The Michigan State University Museum announces holiday hours and the last chance to view two special exhibitions.

Holiday vacation time is ideal for a museum visit, and mid-Michigan residents should note the following special hours for university-observed holidays:

The MSU Museum will be closed for the Christmas holiday: Thursday, Dec. 25 - Sunday, Dec. 28. Regular museum visitor hours will resume on Monday, Dec. 29.

The MSU Museum will also closed in observance of the New Years holiday: Thursday, Jan. 1 - Sunday, Jan. 4. Regular museum visitor hours resume on Monday, Jan. 5.

Meanwhile, a pair of special exhibitions will conclude their runs at the MSU Museum by year's end: the Smithsonian project, "Our Journeys/Our Stories: Portraits of Latino Achievement," in the Main Gallery; and "No Holds Barred: Political Campaigns in the Gilded Age," in the West Gallery.

Last-minute holiday shoppers take note: the Museum Store features a selection authentic collectibles and keepsakes for sale from artists around the globe including South Africa, Russia, Egypt, and Kenya. Here's a sampling of the distinctive, handmade offerings: Guatemalan beaded bags, Zulu hand-made artisan baskets, Chilean glass and other wonders of the natural world. The MSU Museum store is also one of the few places to find a selection of Petoskey stones.

The MSU Museum is Michigan's first Smithsonian Institution affiliate, and is located on West Circle Drive, next to Beaumont Tower on the MSU campus. The MSU Museum is open seven days a week, free of charge (donations are encouraged). Regular hours are: Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.; and Sunday, 1-5 p.m. Visitor parking is available in front of the building and at metered spaces at the Grand River Ramp, one block away at the corner of Grand River Avenue and Charles Street. The MSU Museum is accessible to persons with disabilities. For more information call (517) 355-2370.

Longtime Williamston resident, MSU Museum Curator of History and Williamston Depot Museum board member Val Berryman has searched his personal archives of Kris Kringle history and memorabilia to document Santa's commitment to the finer ideals of the United States in an exhibition titled "The Patriotic Santa," at the Williamston Depot Museum.

Says Berryman: "Santa Claus has enjoyed a close relationship with Uncle Sam and our U.S. troops ever since the Civil War. He has worked with Uncle Sam to get certain vital messages across to the American public. Santa has donned the Stars and Stripes on occasion and has even been seen in military uniform when the job required it."

Posters, Christmas cards, figurines and vintage magazines show Santa's love for the red, white and blue is equally as strong as for the Christmas colors of red, white and green.

On a 1926 poster Santa delivered a vital message to citizens to "Buy Christmas Seals, Fight Tuberculosis." Santa's patriotism shows especially strong in times of war. A World War II poster dated 1941 features Santa with the message, "This year give a share in America and give U.S. Defense Bonds as Christmas gifts". Sometimes the message is more commercial, such as when Santa and Uncle Sam team up in 1918 to urge shoppers on behalf of the United Cigar Stores Company to "Make your Christmas purchases early!"

For location, hours and more information, see: http://www.williamstonmuseum.com/?Home.

The Michigan State University Museum will have visitors laughing and learning at the same time when a new exhibition, "What's So Funny About Science? Sidney Harris Science Cartoons," comes to the MSU Museum's West Gallery, Jan. 18 - April 18, 2009.

This traveling exhibit features more than 60 original Sidney Harris drawings. Widely considered America's foremost science cartoonist, Harris has drawn literally thousands of cartoons. Since 1970, American Scientist has published more than 600 of his cartoons. In addition to the Society's magazine, Sidney's cartoons have appeared in numerous other publications including Science, Discover, Physics Today, The New Yorker, The Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business, The Chronicle of Higher Education, Chicago Magazine, and National Lampoon. In addition, 12 collections of his cartoons have been published including From Ads to Cloning Labs, You Want Proof - I'll Give You Proof, Stress Test, All Ends Up, and What's So Funny About Science.

"Sidney Harris has an unparalleled ability to find humor in science and technology," notes one of the exhibit's organizers at MSU, Danita Brandt, associate professor of geological sciences and MSU Museum adjunct curator. "And that humor is often the entry point for questions, learning and greater understanding about serious subjects."

