosaurus, Hungry Joe Triceratops, and Toothpick Pete Dromaeosaurus. Using the same tools that paleontologists use to solve prehistoric mysteries you and your family will become dinosaur detectives as you handle real fossil clues. JANUARY 17, 10am-1lam ILLUSTRATIONS BY RICHARD KISSEL *FREE WITH MUSEUM ADMISSION WWW.FIELDMUSEUM.ORG february TWO OF US: HEAD, SHOULDERS, KNEES AND TOES!* Family Program From head to toes our bodies need a lot of special care. Spend your Mondays in February practicing good exercise, diet and hygiene with some of your favorite fuzzy friends! Featured DANNY FIELD books will include Hokey Pokey Elmo by Abigail Tabby and Grover’s Guide to Good Eating by Naomi Kleinberg. MONDAYS, FEBRUARY 2-23, 10-llam DOZIN’ WITH THE DINOS Overnight Family Program Sue the T. Rex is having a sleepover! Join us for a night of family workshops, tours and performances and spread your sleeping bag amidst some of our most popular exhibitions. The event includes an evening snack and breakfast in the morning. FEBRUARY 6 & 20, 5:45pm-9am + $60, members $50 Pre-registration required. THE SECRETS OF COLLECTIONS: X-RAYS* Family Program An x-ray is a picture that can show us the inside of an object. X-rays can help doctors find broken bones, security guards see the inside of luggage and scientists learn about the past. Come and compare x-rays of shells, rabbits, birds, and even people to the real thing. FEBRUARY 21, 10am-llam ARTISTS AND AUTHORS PRESENTS: VICKY STREI* Family Program Come learn the art of puppeteering from construction to perfor- mance. Local puppeteer, Vicky Strei, will provide all the guidance and materials you need. All you have to bring is your imagination! FEBRUARY 21, llam-2pm IVORY GHOSTS: THE WHITE GOLD OF HISTORY AND THE FATE OF ELEPHANTS* Adult Lecture Author John Frederick Walker will share the fascinating and sometimes savage story of ivory’s enormous impact on both human history and the majestic African elephant. Join John Frederick Walker for an exploration through ivory’s troubled past and its uncertain future — the future of elephants themselves. A book- JOHN FREDERICK WALKER signing to immediately follow program. FEBRUARY 7, 2pm EVOLVING SCIENCE AT THE FIELD FEATURING DR. GARY FEINMAN, CURATOR, THE FIELD MUSEUM* Adult Lecture A leader in archaeological field research, Feinman has led excavations in Oaxaca, Mexico for over 30 years. Hear about his latest finds from excavations of prehispanic houses at El Palmillo, a large hilltop terrace site in the eastern Valley of Oaxaca. FEBRUARY 28, 2pm *FREE WITH MUSEUM ADMISSION WWW.FIELDMUSEUM.ORG CROWN FAMILY PLAYLAB ttle explorers have their own place in a big museum! DANIEL F. AND ADAL. RICE DNA-DISCOVERY CENTER DNA DISCOVERY CENTER Olan Pele ; - what it can tell us about ourselves and PERMANENT EXHIBITION Discover what DNA is, how it works and other living things. yenerously supported by the Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Foundation ratory for Molecular Systematics and Evolution. We express our appreciation NATURE UNLEASHED: INSIDE NATURAL DISASTERS THROUGH JANUARY 4, 2009 Earthquakes. Tornadoes. Hurricanes. Volcanic eruptions. Tsunamis. Explore these immense forces of geology and weather that have shaped our planet and our world. This exhibition is organized by The Field Museum National Tour Sponsor: Allstate THE PAINTED BIRD: LOUIS AGASSIZ FUERTES SEPTEMBER 12, 2008 THROUGH JANUARY 4, 2009 Travel through early 20th century Ethiopia and view exquisite paintings by legendary bird artist and scientist Louis Agassiz Fuertes now on display at The Field Museum. The exhibition, The Painted Bird: Louis Agassiz Fuertes was created by The Field Museum, and upported by the Terra Foundation for American Art THE AZTEC WORLD OCTOBER 31, 2008 THROUGH APRIL 19, 2009 Trace the rise and fall of the Aztec world ; “ and explore the grandeur one of the S$ world’s greatest civilizations, exclusively at The Field Museum. TRANSFORMING TRADITION: POTTERY FROM MATA ORTIZ NOVEMBER 14, 2008 THROUGH JANUARY 11, 2009 Witness the rebirth of a unique pottery tradition in the exquisite ceramics from the Mexican town of Mata Ortiz. This exhibition was organized by The Field Museurr p pred by Baker & McKenzie SESAME STREET PRESENTS: THE BODY JANUARY 31, 2009 THROUGH