Introducing the Hoh River

Posted by: Julia Swan

In just less than a month, a new environmental photography exhibit opens on April 24, 2008 at the Burke called Fast Moving Water: The Hoh River Story. The exhibit showcases 14 framed color photographs of the Hoh River by acclaimed nature photographer Keith Lazelle.

I have to admit, until recently I knew very little about the Hoh River. I grew up in the backyard of the mighty Columba River, so 50 miles of flowing water in the Olympic Peninsula seemed more like a stream to me. Of course, once I started learning more about the Hoh River, I realized that this small river, tucked away in one of the most beautiful places in the Pacific Northwest, has quite a fascinating story.

The Hoh River helps support one of the planet’s last intact temperate rainforests, the Hoh Rain Forest. Enormous Sitka spruce, western hemlock, and western red cedar trees tower at up to 300 feet and are part of a rich and diverse ecosystem of plants and animals. Bald eagles, northern spotted owls, Roosevelt elk, black bears, bull trout, and salmon are just a few of the species that can commonly be found in the Hoh Rain Forest.

The Hoh River plays a crucial part in sustaining this luscious forest habitat. The waters of the river, and its tributaries, are an important life source for nearly all of the living creatures and green plant life in the forest. That’s all fine and well, but the truly unique feature of the Hoh River is that it is one of the only rivers in the contiguous United States that is in pristine condition—in other words, the Hoh River and its floodplain has escaped the onslaught of damming, logging, and other sorts of development that has affected so many American rivers.

In an age when untouched natural environments are increasingly vulnerable, the Hoh River is an important symbol of why conservation matters. Luckily, groups such as the The Hoh River Trust, our partner in bringing this exhibit to the Burke, have worked hard to protect and preserve the river and the land that surrounds it. One look at the gorgeous photos from Fast Moving Water, and I’m sold. In fact, once that sun comes back out, I might have to a plan a little venture into the rainforest!

- Julia

Photos by Keith Lazelle, on view in Fast Moving Water: The Hoh River Story, April 24-June 6, 2008, Burke Museum.

Object ID Tips

Posted by: Rebecca Whitham

I get to see the e-mail comments that come in from visitors of the Burke's main Web site, and I can tell you that many of them are from people who are seeking help in identifying or learning more about their collections or objects that they find.

Often, people are unsure of how to ask for our help, or whether they can at all. So here’s some useful info if you are thinking of contacting the Burke with an object question:

1. Make an appointment with the curator or collections manager of the Burke division that best fits your object.

• Found an arrowhead? Contact the folks in archaeology.
• Unsure about some folk art? Try the ethnology staff.
• Uncovered a fossil? Go to the paleontology crew.

(You can access the full Burke staff directory here. If you are not sure which division you need, the Burke’s reception staff can help you figure it out.)

2. If you cannot make an appointment, send photos and a complete description of the object and its background. Info like dimensions, color, and material is useful, as is a description of where/how the object was found. For artifacts and scientific specimens, it’s helpful to know about the natural setting of the origin site. The more we know, the better informed our responses can be.

3. We do not provide appraisals. Ever.

4. We will not take your objects away from you, but we can advise you on how to better care for them or what you can do with them if you do not wish to keep them.

For more object identification info, you can visit the FAQs found in the Burke’s collections homepages.

- Rebecca

A summer of science

Posted by: Rebecca Whitham

We’re enrolling for Burke summer camps right now. This summer we’re offering a number of week-long, all-day camps for kids in grades 2-12. From dinosaurs to DNA, scientific mysteries to environmental realities, there are plenty of options for your child.

Here are the details:

Dinos! ~ For students entering 2nd – 3rd grades
Allosaurus, Stegosaurus, T. rex, oh, my! Hold a real dinosaur tooth! Practice being a paleontologist with a real fossil-hunter. Make a cast of a dinosaur fossil just like the Burke’s fossil preparator would. Spend a week with dinosaurs this summer! Register Now!

Dr. Mossbreath's Mystery ~ For students entering 4th – 6th grades
For the past two summers, the mysterious Dr. Mossbreath has guided us on the search for lost treasure. This summer’s mystery is the best yet! Dr. Mossbreath is back to introduce a mysterious time capsule from Washington State. Follow maps, peer through microscopes, and discover clues inside and outside the museum. Where will the clues lead? Register Now!

The Last Polar Bear ~ For students entering 7th – 9th grades
The polar bear — a charismatic icon in the struggle against climate change — faces a precarious future. The photography exhibit, The Last Polar Bear: Facing the Truth of a Warming World, gives students a unique opportunity to explore questions related to climate change, ecosystems, habitat loss, and conservation. Students will meet the photographer, Steven Kazlowski, and UW climate scientists, and work on their own photography project. Register Now!

Investigating DNA ~ For students entering 7th – 9th grades
Make a model of DNA out of licorice and gumdrops. Extract DNA from foods commonly found in your kitchen. Learn the basics of DNA and how it is used to explore conservation issues around the world. In this one-week intensive (and fun) hands-on class, students will use UW labs and Burke collection specimens to examine DNA and begin to understand genetics. Register Now!

Climate Quest ~ For students entering 10th – 12th grades
Climate Quest is a 7-day intensive course that combines environmental science and video production. Students will learn about the basic science of climate, the impact of climate change on the Pacific Northwest, and efforts to curb greenhouse gas emissions. Students will create videos to communicate what they learn. The course will incorporate UW faculty, active learning projects, and witnessing climate change firsthand in the field. One college credit is available for this camp. Register Now!

