Death Valley Tourist Center • Northern Mojave Visitor Center

Maturango Museum • 100 E. Las Flores Ave. • Ridgecrest, CA 93555

Phone: 760.375.6900 • Fax: 760.375.0479 • e-mail: matmus@maturango.org • Web: www.maturango.org

Volume 49, No. 11 — Proudly serving the community for over 50 years • 1962 - 2013 — December 2013

Message from Executive Director By: Harris Brokke

Maturango Museum now has the occupancy permit for phase 1 of the Museum building expansion and we are open for business in the new gift shop. The grand opening was held on Saturday, November 16th with more than 300 people in attendance. It was a great event catered by a good friend and fellow chamber ambassador, Patrice Johnson. Chef Patrice is the owner of Mystique. The food was great and it was a fun evening for all. Those in attendance got to see the new gift shop, gift shop manager’s office, rest rooms, break room and equipment/storage room. In addition they were able to see the new art gallery - which will also be used for concerts, lectures and other events - docent room, and temporary exhibit area that will be completed and opened for business during 2014.

Sales from the new gift shop are running, at on average, a level three times the comparable period last year. Two weeks ago Senator Jean Fuller and Assemblywoman Shannon Grove visited the Museum during the 50th anniversary celebration for the city of Ridgecrest.

On Saturday, November 16th they along with our Kevin McCarthy, Majority whip and our representative in congress, attended the celebration of UAS day at Inyokern Airport. Below are pictures taken at each of these two events.

I have held meetings with Museum staff and volunteers to make sure that the plans for finishing the interior of the rooms in phase 2 of the building construction project will meet their requirements. The subcontractors will begin the construction for phase 2 in early December. There will not be a general contractor for phase 2; instead we will be dealing directly with the individual subcontractors.

Jean Fuller, State Senator District 18 and Shannon Grove, Assemblywoman District 32 visited the Maturango Museum on November 2

nd.

Picture by: Sue Gilbert

Mick Gleason, Kern County First District Supervisor; Shannon Grove, Assemblywoman District 32; Harris Brokke; Jean Fuller, State Senator District 18; Kevin McCarthy, Representative 22

nd Congressional District and House

Majority Whip; Eileen Shibley, director CAL UAS Portal and Scott Seymour General Manager of Inyokern Airport District,

Picture by: Vince Fong

Docent Doings By Nora Nuckles, Education Coordinator

We are the mighty docents of the Maturango Museum! We offered programs and tours to over 1200 people just in the month of October! You would be amazed at the number of hours docent spend behind the scenes preparing for our presentations! All this planning time provides opportunities to have fun together! In writing new scripts or rewriting old scripts we find ways to challenge ourselves. Well, what about that candle that sits in the water and we cover the candle with a jar and the flame goes out. Goodness! Water begins to go into the jar. Why does it do that? Well, the explanation was a little deeper than some of us realized! What a great discussion we had! Or what happens when a knowledgeable docent has a great revelation about humans, mammals, and insects? We listen and we learn! In November we finally went on the geology tour we have long awaited! Glenn Harris, formerly of the Bureau of Land Management, planned an exciting excursion from here to Cinder Cone, down to Red Rock Canyon and up Garlock Road. There were so many facts that Glenn shared about the geological history of our area. Many of us have looked at some places he pointed out and never realized all the geological events that had taken place there. We were reminded that geological processes of grinding, shifting, molten rock moving continually change our landscape. Glenn is an exceptional trip leader and so enlightening! The trip left many of us thirsty for more knowledge about geology! Remember: Dec. 13 is the morning for Children's Hour.

Dec. 14 is Free Family Fun Day. The docents will host shows in the portable Beth Armogida Planetarium on Dec. 14 in the Sylvia Winslow Exhibit Gallery.

Shop ‘Til You Drop at the Museum Gift Shop!

The newly expanded Maturango Museum Gift Shop will be open every day until Christmas.

From December 20th to December 24th we will stay open until 6 p.m. to help you get your last minute shopping done.

We have plenty of gift ideas in all price ranges -- from beautiful scarves and jewelry to an amazing range of toys, t-shirts, games and puzzles for the kids on your list.

There are plenty of the Laurel Birch handbags and over-nighters with many new designs.

Brand new t-shirt designs from Sabaku are in shipment now.

