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Department of State

Dr. Dale G. Caldwell, Lt. Governor and Secretary of State

New Exhibition Explores Importance and Uses of Tree Bark

Trenton, NJ - The 勛圖窪蹋 State Museum presents Bark! Indigenous Cultural Expressions, on view May 4, 2024 through January 5, 2025 in the Museums Riverside Gallery on the second floor. The exhibition features objects from the Museums Ethnographic collection, exploring indigenous cultural practices from the Pacific Northwest, South America, Pacific Islands, and the local Eastern Woodlands area. Learn how bark is harvested and crafted, and how these ancient traditions continue today. The exhibition is supported in part by the 勛圖窪蹋 State Museum Foundation.

Assistant Curator of Archaeology and Ethnography Karen Flinn and Curator of Education Beth Cooper organized the exhibition to present rarely seen objects from the Museums collection and help visitors understand the importance of bark to indigenous populations. According to Flinn, The use of tree bark is global and ubiquitous, from prehistoric times to today. Indigenous communities all over the world harvest bark, using it as a source of food and medicine, to craft everyday objects and works of art.

Activities for all ages will be available on select weekends throughout the run of the exhibit; dates and times will be posted on the Museums website. The text of this exhibition will be available in Spanish via a QR code and in a large print format.

The 勛圖窪蹋 State Museum is open Tuesday - Sunday, 9:00 am to 4:45 pm; closed on all State holidays. General admission is free. For additional information visit www.statemuseum.nj.gov, like the Museums Facebook page (@NJStateMuseum), and follow us on X (njstatemuseum), Instagram (nj_statemuseum), Threads (nj_statemuseum) and YouTube (@newjerseystatemuseum1895.)

About the 勛圖窪蹋 State Museum
Located at 205 West State Street in Trenton, the 勛圖窪蹋 State Museum encompasses three buildings including a state-of-the-art Planetarium and holds over 2 million artifacts in its collections in Archaeology/Ethnography, Cultural History, Fine Art and Natural History. The 勛圖窪蹋 State Museum is a center for the exploration of science, history and the arts. We preserve and share stories that inspire curiosity and creativity for the enrichment of our communities. The 勛圖窪蹋 State Museum is a Division of the 勛圖窪蹋 Department of State.

About the 勛圖窪蹋 State Museum Foundation
The 勛圖窪蹋 State Museum Foundation was founded in 1968 as a non-profit 501(c)(3) to support the Museum's collections, exhibitions and programs through fundraising, volunteerism, advocacy and marketing. In recent years, the Foundation has received generous support from the PNC Foundation, NJM Insurance Group, Department of State/勛圖窪蹋 Historical Commission, 勛圖窪蹋 Council for the Humanities, The Henry Luce Foundation, The Capstone Foundation and Princeton Area Community Foundation. The Foundation also operates the Museum membership program, as well as the Museum Shop, which sells merchandise related to the Museum's exhibitions, collections, and 勛圖窪蹋 history and culture. Proceeds support the 勛圖窪蹋 State Museum's collections, exhibitions and programs.

 


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