Brian Rose Speaks at Curator’s Party
At the annual Curator’s Party, held October 12, 2017, members of the Expedition Circle and above enjoyed an update from Dr. C. Brian Rose on new discoveries at Gordion, followed by a reception.
Event Highlights Upcoming Africa Galleries
The “Director’s Exclusive” Silver Circle event for Loren Eiseley Society members was held on Sunday, October 15, 2017.
Trudy and Laird Slade
Trudy and Laird Slade are longtime friends of the Penn Museum, and were the first to pledge five-year Loren Eiseley Society support that will sustain the Museum through its multi-year building transformation. Trudy spoke to Kate Fox about the Slades’ connections to the Penn Museum.
We first became acquainted with the Penn Museum through invitations to events and galas that were put on by the Women’s Committee. These were both entertaining and engaging, and in 2010 I was asked to join this group as a member.
Getting more involved as a volunteer, I introduced my husband and friends to the Museum as well, especially through special events. We have taken our entire immediate family to visit the Museum, as well as hosted tours for neighbors and friends. One tour included the Mummy Makers Workshop, which was a Museum highlight. In 2014, we went to Turkey with Dr. Brian Rose (Curator-in-Charge of the Mediterranean Section and Director of the Gordion Archaeological Project), several Women’s Committee companions, and Museum guests. We traveled throughout western Turkey, ending in Ankara where we saw some fascinating archives from the Gordion excavations.
We continue to stay involved throughout the year by attending lectures, exhibition openings, and other events. We enjoy these functions because they are intellectual but also social. We meet staff and other interesting guests—it is not just an audio tour of an exhibition. It is a fun and compelling experience.
It has been a particular delight seeing the Museum grow and transform over the years. We have seen the development of more effective exhibitions that include interactive displays, such as those in the Native American Voices exhibition. Even smaller things like improved lighting and signage have enhanced both our enjoyment of and learning from the exhibitions. Seeing this kind of growth makes us very excited for the transformations to come: the refurbishment of several galleries and the reinstallation of signature galleries like the Egyptian Galleries.
It is really quite easy to commit to continuing support so that the Museum knows it has a sustainable stream of contributions and can plan accordingly. Our favorite thing about this Museum is not just seeing old artifacts but also hearing the stories and history surrounding the artifacts, what they were used for, and what they represent. And, as international travelers, we have visited outstanding museums. We want the Penn Museum’s world-class collection to be a world-class display. To accomplish this large transformation requires continuing commitments. We are glad to help get that started.