Fernbank Museum Announces Dinosaur Sideshow Filled with Novelties, Activities and More!

Fernbank Museum embraces the quirky atmosphere of carnivals and celebrates the world’s long fascination with dinosaurs with its Dinosaur Sideshow, a special programming weekend offered October 23-34, 2010. Featuring dinosaur illustrators, sculptors, authors and comic book publishers, Fernbank’s Dinosaur Sideshow reveals the many ways these prehistoric “real-life giants” have captured imaginations and shaped folklore.

Among the variety of programs, Fernbank’s Dinosaur Sideshow will entertain with dinosaur-related carnival games, photo opportunities, caricatures, activities, presentations and discussions that embrace the many incarnations of dinosaurs in pop culture. The event will also feature demonstrations on drawing and sculpting dinosaurs, dinosaur caricatures for purchase, and a trunk show of unique dinosaur merchandise available during this event only.

Highlights include*:

(*Some programs are offered at select times only. See fernbankmuseum.org for full schedule.)

Saturday, October 23, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

· Dinosaur Fossil and Cast Bone Display by Alan Stout
10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Great Hall
Regarded as one of the largest private dinosaur collectors in the Southeast, Alan will display items from his expansive dinosaur collection built over 20 years of tracking and preparing rare and exotic dinosaur fossils.

· Dinosaur Tracking with “Dino Tracking Ted”
10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Museum-wide
Test your knowledge about some of Fernbank’s dinosaurs.

· How to Sculpt Dinosaurs Demonstration with Mirgill Joseph of Terminus Media
10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Naturalist Center
Visitors can learn more about sculpting dinosaurs in this advanced to intermediate program.

· How to Sculpt Dinosaurs Demonstration with Georgia Independent Resource: Art and Film (GIRAF)
10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Great Hall
Children can learn how to create their own dinosaur replicas.

· How to Draw Dinosaurs Demonstration with Paul Carter
10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Great Hall
Comic book artist and author of Evolution Special: FORGOTTEN KINGS, Paul Carter will offer tips and suggestions for dinosaur illustration.

· How to Draw Dinosaurs Demonstration with GIRAF
10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Great Hall
Kids can learn how to draw a dinosaur of their very own.

· Dinosaur Game Corner
10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Great Hall
Enjoy a variety of dinosaur-themed games, including an egg balancing game and tic-tac-“dino.”

· “Dinosaur Train” Games and Giveaways with Georgia Public Broadcasting
10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Great Hall
Georgia Public Broadcasting invites visitors to discover dinosaur facts, play games and watch video from Dinosaur Train.

· Photo Opportunities
10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Museum-wide
Be on the lookout for special photo opportunities throughout the event.

· Dinosaur Caricatures by Ashley Rowland, Terminus Media illustrator
10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (line closes at 1:30 p.m.)
Visitors can see how they’d look as a dinosaur by purchasing a personalized caricature with a custom illustration in the Fernbank Museum Store.

· Dinosaur Lab
Noon to 3 p.m., Naturalist Center
Learn more about dinosaurs with special hands-on activities for younger visitors during a special session of Weekend Wonders.

· The Battle, The Bones and Little Bighorn, lecture by Phil Hore
Noon, Auditorium (limited seating)
Phil Hore will discuss a historical expedition in 1874 that would change the face of the west forever and fuel the competitive war between two of America’s greatest paleontologists, O. C. Marsh and E. D. Cope.

· Sideshow Slide Show: Collecting Dino Toys Presentation by Michael Fredericks
1 p.m., Auditorium (limited seating)
Explore the history of dinosaur toys and how scientific discoveries have changed the look of toys over the years in this presentation featuring a variety of rare collectible dinosaur toys with creator of Prehistoric Times magazine and co-author of Dinosaur Collectibles.

· Sinclair Dinosaur Miniature Sculpts
Explore a variety of antique miniature dinosaur sculptures created by Louis Paul Jonas (1894-1971) as the basis for the full-sized versions produced for Sinclair Dinoland at the1964-65 New York World's Fair.

Sunday, October 24, noon to 4 p.m.

· Dinosaur Tracking with “Dino Tracking Ted”
Noon to 4 p.m., Museum-wide
Test your knowledge about Fernbank’s dinosaurs.

· How to Sculpt Dinosaurs Demonstration with Mirgill Joseph of Terminus Media
Noon to 4 p.m., Naturalist Center
Visitors can learn more about sculpting dinosaurs in this advanced to intermediate program.

