UO museums offer free admission for Smithsonian magazine's Museum Day

EUGENE, Ore. -- (Sept. 22, 2008) -- On Saturday, Sept. 27, the UO Museum of Natural and Cultural History and the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art will join museums across the nation in a celebration of culture, learning and education by offering free admission to the general public.

The free admission is part of the Smithsonian magazine's fourth annual Museum Day. Visitors to either museum are encouraged to bring Smithsonian magazine’s Museum Day Admission Card, available in the September 2008 issue, to gain free entry to participating institutions.

The Museum of Natural and Cultural History, located at 1680 East 15th Ave., offers visitors of all ages the opportunity to learn about the history of Oregon and cultures around the world. In addition to the permanent exhibit, "Oregon - Where Past is Present," visitors can enjoy "Walk a Mile In These Shoes – The Stories They Tell," and "If the Shoe Fits – Kids Contemplate Shoes." Also on display is "Science in the News – The Stevens Family Cemetery Exhibit," featuring recovered items from this summer’s excavation of a local pioneer family’s cemetery. A science room offers children hands-on activities and Past and Presents, the museum store, features the work of local artists.

The Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art, located at 1430 Johnson Lane, features galleries focused on art from around the globe, including Europe, China, Japan and Korea. Currently on display is "Designed by Architects: Metalwork from the Margo Grant Walsh Collection," which showcases metalwork designed by prominent architects from around the world between the late-19th and 21st centuries. Another exhibit, "Iconicity," includes works that serve as a starting point for exploring a variety of other issues such as the commodification of religious imagery, the nature of cultural and political icons, the creation of personal icons, and the often blurry line between icon and stereotype. Visitors can also visit Precious Cargo: The Museum Store and the Marché Museum Café.

A downloadable Museum Day Admission Card and more information on Smithsonian Magazine’s Museum Day 2008 can be found at http://smithsonianmag.com/museumday.

Both museums are open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays.


About the University of Oregon
The University of Oregon is a world-class teaching and research institution and Oregon's flagship public university. The UO is a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), an organization made up of 62 of the leading public and private research institutions in the United States and Canada. Membership in the AAU is by invitation only. The University of Oregon is one of only two AAU members in the Pacific Northwest.

Contact: Julie Brown, 541-346-3185, julbrown@uoregon.edu

Links: UO Museum of Natural and Cultural History, http://natural-history.uoregon.edu
UO Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art, http://jsma.uoregon.edu

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