We always have Kathy LaShure’s handmade soaps and Lois Hinman’s beautiful pottery.

Olaf Doud’s framed petroglyphs and bookends are a great choice.

Steve Benson’s and Cheryl McDonald’s photo cards are equally nice and depict the local area.

See Cheryl’s new book – an elegant gift idea.

The new publication from the museum, “Living on the Edge”, is also available.

The shaman wood ornaments are exclusive to us,

as are the Maturango Museum Teas – both good stocking stuffers.

We have B Bars, lip balm, gift soaps, and lotions that would also slip right into someone’s stocking!

Open every day 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and until 6:00 p.m. from December 20th - 24th.

Members always receive 10% off their purchases.

Concert Series by Fran Rogers

The Maturango Museum concert series continues with concerts performed by Amber (Farris) Petersen, mezzo-soprano, and Sheri Sansom, piano, on Friday and Saturday, December 6 and 7 at 7:30 PM and a matinee on Sunday, December 8 at 1 PM in the Sylvia Winslow Exhibit Gallery. Seats are limited to 60, so avoid disappointment and buy your tickets now in the museum gift shop. The price is $10 per adult and $5 per child 12 and younger. Amber and Sheri will perform selections from opera, musical theater, light-opera and piano solos in their concert, entitled “Classy, but Sassy”. They will be performing music composed by Giacomb Puccini, Gabriel Fauré, Leonard Bernstein, Gilbert

and Sullivan, Lucy Simon, Chopin, Johnny Mercer and Klaus Badeit. Amber (Farris) Petersen, mezzo-soprano, is a Native of Ridgecrest, California. She recently returned home and opened her private voice studio. Petersen also is the conductor of the Cerro Coso Community College Choir and of the Singing Sands—Ridgecrest’s Chapter of Sweet Adelines, International. Amber has studied voice with Dr. Susan W. Kane for more than ten years! She is a graduate of California State University, Los Angeles, holding a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education and Master of Arts in Music. Amber served as the mezzo-soprano soloist for St. Edmund's Episcopal Church of San Marino for six years. Operatic and Musical Theatre roles credited to Amber include: Maddalena in “Rigoletto,” Principessa in “Suor Angelica,” Ruth in “Pirates of Penzance,” Arnalta in "Coronation of Poppea," Sand Man in "Hansel and Gretel," Juana in "Gigantes y Cabezudos," Kate in “Kiss me Kate,” Evilene in “The Wiz,” and The Voice in "The Medium." As an oratorio soloist, Amber has performed Handel’s “The Messiah,” Vivaldi’s “Gloria,” Britten’s “Rejoice in the Lamb,” and Durafle’s “Requiem.” Sheri Sansom is a piano and organ teacher, choral conductor, theater director and yoga teacher. She has a BA in music and studied piano pedagogy at Michigan State University, piano performance at Cal State Hayward and organ performance at Wayne State University. Sheri moved to Ridgecrest two and a half years ago and feels that she has (to paraphrase John Denver) come home to a place she’s never been before. Sheri currently serves as Vice President of the High Desert Music Teachers Association.

Donations David A. Baldwin Judy and Don McCauley David and Therese Moore Mike and Jerry Mumford Felice Plain Craig and Carol Porter Kirsti Smith Phillip and Lynda Smith Paula Strawser Robert Westbrook Don and Carol Zdeba In memory of Dr. Joann Kopersky In memory of Peggy Zulkoski Patricia Kleinschmidt Fred and Donna Weals In memory of John Strommen Art Gallery Fred and Donna Weals Helen Baker Building Fund Barbara Boone Robert Westbrook

New Members Ellen and Jim Bryant Nancy Burgeson Margaret Busch Linda Lou Crosby Larry Evans Robert and JoAnn Foster Sue Johnson Carey Marvin Kathi Peverini Suzanne Roeser Elena Vitale Erin Whitfield Mike and Cori Yost

Mike Mumford’s Steel Shadow Sculptures Exhibit

“In Plain Sight”

You have got to see this exhibit!

The steel sculptures are beautiful and then the surprise benefit is that they make a shadow that presents another part of the “story”. Also in the exhibit are gate / wall pieces. In our gallery until January 14, 2014.