APRIL 26, 2009 Explore “B is for BODY” at The Field Museum! Take a walk down Sesame Street and discover how our bodies work as you dance with Grover, shop at Mr. Hooper’s store, and skip into Elmo’s World. Heads, shoulders, knees, and toes will never be the same! Sesame Street Presents: The Body is produced by Thinkwell Design & Production in association with Sesame Workshop National Tour brought to you by New Balance Major Sponsor: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois The Crown Family PlayLab is aenerously sponsored by the Crown family SCIENTIST’S PICK A Diorama Masterwork Depicts Aztec Market Discover It in Ancient Americas When The Field Museum built the new Ancient Americas exhibition, it painstakingly prepared new displays. However, one diorama that had previously been on exhibition for more than 50 years was so treasured that the Museum decided to spruce it up and make space for it in Ancient Americas. The diorama, completed in 1957, is considered a masterwork and depicts the Aztec market at Tlateloco. It was made by Alfred Lee Rowell (1894-1963), the foremost miniature diorama artist of his time. Rowell’s diorama illustrates the dynamic prehispanic Aztec market in a way that no set of artifacts could. Working from eyewitness accounts of Conquistador Bernal Diaz del Castillo from 1519, Rowell meticulously captured the costumes, products, and bustle of a marketplace that would have included tens of thousands of vendors and customers. More than five feet wide and three feet deep, the diorama contains about 250 human figurines and 50 different commodities — all made of molding clay and cast polyester resin. Aztec buyers, sellers, porters, and hagglers are shown during a typical day. The action is realistic. One of the more entertaining scenes shows two women fighting over a beautiful embroidered cloth as a merchant tries to calm them down and settle the dispute (see bottom photo at left). Rowell worked at The Field Museum from 1941 until 1963 and made a total of 16 dioramas for the Anthropology Department. He specialized in accurately representing the daily lives of peoples from the past. The late Paul Martin, PhD, former Field Museum curator, praised Rowell’s work as “unsurpassed for its beauty, precision, and artistic qualities.” The upcoming exhibition The Aztec World (Oct. 26—April 19, 2009) devotes a section to the importance of the marketplace to the people of prehispanic central Mexico. When Spanish conquerors arrived in Mexico, they marveled at the size and diversity of this indigenous institution, remarking that they never had previously seen such a large market anywhere in the Mediterranean World from which they came. When you visit The Aztec World, be sure to also see The Ancient Americas and spend time examining Rowell’s masterwork diorama in the Aztec section of the exhibition. You'll come away informed and delighted! 11F Anthropology Curator Gary Feinman, PhD, Y MA2 contributed this Scientist’s Pick. Go to the Museum’s website www.fieldmuseum.org/expeditions to learn 2D/KIMBER more about Dr. Feinman’s work through text, photos, ll and interactive maps. GN90722 The Ancient Americas is made possible by the McCormick Foundation Presenting sponsors who have generously supported this exhibition are Mr. and Mrs. Michael W. Ferro, Jr; Mr. and Mrs. Miles D. White Abbott Fund; and ITW Foundation WINTER 2008/09 » NOVEMBER-FEBRUARY 9 OF SPECIAL INTEREST How One Scientist Found His Niche A Letter from Carl W. Dick, Brown Postdoctoral Fellow ‘Parasites that live on bats? How‘d you get interested in that?” The Field Museum‘s Carl W. Dick, PhD, is used to that reaction when he tells people about his area of research. The following is an excerpt from a recent letter he wrote to a Museum trustee explaining how he came to study two groups of animals that most of us would much rather avoid. Dr. Carl W. Dick studies parasites that live on bats. He examines a bat roost in Kenya (top) and he holds the carnivorous bat Vampyrum spectrum, the largest bat in the Western Hemisphere (bottom). 