The cartoons cover a variety of topics, from climate change and the environment, medicine, ethics and evolution. (See a gallery of the cartoons at http://www.sciencecartoonsplus.com .) From San Francisco's Exploratorium on the West Coast to the MIT Museum on the East Coast -- and with numerous stops in between, including the Chicago Academy of Science, Pittsburgh's Carnegie Museum of Natural History, and The Maryland Science Center -- museum-goers have enjoyed this entertaining and thought-provoking exhibit. An opening reception is set for Sunday, Feb. 1, 1:30 - 3 p.m., featuring performances from MSU's own Science Theatre ( http://sciencetheatre.org ). This program is presented free of charge.

"What's So Funny About Science" comes to the MSU Museum as part of a larger celebration of science and natural history at MSU in February to coincide with the bicentennial of naturalist Charles Darwin's birth. Darwin Discovery Day and Natural History I.D. program is set for Sunday, Feb. 8, 1-5 p.m., throughout the MSU Museum. The special event, presented at no charge, includes exhibits, lectures, hands-on activities and, of course, birthday cake.

The MSU Museum is Michigan's natural history and culture museum and the state's first Smithsonian Institution affiliate. The MSU Museum -- accredited by the American Association of Museums -- collects, preserves, studies and interprets cultural artifacts and natural history specimens, with collections numbering more than 1 million in four buildings on the MSU campus. One of the oldest museums in the Midwest, the MSU Museum is committed to education, exhibitions, research and the building and stewardship of collections that focus on Michigan and its relationship to the Great Lakes and the world beyond.

The MSU Museum features three floors of special collections and changing exhibits and is open seven days a week free of charge (donations are encouraged). Located on West Circle Drive next to Beaumont Tower on the MSU campus, the MSU Museum is accessible to persons with disabilities. Hours are Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. -5 p.m.; and Sunday, 1-5 p.m. Visitor parking is available in front of the building and at metered spaces at the Grand River Ramp, one block away at the corner of Grand River Avenue and Charles Street. For more information, call (517) 355-2370 or see http://museum.msu.edu .

African art has never been frozen in time -- it is always changing. West Africa is the heartland of African textile production, and like other African art, the textiles made in this region have been transformed and refigured over time. That creative wellspring is the inspiration for a new exhibition at the MSU Museum, "Threads of Change: The Transformation of West African Textiles," opening Jan. 18, 2009.

From the Kente cloth of Ghana and mud cloth of Mali, to the indigo Adire cloth of Nigeria and printed cottons of Guinea tradition and innovation are evident. The availability and use of new technologies and materials, the exposure to new design sources, changes in religious and cultural traditions, the ingenuity of individual artists, and commercial global market forces have all influenced the design, color, meaning, and function of West African textiles. This new MSU Museum exhibition includes examples of cloths that illustrate some of these changes.

"While mud cloth for traditional use is painted in great symbolic detail, commercial works are produced quickly with pleasing designs and, often, western markets in mind," notes educator and guest curator Chris Worland. "Fine artists from Mali using traditional vegetable dyes with original designs now exhibit their mud cloth in contemporary art galleries in Europe and the United States."

Many of the textiles in this exhibition were donated to the MSU Museum by MSU faculty who represent a range of specialties in African studies and who collected the textiles while traveling, working, and living in West Africa. The textiles thus also serve as documents of the breadth and longevity of the university's engagement in West Africa. Adds Worland: "African art belongs to the past and to the present, and 'Threads of Change' provides a unique opportunity to view magnificent artistry of both the past and the present. This exhibition is intended to help viewers gain an understanding of the skills required to make this art and the historical and cultural contexts in which that art has been made." "Threads of Change: The Transformation of West African Textiles" runs in the MSU Museum's Main Gallery through Aug. 20, 2009. This exhibition is made possible by project partners at Michigan State University: African Studies Center, Center for Advanced Study of International Development, MSU Museum, Office for Inclusion and Intercultural Initiatives (Creating Inclusive Excellence Grant), and the Residential College in the Arts and Humanities.

Special programs include an opening reception on MSU's Martin Luther King Jr. Day Commemorative Celebration, Monday, Jan. 19, 3:30 - 6 p.m. in the Main Gallery, with a meet-the-curator gallery tour. Other programs include a gallery talk and demonstrations by Groupe Bogolan Kasobane, on Sunday, Feb. 15 at 2 p.m.; and a "Stamp, Paint, Cut" fabric workshop for children on Saturday, March 31, 1-3 p.m.; and an East Lansing Public Library Book Club meeting exploring "Monique and the Mango Rains: Two Years with a Midwife in Mali," by Kris Holloway," at the MSU Museum on Wednesday, March 25, 7-9 p.m. Additional programs are planned in conjunction with the MSU Residential College in the Arts and Humanities. Check museum.msu.edu for more details.