New book features Sage Canyon and Red Mountain By Liz Babcock for the Publications Committee

Maturango Museum's latest book — now available in

our gift shop for $39.95 — is an ambitious archaeological overview of Sage Canyon and Red Mountain written by Dr. Mark Allen, professor of anthropology at Cal Poly Pomona.

The book, "Living on the Edge: The Archaeology of Two Western Mojave Desert Landscapes," involved years of fieldwork by Mark and numerous archaeology students — more than 200 by the time the project was finished. Starting in 2001 at the Red Mountain Archaeological District, the endeavor moved on to Sage Canyon in 2006. Numerous professional colleagues also helped along the way.

The project areas are located on lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service, and much of the funding for the book came from a BLM grant. The book covers in detail the evidence Mark and his students found of ancient art, historic and prehistoric lifestyles, climate, and plant and animal life.

According to famed anthropologist Jelmer Eerkens, the book "weaves a tremendous amount of information together to reconstruct a history of human occupation in the Western Mojave," in particular showing "the social and technological ingenuity of native groups in adapting to this arid landscape."

Profusely illustrated with tables, drawings, maps, and photographs, the book features numerous color photos as well as accomplished drawings of rock art features by technical artist Stella D'Oro. The magnificent photos on the cover are by Mark Pahuta.

This book is the 25th Maturango Museum publication. Come take a look at the diversity of books we have published — great Christmas gifts here!

“Lady Liberty” 14” x 11” x 20”

“Connections in Ribbons” 15” x 8” x 21”

“Desert Icons” wall piece 34” x 1” x 45”

John DottaPhotography

Reception Friday, March 21March 22 – May 20

“Sequestered Waters”Inna Jane Ray

Watercolor, Pencil, GouacheReception Friday, Jan. 17

Jan. 18 – March 18 “Internal Scapes”Jael Hoffmann

Steel SculpturesReception Friday, May 23

May 24 – July 22

“Skyscapes”Jeni Bate

“Refractured” WatercolorsReception Friday, July 25

July 26 – Sep 23

Open Studio TourArtists’ Work

Reception Friday, Sep 26 Sep 27 – Oct 28

Tour weekend October 25, 26

ifacts”“

Museum Members’ Artistic Interpretations of Curators’ Chosen Items Reception Saturday, Nov 1

Nov 1 – Dec 2

“Hot Silica on Metal: The Art of Enameling”

Benny Alba, Sarah Gordon, Alana Clearlake

Reception Friday, Dec 5

Dec 6 – Jan 27, 2015

Maturango Museum Art Gallery Exhibits 2014100 E. Las Flores, Ridgecrest, CA 93555 760-375-6900 www.maturango.org

7 p.m. ReceptionsFree and open to the public

Maturango Museum Holiday Appeal 2013

Tis’ time for the holidays and all over the town,

The leaves on the trees have turned yellow, gold and brown.

The windows of stores are painted bright red and green,

Everywhere you see signs of the holiday scene.

Our museum gift shop is filled with treasures of all kinds,

A gift for everyone on your list you will easily find.

The employees and volunteers work hard all year round

To make sure you are pleased with the gifts you have found.

It’s time again for our Museum Holiday appeal.

Our appreciation is boundless and our thanks are real.

The art shows, the concerts, the trips and all that we do,

Are possible because of good people like you.

So, dear friends of the Museum, we toast you this year

With heartfelt thanks and a full cup of cheer.

May your holidays be the happiest you’ve ever known,

Thanks again for the years of generosity you’ve shown!

Maturango Museum Holiday Appeal 2013

Name______________________________________________ Amount___________ Address______________________________________________________________ Phone_________________________ E-Mail Address___________________________ Payment Method: Check _____ Credit Card ____Visa ____ Mc Credit Card Number__________________________________ Exp. Date_________

Please Return This Coupon With Your Donation.

