Press Release
Florida Museum, Harn Museum host annual Earth Day celebration April 19
Editor's Note: A full schedule of activities is listed below.
April 7, 2008
Contact:
Paul Ramey, APR
Assistant Director, Marketing and Public Relations
Florida Museum of Natural History
(352) 273-2054, pramey@flmnh.ufl.edu
Tami Wroath
Interim Director of Marketing and Public Relations
Harn Museum of Art
(352) 392-9826, twroath@harn.ufl.edu
Writers: Jennifer Eastman and Jessica Thurmond
PHOTOS AVAILABLE
GAINESVILLE, Fla. --- Visitors to the Florida Museum of Natural History and the Harn Museum of Art will enjoy a day of fun for all ages while learning about the environment during the annual Earth Day celebration 10 a.m.-4 p.m. April 19. The event features live music, dance performances, games, eco-friendly art activities and community booths.
Florida Defenders of the Environment also will premiere its multi-media project "Natural Florida: In Word, Image and Deed," which explores how artists, painters, photographers, musicians and writers have represented the natural wonders of Florida from the 16th century to the present. This is the largest compilation of art exploring natural Florida and several local artists featured in the project will discuss their work at the museums. The artists include photographer John Moran, poet Lola Haskins, singer/songwriters Cathy DeWitt and Patchwork, singer/songwriter Dale Crider and author Cynthia Barnett, whose book "Mirage: Florida and the Vanishing Water of the Eastern U.S." won the 2007 Florida Gold Medal for Nonfiction.
Visitors will have the opportunity to transform recycled materials into sculpture at both museums, create rainforest trees and creatures at the Florida Museum of Natural History and join award-winning artists Jennifer Duerden and Ryan Tanay in creating robot and bird sculptures at the Harn's Family Day.
Other activities include a child-friendly presentation on energy conservation by Gainesville Regional Utilities and the exploration of nature trails at the Natural Area Teaching Laboratory located adjacent to the museums.
For more information on the Earth Day event, visit the University of Florida Cultural Plaza web site, www.culturalplaza.ufl.edu.
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The Florida Museum of Natural History is Florida's state natural history museum, dedicated to understanding, preserving and interpreting biological diversity and cultural heritage. It is located near the intersection of Southwest 34th Street and Hull Road in the University of Florida Cultural Plaza in Gainesville. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Butterfly Rainforest admission is $8.50 for adults ($7.50 Fla. residents) and $4.50 for children ages 3-12. Prices subject to change. For more information, including directions and parking, call (352) 846-2000, or visit www.flmnh.ufl.edu.
The Harn Museum of Art at Southwest 34th Street and Hull Road is one of the southeast's largest university art museums with more than 6,500 works in its collection focusing on African, Asian, modern and contemporary art and photography. The museum enhances the activities of the University of Florida and serves a culturally diverse audience through educational programming. Admission is free. Museum Hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Parking is free on weekends. The Camellia Court Café is open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Museum and Café are open until 9 p.m. Thursdays for Museum Nights. For more information call (352) 392-9826 or visit www.harn.ufl.edu.
Earth Day on April 19, 2008
10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Florida Museum of Natural History & Harn Museum of Art
Trash or Trees?
10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Create rainforest trees and creatures with recycled materials.
Located in the Florida Museum of Natural History, Central Gallery
Nature Trails
10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Enjoy exploring natural trails with your family at The Natural Area Teaching Laboratory, dedicated to teaching students and
the public about ecology and biotic diversity! Please view a brochure and map at the Harn Museum of Art.
Located on 60-acre tract in the southwest corner of the University of Florida campus; accessible from the
Florida Museum of Natural History and Natural Area Park
"Voices & Visions: An Artistic Celebration of North Central Florida's Natural Wonders"
10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Premier hosted by Steve Robitaille. Presenters include photographer John Moran, poet Lola Haskins, singer/songwriters
Cathy DeWitt and Patchwork, singer/songwriter Dale Crider and author Cynthia Barnett of "Mirage," discussing water issues.
Ellie Blair will give a painting demonstration during the presentations.
Located in the Harn Museum of Art, Chandler Auditorium
Talking Tales
11:30 a.m.
Located in the Florida Museum of Natural History, Discovery Room
Kanapaha Celtic Music Group
12 - 1 p.m.
Kanapaha Celtic Trio plays traditional Celtic music from Ireland and Scotland, celebrating nature and love for the land. Featuring
Cheryl Valantis on harp and bouzouki; Ed Regan on guitar; and Greg Mead on whistles and recorders.
Located in the Harn Museum of Art, Galleria
"Voices & Visions" Highlight
1 p.m.
Located in the Florida Museum of Natural History, Central Gallery
Transforming Recycled Materials into Sculptures Family Day
1 - 4 p.m.
Join award-winning artists from Trashformations 2008, Jennifer Duerden and Ryan Tanay, and create your own robot and
bird sculptures from recycled materials.
Located in the Harn Museum of Art, Goforth Learning Center classrooms
Dr. Discovery
2 - 2:30 p.m.
Join Gainesville Regional Utilities for a child-friendly presentation on energy conservation.
Located in the Florida Museum of Natural History, Discovery Room
Booth Participants
Harn Museum of Art
10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Florida Native Plant Society Paynes Prairie
Friends of Paynes Prairie
Alachua County Public Works Office of Waste Management
Alachua Audubon Society
Trashformations Mini-Exhibit
Florida Museum of Natural History
10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Lubee Bat Conservancy
Golder Mobile Ecolab
Florida Wildlife Conservation Commission
Florida Trail Association
Alachua County Public Words Office of Waste Management
Watershed Action Volunteers
Gainesville Regional Utilities
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