Also of interest is another West African-themed exhibit at the MSU Museum: "Visual Griots of Mali," an exhibition of African youth photography in the Heritage Gallery through March 15.

More about a world of arts and culture at Michigan State University: Michigan State University has a vibrant cultural community with countless public performances, exhibitions, programs and special events throughout the year. These arts and culture offerings educate and engage audiences by exploring the diversity of human expression, while contributing to the creative and economic vitality of the region. Members of the university and greater communities and visitors from near and far delight in music, performing arts and concert centers, libraries, museums and galleries, gardens, public art and historic sites across the MSU campus. At the same time, audiences on campus and around the world take advantage of academic and research programs, public broadcasting, online resources, publications and outreach initiatives. Learn more about a world of arts and culture at http://artsandculture.msu.edu .

More about the Michigan State University Museum The MSU Museum is Michigan's natural history and culture museum and the state's first Smithsonian Institution affiliate. The MSU Museum -- accredited by the American Association of Museums -- collects, preserves, studies and interprets cultural artifacts and natural history specimens, with collections numbering more than 1 million in four buildings on the MSU campus. One of the oldest museums in the Midwest, the MSU Museum is committed to education, exhibitions, research and the building and stewardship of collections that focus on Michigan and its relationship to the Great Lakes and the world beyond.

The MSU Museum features three floors of special collections and changing exhibits and is open seven days a week free of charge (donations are encouraged). Located on West Circle Drive next to Beaumont Tower on the MSU campus, the MSU Museum is accessible to persons with disabilities. Hours are Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. -5 p.m.; and Sunday, 1-5 p.m. Visitor parking is available in front of the building and at metered spaces at the Grand River Ramp, one block away at the corner of Grand River Avenue and Charles Street. For more information, call (517) 355-2370 or see http://museum.msu.edu .

Holiday shoppers can find unique, interesting and affordable gifts for friends and family this year at the MSU Museum Store.

The MSU Museum Store features authentic collectibles and keepsakes for sale from artists around the globe including South Africa, Russia, Egypt, and Kenya. Here's a sampling of the distinctive, handmade offerings: Guatemalan beaded bags, Zulu hand-made artisan baskets, Chilean glass and other wonders of the natural world. The MSU Museum store is also one of the few places to find a selection of Petoskey stones.

At the same time, shoppers can give an affordable, beautiful gift and feel great knowing it is fair trade -- where prices paid to the artisans reflect the work they do, and their products are made in an environmentally sustainable manner.

December Discounts at the MSU Museum Store

Special for the Month:
30% off all products related to "Our Journeys, Our Stories" exhibit. Choose from a wide array of books, gifts and CDs.

Campus Deals:
MSU Students, Staff & Faculty -- Show your ID and get 20% off any one item!

Daily Discounts:
December 2 - Get 20% off anything RED
December 3 - Get 15% off silver jewelry
December 4 - Get 20% off anything GREEN
December 5 - Get 15% off children's books
December 6 - Come in for your FREE gift. Worth up to $25.
December 7 - Get 15% off Egyptian gift items
December 8 - Sorry! Museum Store is closed today
December 9 - Get 20% off anything BLUE
December 10 - Get 20% off purses and bags
December 11 - Come in for your FREE gift. Worth up to $25.
December 12 - Get 15% off nature books & guides
December 13 - Get 15% off glass jewelry
December 14 - Get 20% off anything BLACK
December 15 - Sorry! Museum Store is closed today
December 16 - Come in for your FREE gift. Worth up to $25.
December 17 - Get 20% off African crafts
December 18 - Get 15% off Petoskey stone items
December 19 - Get 15% off items made of stone
December 20 - Get 20% off Putumayo CDs
December 21 - Get 15% off gemstone jewelry
December 22 - Sorry! Museum Store is closed today
December 23 - Get 15% off cultural books
December 24 - Get 25% off any single item

Proceeds from Museum Store sales benefit Visitor Service programs of the MSU Museum.

Sorry, discounts cannot be combined. Some consigned items may be excluded. One free gift per person, please.

