Pages in History
By Daily Bruin Staff
Jan. 24, 2001 9:00 p.m.
 Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County Synthia
Saint James’ "Recent Picture Books" exhibit will be on display
January 27th thru March 25th.
By Kelsey McConnell
Daily Bruin Contributor
A journey through various eras and cultures isn’t
something a person can easily accomplish in one day.
At the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, however,
four new varied and engaging exhibitions provide such a voyage.
Focusing on subjects ranging from African American traditions to a
67 million-year-old T. rex named SUE, the new exhibitions promise
something for everyone to enjoy.
One of the exhibits, “Americanos: Latino Life in the
United States,” which runs through Feb. 25, features an
exploration of interconnected cultures and a look at Latino
heritage. This feature focuses on 120 contemporary photographs
which capture the depth and diversity of the Latino American
experience, from economic status to education, profession, religion
and language.
“Latinos continue to be portrayed most often in
stereotypical roles or in a negative light in the media,”
said exhibit coordinator Peter Szanoon. “This exhibit
attempts to correct that balance a little by providing a more
positive view of Latinos.”
 Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County Artwork by
Synthia Saint James will be part of the exhibit. The museum’s
“Dia de Los Americanos” event on Saturday, Feb. 3, from
noon to 5 p.m., will bring the former exhibit to life with a talk
and book signing by Manuel Monterrey, creator and co-producer of
the “Americanos” exhibit. A panel discussion by
award-winning “Americanos” contributing photographers,
and a performance by Quetzal, one of the hottest Chicano groove
bands in Los Angeles, are also part of the event.
For visitors who want an even closer look at the ethnicity of
local artists, the museum is presenting on Saturday, Feb. 10,
“Street Gallery: Tour of Murals by Latino Artists in Los
Angeles,” a guided bus tour led by Robin Dunitz, vice
president of the Mural Conservancy of Los Angeles.
Complementing this exhibit is barrio historian Maria Elena
Gaitan, who will treat her audience to “The Adventures of
Connie Chancla” on Sunday, Feb. 11 from 3 to 5 p.m. This solo
performance piece uses humor, prehistoric codices, sculpture,
paintings, photography, video and cello music to focus on more than
150 years of borders, barriers and stereotypes.
In honor of African American History Month, the museum will
showcase two special cultural collections in another exhibit. From
Jan. 27 through March 25, “Synthia Saint James: Recent
Picture Books” will feature 20 brilliant illustrations from
children’s books by Saint James, the artist responsible for
the United States Postal Service Kwanzaa stamp.
In a recent interview Saint James said that when people see her
work on display, a celebration of over 30 years of her life as an
artist, she hopes they develop a better idea of the work behind the
creation of children’s picture books.
“A Communion of the Spirits: African American Quilters,
Preservers and Their Stories,” which will be on display March
16 through Sep. 3, also celebrates African American History Month,
as narrated through the quilt designs.
 This photo of fashion designer Carolina
Herrera, by Alexis Rodriguez-Duarte, is part of the new
exhibit “Americanos: Latino Life in the United
States.”
Based on the work of award-winning photojournalist and
folklorist Roland L. Freeman, the exhibit is composed of over 200
photographs, 25 quilts and 40 quilted mattes.
“First and foremost, this exhibit is about more than just
something to keep you warm,” Freeman said. “It places
quilts made by African Americans in the social and historical
context of the people who make them.”
All works demonstrate a unique way to pass down the cultural
stories of family joys and pains. Though most of the quilts were
sewn by everyday African American women quilters, the work of male
quilters are on display, as well as quilts from civil rights
activist Rosa Parks and author Maya Angelou.
Going from the human to the natural world, in one of the best
displays of its kind, the Natural History Museum is inviting the
public to view the largest and most thoroughly preserved
Tyrannosaurus rex, SUE, ever discovered in Los Angeles. Measuring
42 feet from tail to teeth, SUE will be on display through April
22.
“A T. rex Named SUE” is a nationally touring
exhibition of a life-sized cast of the dinosaur skeleton discovered
by amateur fossil hunter Sue Hendrickson. According to the museum,
most of SUE’s bones are so well-preserved that, 67 million
years after her death, you can still see fine surface details.
Hendrickson herself will be discussing the discovery of SUE, the
skeleton’s significance in the field of paleontology and the
five-year battle over the rights to the bones, at the Natural
History Museum on Sunday, Jan. 28, from 2 to 4 p.m.
Finally, for the romantic visitors over age 21, the museum
presents “Animal Amore: The Games Animals Play: A
Valentine’s Day Mixer” on Feb. 14 from 6 to 8 p.m.
Happening at the Page Museum, participants can sharpen their animal
mating instincts by playing an animated simulation on a massive
game board.
MUSEUM: For tickets, reservations and
information, call the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
at (213) 763-DINO or visit them at www.nhm.org. The museum is located at 900
Exposition Blvd, Los Angeles.
UPCOMING EXHIBITS AT THE NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM
What: “Americanos: Latino Life in the United
States” When: Now through February 25
What: Visitors can learn about Latino heritage
through a display of 120 contemporary photographs
What: “A T. rex Named
SUE”When: Now through April 22
What: Meet SUE, the largest, best preserved and
most complete T. rex ever discovered in her 42- foot length glory
What: “Synthia Saint James: Recent Picture
Books” When: Jan. 27 – March 25
What: Celebrate African-American History Month
learning about how children’s books are created, through a
display of 20 illustrations by James. What:
“A Communion of the Spirits: African-American Quilters,
Preservers, and Their Stories” When: March
16 – Sept. 3 What: Discover how quilt designs tell
amazing stories about their creators through a show casing of more
than 200 photographs, 25 actual quilts and 40 quilted mats. SOURCE:
The Natural History Museum Original graphic by VICTOR CHEN/Daily
Bruin Web adaptation by CHRISTINE TAN/Daily Bruin