10 Dear Mr. Bucksbaum, It was very nice to meet you recently, and I want to thank you for your interest in my field of study. Regarding your question about how I was drawn to this area, I hope this letter provides an explanation. As so many “life passions” do, mine started during childhood when I had free access to nature. I’d run about in my free me and explore woodlots and meadows, paying special attention to animals. The so-called formative years were Just that. In college, after briefly dabbling in a business major, I decided to pursue biology as a career, possibly as a forest ranger. But enter my master’s program and the optimism of youth —I thought I could and would fix what ails us. To me, the big issue was environmental degradation at the hands of man. During this stage, I studied water quality but instead of using chemical analysis, we looked into the ecology of insects and other creatures living in streams because those organisms were sensitive to environmental change. I also met scientists who study mammals such as rodents and bats. They were outdoorsy people, many of whom (like me) cut their naturalists’ teeth as kids. | enjoyed their company and got to be pretty good at wrangling wild, live bats and rodents. These animals simply fascinated me — running a trap or net line was a little like being on a treasure hunt for another new species I’d never seen before. My fascination with insects firmly entrenched, I learned that these species of small mammals had thriving, complex communities of insects (fleas, bat flies, lice, etc.), mites, and ticks living on their bodies and in their nests and roosts. One day a professor and mentor showed me a scientific publication that was a turning point. It was The Streblid Batflies of Venezuela authored by Field Museum Curator Rupert L. Wenzel. He specialized in both beetles and bat flies, and started the Field Museum’s collection of bat flies which has grown into the largest and most comprehensive collection of these organisms in the world. I was taken by the pictures of these bizarre creatures that exist nowhere except on the bodies of bats worldwide. I learned that I could recon- cile my interest in insects with my interest in mammals. What’s more, this was a “gap” area, not already filled by many competitive scientists —so I'd found a niche in science. I don’t pretend to know much about business or economics but I’m trained in ecology, and ecologists study what can be described as the “economy of nature. Living species specialize and divide their environment, just as humans have learned to divide labor and specialize in particular, even obscure areas. So, I suppose that’s where I am now. As an aside: Rupert Wenzel passed away in July, 2006. Fortunately, I was able to learn a great deal from him. He and I co-authored his last scientific paper, the description of a new genus of bat flies from Costa Rica. (I’m very proud of that sentimentally as much as scientifi- cally.) At the time of his death, Rupert had been professionally associated with The Field Museum for more than 70 years! The work of Rupert and other scientists, and the world-class research collections at The Field Museum, all paved the way for me to come here as a postdoctoral scientist, super- vised by MacArthur Curator of Mammals Bruce Patterson. Years ago, Bruce recognized the strength and importance of our parasite collections. He also understood what a tremen- dous resource they were for conducting cutting- edge science in the areas of systematics, ecology, and parasite-host co-evolution. What Bruce once envisioned has now come to fruition — shortly after my arrival here we received a $400,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to curate, update, and database our important OF SPECIAL INTEREST MARY BETH PRONDZINSKI Megistopoda aranea, a flightless bat fly from Panama. ‘I was taken by the pictures of these bizarre creatures that exist nowhere except on the bodies of bats worldwide.’ collection of ectoparasitic bat flies. A year later, we received another NSF grant ($420,000.00 in collaboration with Field Museum Research Associate Katharina Dittmar at SUN Y-Buffalo) to study the evolutionary relationships among bat flies and their relatives, including the medically important Tse-Tse flies of Africa. We are proud of the work we've done, which would not be possible without the natural history collections at the core of The Field Museum, and the excellent science programs here staffed by world-class scientists, all with the blessing and support of the Museum’s administration. We all take pride in our wonderful Field Museum and in being part of a fantastic team of talented and dedicated people doing great research and educating the public. Thanks for your time, and with best regards, @arl WINTER 2008/09 » NOVEMBER-FEBRUARY 11 OF SPECIAL INTEREST The Artist Who Could See Birds’ Souls Louis Agassiz Fuertes: The Painted Bird — Now Through Jan. 4, 2009 By Emily Waldren, Writer Anyone who’s ever attempted to photograph a bird in the wild knows it’s no easy task. Those who have tried to capture an animal’s spirit in such a photograph know it’s next to impossible. Artist Louis Agassiz Fuertes, however, not only captured the impossible, he did so with watercolor paints and paper. Vangels, Silvery-Cheeked Hornbill (top) Secretary Bird (bottom) 12 Semen Mar, 25.1947 .. The Field Museum's new exhibition Louis Agassiz Fuertes: The Painted Bird features some of Fuertes’ greatest work from his 1926 journey to Abyssinia (modern-day Ethiopia). Twenty-eight of Fuertes’ paintings and sketches will be on display for only the second time since the expedition. In addition, The Painted Bird features photographs, news articles, and film footage of the journey, as well as two bird specimens Fuertes studied and then captured on paper. Born in 1874, Fuertes was introduced to John James Audubon’s work at a young age. Studying Audubon’s masterpiece The Birds of America, Fuertes began to emulate Audubon’s meticulous attention to detail. As his work became more relaxed, he quickly developed his own style of painting that captured the distinctive postures and gestures of his subjects. Fuertes was lucky enough to have a photographic memory, so with a few careful observations and brushstrokes, he was able to quickly illustrate the animal's “personality.” In 1926, The Field Museum-Chicago Daily News Abyssinian Expedition set out with Wilfred H. Osgood, chairman of the Museum’s Zoology Department leading the team. Accompanying him were Louis Agassiz Fuertes, James E. Baum, a writer from the Chicago Daily News, Museum zoologist Alfred M. Bailey, and C. Suydam Cutting, an amateur motion-picture photographer. Fuertes’ painting supplies were somehow lost on the journey from America, and he quickly purchased and borrowed what he could upon his arrival to Abyssinia. With few supplies, he created 115 works throughout the seven-month expedition. Sadly, just a few months after returning from Abyssinia, Fuertes was killed in a car accident. He and his wife were returning from New York City, where he had shown his Abyssinian work to colleagues at the American Museum of Natural History. His wife survived the accident, and the paintings miraculously escaped destruction. In a heartfelt obituary for Fuentes, expedition leader Osgood wrote, “The word went about that birds had souls and that Fuertes could see and transcribe them.” Another expedition member, C. Suydam Cutting, purchased the paintings and donated them to The Field Museum. Today, the paintings, as well as all the photographs, film footage, and Fuertes’ expedition journals are kept in The Field Museum’s Library and Archives. ITF The exhibition, The Painted Bird: Louis Agassiz Fuertes, was created by The Field Museum, and is supported by the Terra Foundation for American Art. OF SPECIAL INTEREST The Field Museum: A Great Holiday Destination! By Michelle Clayton, Director of Membership Expecting guests for the holidays? Plan a trip to The Field Museum! We're open Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve day, and New Year's Day (closed only on Christmas Day). Be sure to check our website www.fieldmuseum.org for information on extended holiday hours geared to fit your busy schedule. Starting in late November, the Museum will be all dressed up with festive lights and wreaths in Stanley Field Hall; for a place to relax during your visit, head for our new Members’ PLEASE NOTE: FIELD MUSEUM MEMBERSHIPS OR SHAREL Lounge just a few steps away. Check this magazine’s calendar section for special programming during this season and see the back cover for information about our annual Children’s Holiday Celebration. The following permanent exhibitions are sure to entertain and enlighten your holiday guests — out-of-towners unfamiliar with the