It might not be readily apparent, were I to kidnap you and lock you in my apartment, that I am a man of culture. See, you’d probably notice Seasons 1-5 of Saved by the Bell on my shelf of DVDs after a while. It would be tough to miss the framed Karate Kid poster above my couch. The glowing Hamm’s beer sign is especially noticeable after dark. Examining these furnishings, and possibly still feeling a little chafed about the abduction, you’d probably never guess how I spent this afternoon.
I’d been meaning to check out the Heard Museum even before I read that the Republic had anointed it the best museum in town. I never really outgrew my childhood love of all things Native American, and was eager to see firsthand the museum’s collection of Southwestern artifacts. As an added incentive, the museum charges students only $5 for admission; all they need to do is produce a valid student ID card. After flashing my card, grimacing as the lady laughed at the photo on it, and forking over my money, I was on my way. (There is an explanation for my facial expression, and it involves my discovery seconds before the photo was taken that a certain NFL quarterback was coming out of retirement to play for my favorite team and ruin my life, but it is not relevant to this blog.)
In the time I spent wandering around the museum, I didn’t come across anything nearly as cool as the kachina doll display, a very small part of which is shown above. There had to have been at least a couple hundred of them, each one unique and meticulously detailed. There were impressive displays of pottery, quilts, and woodcarvings, all crafted by this region’s native inhabitants. I enjoyed the exhibit of Inuit artwork, and thought the upstairs section devoted to the 19th-century experiences of Native Americans at boarding schools was fascinating. If you’re looking for an affordable and enlightening way to pass an afternoon, I’d consider checking out the Heard Museum. It earned my stamp of approval today, even if the lady at the admissions desk made fun of my photo again on my way out.