· How to Sculpt Dinosaurs Demonstration with Georgia Independent Resource: Art and Film (GIRAF)
Noon to 4 p.m., Great Hall
Children can learn how to create their own dinosaur replicas.

· How to Draw Dinosaurs Demonstration with Paul Carter
Noon to 4 p.m., Great Hall
Comic book artist and author of Evolution Special: FORGOTTEN KINGS, Paul Carter will offer tips and suggestions for dinosaur illustration.

· How to Draw Dinosaurs Demonstration with GIRAF
Noon to 4 p.m., Great Hall
Children can learn how to draw their very own dinosaur.

· Dinosaur Game Corner
Noon to 4 p.m., Great Hall
Visitors can enjoy a variety of fun dinosaur-themed games including a dinosaur egg balancing game and tic-tac-“dino.”

· “Dinosaur Train” Games and Giveaways with Georgia Public Broadcasting
Noon to 4 p.m., Great Hall
Georgia Public Broadcasting invites visitors to discover dinosaur facts, play games and watch video from Dinosaur Train.

· Photo Opportunities
Noon to 4 p.m., Museum-wide
Be on the lookout for special photo opportunities throughout the event.

· Dinosaur Lab
Noon to 4 p.m., Naturalist Center
Learn more about dinosaurs with special hands-on activities for younger visitors during a special session of Weekend Wonders.

· Dinosaur Caricatures by Ashley Rowland, Terminus Media illustrator
Noon to 4 p.m. (line closes at 3:30 p.m.)
Visitors can see how they’d look as a dinosaur by purchasing a personalized caricature with a custom illustration in the Fernbank Museum Store. (Rates vary by design. See Museum Store for details.)

· Sinclair Dinosaur Miniature Sculpts
Explore a variety of antique miniature dinosaur sculptures created by Louis Paul Jonas (1894-1971) as the basis for the full-sized versions produced for Sinclair Dinoland at the1964-65 New York World's Fair.

· Special Presentation by renowned author and paleoartist, Gregory S. Paul:
A Guide to Understanding the Times, Biology and Appearance of Dinosaurs Great and Small
3 p.m., Auditorium (limited seating; advanced reservations recommended)

Scientist, author and paleoartist Gregory S. Paul’s new book, The Princeton Field Guide to Dinosaurs, covers the explosion in dinosaur research and illustration that started in the 1970s. See how the scientific renaissance and the "new look" in art replaced the traditional view of dinosaurs as obsolete reptiles, and how this led to new insights--including that birds are the descendents of dinosaurs. A book signing will immediately follow (books will be available for purchase in the Museum Store).

All Dinosaur Side Show programming is free for members and included with Museum admission, except where noted (such as the caricature drawings, which are a separate cost). Tickets are $15 for adults, $14 for students and seniors, $13 for children ages 12 to 3, free for children 2 and younger, and free for Fernbank members.

Fernbank Museum of Natural History is located at 767 Clifton Road in Atlanta. For tickets and more information, visit fernbankmuseum.org or call 404.929.6300. To reach the box office, call 404.929.6400.

Fernbank Museum Celebrates Scouts at Family Fun Day

Fernbank Museum will offer a day devoted to Boy and Girl Scouts during the annual Scout Day on Saturday, November 14, 2009, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Fernbank educators will lead an archaeology open house, and community volunteers will lead discussions of science careers. Scouts in uniform also receive a special ticket price.

Featured Activities include:

Self- Guided Museum Tours
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Explore Fernbank’s exhibitions at your own pace. Explore Georgia’s regions and natural history in A Walk Through Time in Georgia; experience science first hand in Sensing Nature; and learn about the world’s largest dinosaurs in Giants of the Mesozoic.

Scouts can also learn the fascinating story of the world’s most desired metal—its natural beauty, unique scientific properties, and its influence in shaping global history—by visiting the special exhibition GOLD.

Career Chats
10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Great Hall
Are you curious about a career in science? Meet scientists and community volunteers from many scientific fields. Learn about what they do, how they got there, and what it’s like to be a scientist.

Archaeology Open House
11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the Naturalist Center
Archaeology is an exciting science that takes place all over the world, even right outside your backdoor. Discover the archaeological process with hands-on activities and learn how archaeologists sift through the past to unearth our history.

Storytelling
Noon, Auditorium
Enjoy exciting tales about the natural world with Fernbank’s storyteller-in-residence, Rob Cleveland. Suitable for children ages 3 and up.

