The California Academy of Sciences
March/April 1999 Exhibitions

Opening- The Elkus Collection: Changing Traditions of Native American Art
May 15, 1999

Opening - Missing Links - Alive!
May 29 - September 6, 1999

Opening - Africa: One Continent…Many Worlds
October 9, 1999 - January 9, 2000

Ongoing - Masters of the Night: The True Story of Bats
February 13 - May 2, 1999

Ongoing - Witness
Indefinitely

Closing - The Artist’s Universe
Through March 15, 1999

The Elkus Collection: Changing Traditions of Native American Art
This collection of Native American pottery, textiles, baskets, jewelry, kachina dolls, and paintings was donated to our Anthropology department in 1972 by the children of Ruth and Charles de Young Elkus. This extensive collection includes works by some of the leading names in 20th Century Native American art.

Missing Links - Alive!
Our blockbuster summer exhibit takes visitors on an exciting journey of discovery, unraveling the mystery of human origins and offering a glimpse at what life might have been like as far back as four million years ago. Developed in Europe by more than 20 distinguished anthropologists, archaeologists and paleontologists, the exhibit combines the latest museum technology with the most up-to-date scientific findings uncovered over the last 150 years by the world’s leading researchers.

Africa: One Continent…Many Worlds
This exhibit displays the vitality, richness, and diversity of wildlife and cultures in Africa. Visitors will experience the grassy fields of Zaire, a caravan trip across the Sahara, and the bustling streets of Dakar, Senegal. Africa’s ecology, family life, art, and commerce are depicted from both contemporary and historical perspectives.

Masters of the Night: The True Story of Bats
This interactive exhibition dispels common myths about the elusive nocturnal creatures through interactive and engaging components. Flight maneuverability, echolocation, geographical distribution, and the crucial ecological role bats play are only a few of the concepts visitors encounter in this exhibition.

Witness
Since the Endangered Species Act was passed in 1973, more than 300 species in the United States are known to have gone extinct. This shocking statistic prompted former Academy photographers Susan Middleton and David Liittschwager to undertake an ambitious effort in 1989 to document 100 threatened and endangered species of North America. The result is a series of compelling images in a major photographic exhibition, recently featured in a National Geographic Special.

The Artist’s Universe
This fine collection of stellar art has been put together by the International Association of Astronomical Artists as a public outreach project to inform and educate others about the diversity of astronomical art and illustration. Armed with science, creativity, and imagination, these artists have constructed realistic, adventurous and innovative images of visions throughout the universe, from our own Earth to the stars. A firm foundation of astronomical knowledge and research is the basis for each depiction of scenes which are at present beyond the range of human eyes.

March/April Events

Saturday, March 13 American Ragtime Music
1 p.m., Auditorium Free after general admission to the museum
David Reffkin and The American Ragtime Ensemble will play popular dance and concert music of the turn of the century (1890-1920) including pieces by Scott Joplin.

Saturday, March 20 Jewish Storytelling
1 p.m., Auditorium Free after general admission to the museum
Accompanied by music and puppets, storyteller and educator Mimi Greisman will tell the story of Purim (the victory of Mordechai and Esther over wicked Haman) celebrated this year on March 1-2. This program is especially suited for young children.

Saturday, March 27 The History of Bagpipes
1 p.m., Auditorium
Musician and historian Sean Folsom will explain and demonstrate the differences between a variety of bagpipes, including instruments from Spain, Tunisia, Bulgaria, Turkey, Scotland and Italy among others.

Saturday, March 20 and 27 and April 10 Meet A Live Bat
2:30 p.m., Auditorium Free after general admission to the museum
Don’t miss the rare opportunity to observe non-releasable bats up close and in person. Patricia Winters from the California Bat Conservation Society will present several species of local bats and share her knowledge gained from thirty years experience as a wildlife rehabilitator and educator. Her Chiropteran companions are native to this area and are powerful educators about the facts and myths surrounding this amazing mammal.

Saturday, April 3 Chinese Medicine
1 p.m., Auditorium
Doctor Daniel Jiao will speak about the principles of traditional Chinese medicine, especially acupuncture and herbal formulas.

Saturday, April 10 Indian Dance
1 p.m., Auditorium
Vishal Ramani and the Shri Krupa Dance Foundation present a program of East Indian Bharatanatyam dance, in its pure Tanjore traditional form. The program will include nrittya expressive dance and nritta pure dance style.

April 24 Eid-Ul Adha Celebration
1 p.m., Auditorium
The festival of Eid is a sign of the unity of the Islamic faith. It is the "feast of the Sacrifice," celebrating Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his own son in obedience to God, and the second main feast of Islam. The Intercultural Alliance of Islamic Art and Education presents a medley of music, dance and costumes from the Middle East, including Iran, Pakistan and Afghanistan.