Fore more details, visit http://museum.msu.edu/GeneralInformation/MuseumStore/

Michigan State University Museum's noted collection of quilts has been included in the new major international publication Quilts in the World, Tokyo, Japan: Nihon Vogue Co., Ltd, 2008. The publication contains a reprint of an article by Curator of Folk Arts Marsha MacDowell about MSU Museum collections for a previous book published by Hokusai Art.

The book profiles just 24 collections in the U.S. and 13 elsewhere in the world. Three of the U.S. collections are collaborating with the MSU Museum on The Quilt Index (http://www.quiltindex.org), one of the MSU Museum's major textile research projects in association with MATRIX.

"This is a major testimony to the exceptional nature of our textile holdings -- holdings which are being used for teaching and research by MSU students and faculty as well as scholars and the general public from around the world," says MacDowell.

Quiltmaking is immensely popular in Japan, says MacDowell. "There are an estimated two to three million quiltmakers in Japan," she notes. "Throughout the country annual quilt events, like the Tokyo International Quilt Festival, attract thousands of visitors."

An exhibition of MSU Museum quilt holdings previously toured in Japan where it was covered by the major media, seen by over 80,000 visitors, and where the host, Hokusai Art, underwrote a reception for MSU alumni.

Adds MacDowell: "We hope that this new international attention will lead to more opportunities for exhibition tours and events that build the worldwide MSU alumni community and attract new international students and donors."

A HISTORY OF MUSEUMS, 'THE MEMORY OF MANKIND'

"If you add up the attendance for every major-league baseball, basketball, football and hockey game this year, the combined total will come to about 140 million people. That's a big number, but it's barely a fraction of the number of people who will visit American museums this year.

Museums are big business, attracting billions of tourist dollars, advancing science, and educating and amusing more than 850 million people annually."

Listen to more from National Public Radio's "All Things Considered" here: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=97377145
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=97637393

Star-Spangled Banner Gallery Dedication Ceremony
National Museum of American History, Washington D.C.

The Smithsonian's National Museum of American History reopened its doors to the public Friday, Nov. 21, providing a new look at the almost 200-year-old Star-Spangled Banner - the flag that inspired the national anthem. The museum has constructed a custom-designed display for the flag, which recently underwent an extensive conservation treatment. The gallery is part of a two-year, $85 million renovation of the building's center core, which has dramatically transformed the museum's architecture.

The new Star-Spangled Banner Gallery lies at the heart of the museum, the focal point of the dramatic five-story skylit atrium. An architectural representation of a waving flag-made up of 960 reflective tiles-frames the entrance to the gallery. As visitors enter, a companion exhibition sets the scene for a dramatic historic event: the Battle of Baltimore during the War of 1812, when this young nation survived an assault by the British.

A special enclosure, with a 35-foot floor-to-ceiling glass wall, will protect the fragile wool and cotton flag while providing maximum visibility to visitors.

View the webcast here: http://americanhistory.si.edu/webcast/ .

The MSU Museum is Michigan's first Smithsonian Institution affiliate. Joint membership to both institutions offers many benefits. Find out more: http://museum.msu.edu/GeneralInformation/Membership/ .

Longtime Williamston resident, MSU Museum Curator of History and Williamston Depot Museum board member Val Berryman has searched his personal archives of Kris Kringle history and memorabilia to document Santa's commitment to the finer ideals of the United States in an exhibition titled "The Patriotic Santa at the Williamston Depot Museum.

The exhibition is now open and will be featured at the Museum's Holiday Open House on Friday, Dec. 5, 2008 from 4-7 p.m.

Says Berryman: "Santa Claus has enjoyed a close relationship with Uncle Sam and our U.S. troops ever since the Civil War. He has worked with Uncle Sam to get certain vital messages across to the American public. Santa has donned the Stars and Stripes on occasion and has even been seen in military uniform when the job required it."

Posters, Christmas cards, figurines and vintage magazines show Santa's love for the red, white and blue is equally as strong as for the Christmas colors of red, white and green.

On a 1926 poster Santa delivered a vital message to citizens to "Buy Christmas Seals, Fight Tuberculosis." Santa's patriotism shows especially strong in times of war. A World War II poster dated 1941 features Santa with the message, "This year give a share in America and give U.S. Defense Bonds as Christmas gifts". Sometimes the message is more commercial, such as when Santa and Uncle Sam team up in 1918 to urge shoppers on behalf of the United Cigar Stores Company to "Make your Christmas purchases early!"

For location, hours and more information, see: http://www.williamstonmuseum.com/?Home .