Museum, as well as more frequent visitors. For a half-day visit, we suggest: Evolving Planet is a journey through four billion years of life on Earth, from single-celled organisms to towering dinosaurs and our extended human family. Unique fossils, animated videos, hands-on interactive displays, and recreated sea and landscapes help tell the compelling story of evolution. The Ancient Americas opened in 2007 and features more than 2,200 artifacts from civilizations including the Hopewell, Maya, and Inca, along with dramatic reconstructions and dozens of videos and interactive displays. Learn how ancient peoples used ingenuity to meet challenges —just as we do today. Inside Ancient Egypt never fails to impress and inspire. It’s a window into one of the world’s most fascinating cultures. An ancient tomb, beautiful artifacts, hieroglyphics, and of course mummies — 23 of them! — transport you to another time and place. The Hall of Jades offers a serene experience. It’s a smaller gallery that contains more than 450 stunning jade objects from the Museum’s collection. Since the dawn of China’s history, jade has represented prosperity, virtue, and power. ITF Evolving Planet is made possible by Kenneth and Anne Griffin. The Elizabeth Morse Genius Charitable Trust is the generous sponsor of Evolving Planet's Genius Hall of Dinosaurs The Ancient Americas is made possible by the McCormick Foundation. Presenting sponsors who have generously supported this exhibition are Mr. and Mrs. Michael W. Ferro, Jr.; Mr. and Mrs. Miles D White; Abbott Fund; and ITW Foundation The Elizabeth Hubert Malott Hall of Jades, gift of The Malott Family Foundation WINTER 2008/09 » NOVEMBER-FEBRUAR 13 LAB NEWS Watch Scientists at Work in our Public Labs Lab News is a new In the Field feature about what’s happening in our three public laboratories. Stop by soon to see Museum scientists at work! Preparation of Sue’s jaw and teeth. Chest decoration with beads re-adhe red. In 1997, when the Museum acquired the T° rex Sue, her bones were covered with a rocky matrix. So scientists began the painstaking job of cleaning the enormous fossil. The MeDonald’s Fossil Preparation Lab opened the following year, allowing visitors to see Sue emerge from the rocks that had buried her for 67 million years. The Museum unveiled the assembled skeleton of Sue in 2000 and since then, paleontologists have contin- ued to work in the lab, cleaning and preserving more than 300 fossils from 15 countries. Perhaps the next time you visit, you'll see paleontologists uncover 260-million-year-old Dicynodont tossils from Tanzania. Researchers will study this mammal-like reptile for evolution- ary clues. In the coming months, lab workers will also prepare a 52-million-year-old fossil bird found in the Green River Formation in Wyoming last summer. This area is mainly a fossil fish site and the 10-inch specimen 1s only the second bird found by Museum scientists in the 25 years they have excavated there! The Regenstein Laboratory provides a view of the management, conservation, registration, and curation of objects from the anthropology collections, particularly those from the Pacific. This fall, Museum staff will be working on intricate beaded objects from West Papua. The objects are decorated with beads made from several types of seeds that are pressed into a thick layer of a natural resin. When you visit the lab, you might see conservators replacing loose seeds by reactivating the original adhesive with heat lamps and then delicately pressing the seeds back into place, or by securing seeds with a tiny drop of adhesive. Scientists are also reassembling broken pottery and removing harmful salts through Educator and researcher Erica Zahnle in the DNA Discovery Center. successive baths of purified water. The more fragile pottery must be reinforced with special polymers before treatment can proceed. Some objects are completed in a few days; others, such as a brick from the ancient city of Kish (in present-day Iraq) have been undergoing treatment for more than a year! Few museums have DNA research labs, and only The Field Museum has a DNA research facility built so that visitors can closely watch researchers. At the new Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice DNA Discovery Center, discover