This newsletter is published monthly by Maturango Museum of the IWV

100 E. Las Flores Ave., Ridgecrest, CA 93555 The Museum is open every day (except major

holidays) from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Businesses and Organizations Supporters • Contributors • Sponsors

Please support the businesses and organizations that support the Maturango

Museum

Staff Harris Brokke, Executive Director Mary Lattig, Store Manager/Buyer Sandy Rogers, Archaeology Curator Elizabeth Babcock, History Curator Maria Johnson, Natural History Curator Julie Stephens, Bookkeeper Fran Van Valkenburgh, Membership & Petroglyph Tours Andrea Pelch, Art Gallery Coordinator Joann Barbee, Ass’t Bookkeeper Nora Nuckles, Education Coordinator Sue Gilbert, Museum Assistant Nora Nuckles, Museum Assistant Duane Rice, Museum Assistant Nick Rogers, Museum Assistant

Andrea Pelch, Newsletter Editor

Committee Chairpersons Dan Burnett, Building Fran Rogers, Concerts Paula Herr, Docent League Milt Burford, Finance Kathy La Shure & Dan Burnett, Garden Sandy Rogers, Lectures Liz Babcock, Publications Bob Westbrook, Strategic Planning Janet Westbrook, Webmistress

Board of Trustees Sherry Brubaker, President Mike Brown, Vice President Joleigh Rafalski, Secretary Milt Burford, Treasurer Deborah Benson Thom Boggs Steven Boster Nancy Crawford Robert Westbrook

AltaOne Federal Credit Union American Association of

University Women America’s Best Value Inn

& Suites Ashley Furniture HomeStore Beansters Espresso Best Western China Lake Inn Boulder Creek RV Resort Center Professional Pharmacy Clarion Hotel Coldwell Banker Best Realty Comfort Inn Daily Independent Desert Area Teachers

Association Desert Artist League Earth Industries, Inc. Epsilon Systems Solutions, Inc. Espresso Café Friends of Jawbone Furnace Creek Inn Gary Charlon State Farm Grape Leaf Restaurant Hampton Inn & Suites Heritage Inn & Suites High Desert Haven High Sierra Auto and Truck Historical Society of the Upper

Mojave Desert Inland Adventurer Jacobs Naval System Group KPartners Hospitality Group Kristy’s Family Restaurant Law Offices of Phyllis M. Hix Liberty Self Storage

Lugo’s Grill McDonald’s Restaurant Mercury Transfer & Warehouse/

Allied Van Lines New Directions Technologies,

Inc. News Review Oasis Garden Club Owens Peak Group, Sierra Club PackWrap Business Center The Pizza Factory Ridgecrest Area Convention and

Visitors Bureau Ridgecrest Automotive Ridgecrest Moving &

Storage/Atlas Van Lines Ridgecrest Regional Hospital St. Ann Catholic School Sand Canyon Environmental

Education Program Searles Valley Minerals ServiceMaster of the IWV Sierra Club Sierra Sands Unified School District SOI Motorhome Club Southern Sierra Medical Clinic SpringHill Suites by Marriott The Swap Sheet Tax Time Services TJ Frisbee Bicycles, Inc. TOSS Union Bank USANA Health Sciences WACOM

Calendar of Events

December

Tues, Dec 3 – Docent meeting – 8:45 am

Fri, Dec 6 – Concert by Amber Petersen – 7:30 pm

Sat, Dec 7 – Concert by Amber Petersen – 7:30 pm

Sun, Dec 8 – Concert by Amber Petersen – 1 pm

Fri, Dec 13 – FREE children’s hour – 10:30 am

Sat, Dec 14 – FREE day at the Museum

Mon, Dec 16 – Board of Trustees meeting – 7 pm

Fri, Dec 20 – Concert at SpringHill Suites – 7:30 pm

Wed, Dec 25 – Museum closed

January

Wed, Jan 1 – Museum closed

Tues, Jan 7 – Docent meeting – 8:45 am

Sat, Jan 11 – FREE day at the Museum

Fri, Jan 17 – Reception for Inna Jane Ray exhibit

Mon, Jan 20 – Board of Trustees meeting – 7 pm

Petroglyph Tours and Other Museum Events Petroglyph tour information and a slide show on the Petroglyph tours are available on the Museum website at

www.maturango.org. The spring schedule of Petroglyph tours will be posted on the website on February 19, 2014. China Lake Astronomical Society: 7 pm on 1st Monday of every month

China Lake Photographic Society: 7 pm on 1st Thursday. No meetings are held in July or August.

Owens Peak Group of the Sierra Club: 7:30 pm on 4th Monday of every month

Kerncrest Audubon Society: 7 pm on 3rd Thursday bi-monthly [January, March, May, September, November] Not July

Docent League presentations – brochure of topics is available.

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