Scout Day activities are included with Museum admission and are available to all visitors. Tickets are $15 for adults, $14 for students/seniors, $13 for children ages 3-12, and free for Museum members and children 2 years old and younger. Special Scouts-Only Offer: Scouts in uniform can visit the Museum on Scout Day for $7!* Scouts can download special badge activities at fernbankmuseum.org before their visit.

Fernbank Museum of Natural History is located at 767 Clifton Road in Atlanta. For tickets, call 404.929.6400 or visit fernbankmuseum.org.

*Discount available to children in Scout uniforms only. Offer cannot be combined with any other promotion or discount. Valid November 14, 2009 only.
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Fernbank Museum Offers Pirate-themed Fun for Adults and Kids

Everyone knows a pirate likes gold, so in celebration of the special exhibition GOLD, Fernbank Museum is offering a Pirate Weekend.

For Adults

On Friday, November 6 from 5:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., Fernbank’s Martinis & IMAX® hits the high seas for a Pirate Night. Guests can enjoy special Drunken Parrot martinis, a GOLD Gallery Treasure Hunt, live music by Tongo Hiti and special screening of The Goonies at 10 p.m. in Fernbank’s IMAX® Theatre. (This film will be presented in the IMAX® Theatre, but will not be projected in the IMAX® format.)

Admission to Pirate Night is included with the purchase of a Martinis & IMAX® film ticket. Prices are $12 for adults, $11 for students and seniors and $7 for members. Tickets for The Goonies are $7.

For a limited time only, receive a free GOLD admission ticket with the purchase of any Martinis & IMAX® ticket.

Space is limited and advance ticket purchase is recommended. Purchase tickets by calling 404.929.6400.

For Families and Children

Families and children are invited for a Pirate Weekend, Saturday, November 7 (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.) and Sunday, November 8 (noon to 3 p.m.), featuring two days of family-friendly, pirate-themed fun and games. Activities include temporary tattoos, a limbo contest, a Museum Treasure Hunt, a visit by the Georgia Bubbleman and more. Special prizes will be given to children wearing a pirate costume.

Pirate Weekend activities are included with Museum admission and are free for members. Museum admission is $15 for adults, $14 for students and seniors, and $13 for children ages 12 and under.

For tickets, visit fernbankmuseum.org or call 404.929.6400.

Fernbank Museum of Natural History is located at 767 Clifton Road in Atlanta. The Museum is accessible by Marta and also offers free parking.
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A Few of Fernbank’s Favorite Things

Fernbank’s Own “Guest Curators” Select Fascinating Objects Stored in Museum Collections for New Exhibition

Fernbank Museum of Natural History is launching a new exhibition on June 13 that showcases a collection of “My Favorite Things”—all selected by staff members from each of the Museum’s departments. Located within the recently redesigned Naturalist Center in the “Curator’s Corner,” the exhibition features 15 cases of objects from Fernbank’s permanent collections that often remain stored away in the museum’s vault.

Some of the favorite objects on display in My Favorite Things: Objects from Fernbank’s Permanent Collections include fossils, gemstones, animals, ceramics and more.

“My Favorite Things: Objects from Fernbank’s Permanent Collections is unique because it allowed the entire museum to get involved in the exhibition process,” said James Hays, Fernbank’s Vice President of Exhibitions. “It has been a lot of fun because it also gave us the opportunity to display some of the more exotic museum objects that otherwise would go unseen by visitors.”

Each department—from finance to visitor services to IT to special events and more—chose one person to act as a guest curator. In order to pick their favorite objects, the employees were given a tour of Collections, a highly secured area that many staff members have never before visited. They saw the treasure trove of objects that aren’t typically on public display and were given the opportunity to put their favorites in the spotlight.

“It was interesting to see all the cool things Fernbank has in storage. I have never seen so many unique objects at one time so it blew my mind away. I imagined Collections to be mostly gems and jewelry so I didn’t expect to see so much artwork, cultural objects and animals. It was more than I expected ,” said Museum Store Associate Tifany Bell, who chose a set of decorative African ceramic jars as her favorite things. “The Zulu jars were the most interesting because they were so creative and original.”

My Favorite Things is included with Museum admission and will be on view from June 13, 2009 through February 1, 2010. Museum admission is $15 for adults, $14 for students and seniors, and $14 for children ages 3 to 12. Museum admission is free for children ages 2 and younger and is also free for Museum members. Tickets can be purchased at fernbankmuseum.org or at 404.929.6400.

Fernbank Museum of Natural History is located at 767 Clifton Road in Atlanta.
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