what DNA is and how it works by viewing videos and informative displays; then peer through large windows to observe scientists working in the Pritzker Laboratory for Molecular Systematics and Evolution. DNA is the thread that connects all life on Earth, and genetic research conducted in the lab is helping researchers understand and preserve the world’s biodiversity. Currently, scientists are conducting more than 60 projects in the lab, examining every- thing from lichens to lions! You might see them comparing the DNA of toucans and their parasites to test the hypothesis that the two animals co-evolved. Another project studies the reproductive patterns of lemon sharks from the Bahamas. Their DNA reveals significant information about where they give birth. 1TF Partners in Global and Local Conservation The Field Museum’s Environment, Culture, and Conservation (ECCo) team translates Museum science into conservation and quality-of-life improvement in the tropics and at home. The Museum thanks The Boeing Company and Exelon Corporation for becoming key ECCo partners. Boeing is supporting ECCo’s work to sustain vast forest expanses in the Andean foothills and Amazon rainforests and to enrich Chicago environ- uw S ments —both cultural and biological. Exelon is supporting ECCo’s work E with Peruvian organizations to protect Cordillera Azul National Park and == create a credible system for defining avoided-deforestation carbon offsets. Exelon also supports Take One Step. This voluntary program encourages visitors to offset the carbon emissions generated by an average trip to The Field Museum by buying a $1 carbon credit. The money helps : : d : Have you ever wanted to meet a zoologist? combat global warming through renewable energy technologies, restoration ; 5 : : bs ST tans Examine ancient artifacts from Mesopotamia? of degraded habitats, and conservation of intact forests (fieldmuseum.org _ : oS 2 4 Migs . Touch fossils from a recent dig in Tanzania? carbonoffset). : oe y : Well now you can! Your gift to The Field Beginning this fall, Exelon will match visitors’ participation in as ; ae! ha ae ; ; : : Museum’s Founders’ Council and Annual Fund Take One Step, up to $200,000. Exelon’s match will support the Museumr’s . : 2 sives you exclusive, behind-the-scenes access Renewable Energy Vehicle for i ; : : es ae to the Museum year-round. With opportunities outreach programs. For informa- aves AY ; ‘ ; such as special exhibition previews, private tion on lowering your carbon i as Museum tours, wide-ranging access to our footprint at home, visit www. ; : 4 : scientists, plus all of the benefits of Museum exeloncorp.com/fieldmuseum ee ; membership —joining the Founders’ Council and Annual Fund allows you to be a part of Park guards patrolling the > Cushabatay River in Cordillera Azul National Park, Peru. it all. We welcome you to join us this fall and discover these exhibitions: Nature Unleashed: Inside Natural Disasters (through Jan. 4, 2009), The Aztec World (Oct. 26 through April 9, 2009), The Painted Bird: Louis Agassiz Fuertes Al | (through Jan. 4, 2009), and Transforming Tradition: Pottery from Mata Ortiz (Nov. 14 es Ad through Jan. 11, 2009). With so much to see ' : é and enjoy, there’s something for everyone! The Field Museum 1s grateful to our Founders’ Council and Annual Fund io : 5 ; : >a For more information on becoming donor family. Your gifts directly support our extraordinary exhibitions, : ; ; : a member of the Founders’ Council or educational outreach programs, and scientific research. Be sure to make é ae Annual Fund, please call our Annual Giving your tax deductible gift before Dec. 31, 2008 to receive charitable giving : office at 312.665 or contact Michelle benefits for this calendar year. 2 Harryman, manager of annual giving, at mharryman@fieldmuseum.org. Above: This rabbit vessel is featured in | The Aztec World. Rabbits were associated nie | with drunkenness and the vessel would have Si 1use 2 been used for alcoholic beverages. = NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION US POSTAGE useulm PAID 14 h Lake Shore Dr r ic CHICAGO, IL PERMIT NO. 2550 Give the Gift of Discovery — A Field Membership Children’s Holiday Celebration Ss cs WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT IN THE FIELD?