- Rebecca

Wilderness Conference coming up

Posted by: Rebecca Whitham

How do we preserve wilderness for future generations in a world where environmental and social change is occurring more rapidly than ever?

If you are interested in meeting the many people who have created and protected the wilderness areas of this region or if you want to learn more about how change impacts local wildlife, you should check out the 2008 Wilderness Conference, April 3 – 5.

From sessions on global warming, to bridging political divides through environmentalism, to indigenous perspectives on wilderness, there’s a lot to take from this event.

Of special interest to Burke fans:

Steven Kazlowski, the photographer behind the Burke’s upcoming exhibit The Last Polar Bear, will be there signing books with publishers The Mountaineers Books. Stephen Brown, editor of Arctic Wings, on which the Burke’s upcoming fall photography exhibit of the same name is based, will be featured as the Saturday night Banquet Speaker.

Details on registering can be found online at the conference home page. It’s not too late to register and there are some affordable options.

A number of the Burke staff will be attending the kickoff event on Thurs., April 3 at Kane Hall on the UW campus – a presentation by award winning photo-journalist Gary Braasch, author of Earth Under Fire: How Global Warming is Changing the World. See you there!

- Rebecca

Wildlife Photo Competition almost closed

Posted by: Rebecca (Durkin) Whitham

Wildlife photographers (and aspiring wildlife photographers), this international photo contest tip is for you.

Some of you might best remember the Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition from the exhibit based on the winning photographs that showed at the Burke Museum in 2006.

Read on for details on how to enter this international contest put on by BBC Wildlife Magazine and the Natural History Museum, London before time runs out. Northwest artists have done well in the competition previously – good luck!

Last chance to enter the Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition…

Abandon the hide, pack up the waterproofs and start selecting you best shots – only weeks remain to enter the world’s greatest nature photography contest.

Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition 2008 is open to anyone with an appreciation of nature and a passion for fresh, innovative photography.

Entrants stand to win an impressive £10,000 prize if they are awarded the coveted title of Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2008 or share of a £23,550 prize fund if successful in one of the categories.

Closing date for postal entries – Mon., March 24, 2008
Closing date for online entries – Mon., March 31, 2008 (enter online here)

- Rebecca

Photo: Zebra Crossing, photograph by Anup Shah (UK). 2007 Specially Commended photo in contest category "Animal Behaviour: Mammals."

Now installing: Indigenous Philippine Art

Posted by: Rebecca (Durkin) Whitham

The Burke exhibitions crew is right now installing some gorgeous Philippine textiles and jewelry in the New Acquisitions case in the Pacific Voices gallery.

The showcased collection features colorful and unusual beadwork, brass work, and ikat weavings representing the indigenous folk art of the T’boli and Yakan peoples of the Philippines. Seen above is a T'boli woman's embroidered shirt.

Here is a close up of the geometric patterns on a tubular skirt known as a pinantupan, made by the Yakan from Basilan Island.

Click on the two object photos to find out more about them through their collections records in our online database. Or come see the real thing now through August.

- Rebecca

Test drive the Burke Kids Web site

Posted by: Rebecca (Durkin) Whitham

Got a kid in your life who loves to play on the computer?

We’re looking for kids ages 6 - 12 who are willing to test drive our brand new Burke Kids Web site. It’s filled with fun games and cool things to discover about the Burke, the natural world, and culture.

If you and your kid are free during Spring Break, from March 29 - April 11, make an appointment to come to the Burke for free, play on the site, and give us your feedback. You’ll even get a $10 gift card to Häagen-Dazs in return!

You can sign up online or contact us at burkepr@u.washington.edu or 206-616-5887.

- Rebecca

Link Soup

Posted by: Karyn Gregory

How about a link-fest of SCIENCE? It’ll be fun.

An elephant making realistic paintings of other elephants. With video!

Hare today, gone tomorrow

Insert witticism here, but wolves return to Massachusetts

Braaaaaaaaains! The top picture is pretty gross if you’re not expecting it. And you’re not! So you’ve been warned.

Who wants to buy a dinosaur? Picture #7. My birthday is coming up…

-Karyn (who had some coffee this morning. Can you tell?)

Mmm...donuts

Posted by: Julia Swan

What’s better than a buffet of delicious snacks with everything from finger sandwiches to donuts? A FREE buffet of delicious snacks, of course!

And what’s even better than snacking on a rich, delicious buffet? Snacking on that buffet at the Burke Museum where you can also peruse beautiful handcrafted clothing from the Columbia River Plateau, contemplate the intriguing photographs of Plateau Native Americans that U.S. Major Lee Moorhouse took at the end of the nineteenth century, and watch documentary films from the UW Native Voices program.

UW students can do it all tonight at the Burke Museum Student Open House from 7-9 pm.

See you there!
Julia

100 Burke Blog posts!

Posted by: Rebecca (Durkin) Whitham


This is the 100th post to Burke Blog! That's a big accomplishment for this little blog that could.

See you at 101,
Rebecca

All the Pretty Pictures Penguins

Posted by: Karyn Gregory

What’s blue and brown and cute all over? These parent and offspring penguin teams from 2,000 ft. up

"Parental instinct takes over in the inhospitable climate of the South Atlantic and the furry brown chicks are made to crowd together to retain their body warmth in the equivalent of bird creches - visible as brown swathes on this photo."

Check out the linked page for some even greater pictures of “penguin art.”

On a local note, Seattle’s Woodland Park Zoo is currently running a Pennies for Penguins drive to redesign its penguin exhibit. Learn more about their penguins here.

-Karyn