Arizona State Museum

10/08/2026

This week we installed some contemporary jewelry pieces at the Alfie Norville Gem and Mineral Museum, located in the historic Pima County courthouse in downtown Tucson. Stop by to see them!

The display is a companion to our newest pop-up exhibit, “Forge + Future: Contemporary Native Jewelry Artists,” which will debut at Tucson Meet Yourself (Oct. 16-18).

Our great thanks to our friends and colleagues for their partnership.

ASMers in the photos: Dr. Ruth Jolie, associate curator of ethnology; Gina Watkinson, assistant conservator; Ruben Urrea Moreno, exhibit preparator; Andrew Higgins, registrar.
------

10/07/2026

Join us this Saturday at the University of Arizona Museum of Art (UAMA) to celebrate Dia de los Muertos/Day of the Dead!

ASM will present the hilarious and moving storyteller, Zarco Guerrero, and his masked characters, at 1:00 p.m.

This program is presented in collaboration with UAMA in celebration of their "Staged: The Art of Performance" exhibit. Art activities, food, and more from 12:00-4:00. Free event.
------

10/04/2026

Diane Dittemore, ASM associate curator emerita, shared these photos from the opening of, “Hopi Kachina Dolls: Blessings for a Balanced World,” at the Brooklyn Museum.

Photo 1. (L-R) Dr. Kelley Hays-Gilpin, Edward Bridge Danson, Jr. chair of anthropology at the Museum of Northern Arizona and exhibit catalog contributor; Colleen Lucero (Hopi), guest curator and managing director of the Hopivewat Learning Center; Monica Nuvamsa (Hopi-Tewa/Acoma/Havasupai), exhibit contributor, artist, and interim executive director of the Hopi Foundation; and Diane Dittemore, ASM associate curator emerita and exhibit catalog contributor.

Photo 2. (L-R) Colleen Lucero (Hopi), guest curator and managing director of the Hopivewat Learning Center; Dare Turner, curator of Indigenous art at the Brooklyn Museum; and Nancy Rosoff, Andrew W. Mellon senior curator of arts of the Americas at the Brooklyn Museum.

The exhibit runs through June 27, 2027.

Congratulations to all!

Thanks to Diane and Kelley for the pics!

10/02/2026

If you happen to be in the NYC area, check out this new exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum:

Hopi Kachina Dolls: Blessings for a Balanced World
October 2, 2026–June 27, 2027
Brooklyn Museum, New York

Several ASM objects showing katsina imagery, including basketry, pottery, and one large doll, are on loan for this exhibit! Retired Associate Curator Diane Dittemore is a contributor to the accompanying catalog.

Exhibit Overview
Kachina dolls (tithu) represent Katsinam, spirits who bring much-needed moisture and keep the world in balance for the Hopi. Carved from cottonwood and distinctively painted, the dolls are treasured gifts from the Katsinam, given primarily to Hopi girls and women. This exhibition is the first to examine the Hopi kachina doll tradition from their recipients’ perspective.

Photo: Tsaqapta (Bowl) with Sa’lakwmana (Salako Maiden), 1900–1925. Ceramic, slip, and pigment. Gift of Judith and Andrew Finger. ASM 2017-59-5.

10/01/2026

Attention Educators!

Arizona State Museum is partnering with the Smithsonian to offer a unique and engaging workshop for K-12 teachers. 

Using the Harvard Project Zero "Look-Listen-Connect" strategy for student engagement, teachers will learn about musical storytelling in the corrido and blues traditions, look at museum objects and cultural symbols, and think about cultural identity. Enjoy a live musical performance and try your hand at writing your own song. Dinner is included.

Arts Integration with the Smithsonian
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
3:30 - 7:00 p.m.
City High School, downtown Tucson (37 E Pennington St.)
Teachers will earn 3.5 professional development hours at this free training!

Register here: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=Kl6bmOQU_k6Tt4zdX8XRHPhdgQ0ONydBpBKhyNxv8SZUODRHQkIyWjI5Q1Y5Vjk5MkFOR1VQR1NPVy4u

09/30/2026

Congratulations to Ruben Urrea Moreno, ASM’s exhibit preparator and artist!

Ruben's latest mural will be unveiled and feted at the University of Arizona on November 6, at the Albert B. Weaver Science-Engineering Library, 744 N Highland Ave. The mural honors Los Universitarios, Mexican American students whose leadership helped pave the way for generations of Wildcats.

Event details and registration: https://events.trellis.arizona.edu/en/f44lNu67/los-universitarios-mural-dedication-5a3UV43WaLB/overview

09/27/2026

Great fun to visit MIAC in Santa Fe this week, as part of our New Mexico Pueblos Learning Expedition. In addition to an enjoyable guided tour, we were blessed with a rain storm.

09/22/2026

TO REVIEW OR NOT TO REVIEW, THAT IS THE QUESTION

Curator of Ethnohistory Dr. Michael Brescia’s latest publication gig is for the "Journal of the Southwest."

As the journal’s new Review Editor, he’ll introduce each article with his take on historical context and significance. His inaugural foray was the Spring 2026 issue, now available electronically.

It is also worth noting that this issue features several images from ASM’s photo collections.

Check it out: https://muse.jhu.edu/issue/57446

09/21/2026

Dr. Jim Watson, ASM associate director and curator of bioarchaeology, participated in a panel discussion this weekend at the annual conference of the Association of Science and Technology Centers, held in Phoenix. The panel was entitled, "From Consultation to Co-Stewardship: Many Governments, One Landscape," and featured representatives from Gila River and Salt River, as well as from the Arizona Museum of Natural History and S'edav Va'aki Museum.

09/18/2026

Mark your calendar for our next FREE, in-person talk at Wh***ey Del Bac, featuring archaeologist and art historian Dr. Mont Allen from the University of Arizona's School of Art.

"Images of Dionysus, God of Alcohol & Ecstasy, on Roman Sarcophagi"
Tuesday, October 13, 2026
6:00-8:00 p.m.

Image When 6 – 8 p.m., Oct. 13, 2026 eventAdd to Calendar Add Event to Calendar Images of Dionysus, God of Alcohol & Ecstasy, on Roman Sarcophagi 6 – 8 p.m., Oct. 13, 2026 Select your calendar type below: Google iCal File Outlook Enterprise (Office 365) Outlook Personal (outlook.com) Yahoo! Wher...