500 Museum Road Reading, PA 19611-1425

NON-PROFIT ORG.U.S. Postage

PAIDREADING, PA

PERMIT NO. 598

Address Service RequestedCalendar of Events and Activities

Planetarium

Star ShowsEvEry SundAy (Jan. – Mar.)1 p.m. – Legends of the Night Sky 2 p.m. – The Hot and Energetic Universe 3 p.m. – The Dark Matter Mystery 4 p.m. – Jack Frost and the Skies of Winter

WEEKdAyS Mon. – Fri., 4 p.m. (Jan. – Mar.)Monday – Jack Frost and the Skies of Winter Tuesday – Sunstruck Wednesday – From Earth to the Universe Thursday – Oasis in Space Friday – Jack Frost and the Skies of Winter

Floyd Final Friday Music Shows Friday, Jan. 27, Feb. 24, & Mar. 31 7:00 p.m. – Sonic Vision 8:00 p.m. – Pink Floyd: Dark Side of The Moon 9:00 p.m. – Pink Floyd: The Wall 10:00 p.m. – Pink Floyd: Wish You Were Here

Nature's Numbers Through September 8

Yuletide Around the World Through January 22

Thomas & FriendsTM: Explore the Rails Through May 14

Albrecht Dürer: Master Prints January 14 – May 7

Beetle Mania: The Art of Joan Danziger January 14 – September 3

Hot Wheels™: Race to Win™ January 21 – April 25

Adult Programs

Uncorked CreativityGrab some friends (21 and over) and come to The Museum for a night of desserts and handmade art! Feel free to bring a bottle of wine to share with your friends as you create your own unique masterpiece. No experience is necessary! See website for description of topics. Program runs 6-9 p.m. RESERVATIONS REQUIRED. *

February 21 - Koi Swimming

March 21 - Blossoms in the Park

Cost: $35 per Member/ $45 per Non-Member

Sponsored by Visions Federal Credit Union

Senior Series (all are welcome)You are never too old to learn! Come to The Museum for this senior-friendly program which runs on the 4th Friday of every month beginning at 1:30 p.m., unless otherwise noted. Senior Series is FREE for Members and FREE with Museum admission. All documentary screenings are held in The Neag Planetarium. Guests of all ages are welcome. No reservations are required.*

February 24 - Special screening of American Masters: John James Audubon: Drawn From Nature

March 24 - Lecture – Albrecht Dürer: Master Prints

Sponsored by Paramount Living Aids

Arboretum EducationJoin us for a variety of learning opportunities presented by Master Gardeners, avid horticulturists, and other industry specialists. Program begins at 1:30 p.m. FREE for Members / $5 for Non-Members. RESERVATIONS REQUIRED.*

March 28 - Creating Garden Interest in Outdoor Containers

Family-Friendly Programs

Putt-putt in the GalleriesJanuary 14 & 15 • 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Take your family mini-golfin’ through the galleries Saturday and Sunday! No reservations necessary! $5 per ball with the price of admission. Admission is FREE for Members.

Kids' Night OutThese hands-on evenings are just for kids! Each one features a different topic and kids get to enjoy gallery time, make crafts to take home, and more! Plus pizza dinner and an evening snack are included! Programs run from 6 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. and are for kids ages 6 – 12. For descriptions and pricing, see website. RESERVATIONS REQUIRED.**

February 17 - STEM Challenges

March 17 - All Things Green

Current & upcoming Exhibitions

Events

RPM Business Breakfast Jan. 17, Feb. 21, & Mar. 21 • 7:30 a.m.Members – chat and network with John Graydon Smith and other Museum Supporters about what is happening at The Museum all while enjoying breakfast. Sponsored by Weidenhammer Systems, Inc. Reservations are strongly encouraged. +If you are interested in having your business featured at a marketing spotlight table at an upcoming Business Breakfast, contact Lindsay.

Golfin' in the Galleries January 13 • 6 – 10 p.m.

Team up with your co-workers, clients, and friends for the most unique night at The Museum! Putt-putt through the galleries of The Museum. Enjoy great food and a complimentary beer tasting by Stoudts Brewing Company. Masterpiece Events will have a cash bar for cocktails and wine. Cost: $400/foursome, $550 for foursome with hole sponsorship. Register by January 9. +

Dinner Series — "A Celebration of Good Taste" February 16 • 5:30 p.m.

Dine "Under the Stars" of The Neag Planetarium. Dinner by Yellow Springs Catering. Space is very limited. Reservations required by February 10. +

Cost: $125 per Member/$150 per Non-Member.

Sponsored by Mark A. Maggs, Maggs & Associates, Wealth Management Advisors — Merrill Lynch.

Homeschool Days

Homeschool Families — Join educators from The Museum for an exciting morning filled with special tours and hands-on projects that the whole family can enjoy! Programs are designed for elementary school age students (younger and older siblings are welcome to participate). For descriptions and pricing, see website. RESERVATIONS REQUIRED.**

January 25 - Forces in Motion

February 22 - Astronomy

March 22 - Science of Color

Bus Trip

April 11, 2017 Bus departs at 8:30 a.m.

Join The Museum on a day trip to the Brandywine River Museum of Art for a guided tour of the special exhibition From Homer to Hopper: Experiment and Ingenuity in American Art. This exhibition reflects the rich diversity of style and expression in American art created between 1870 and 1950.

Following the special exhibition tour, guests will be taken on a guided tour of the N.C. Wyeth House & Studio. N. C. Wyeth (1882-1945) was one of America’s foremost illustrators in the 20th century. RESERVATIONS REQUIRED. *

Cost includes transportation, admission, tour, and lunch. $110 per Member; $130 per Non-Member. See website for more details.

Sponsored by Assured Assistance

Information subject to change, including cancellations and/or new programming added to the schedule. Check www.readingpublicmuseum.org for the latest details.

* Contact Wendy Koller at 610-371-5850 x223 or email wendy.koller@readingpublicmuseum.org

** Contact Jaq Danek at 610-371-5850 x227 or email j.danek@readingpublicmuseum.org

+ Contact Lindsay Crist at 610-371-5850 x230 or email lindsay.crist@readingpublicmuseum.org

Sensory MorningGeared toward our friends with special needs, this program provides a quieter environment to explore The Museum before it opens to the public. Program runs 9 – 11 a.m. Regular Museum Admission applies. Call for more details. RESERVATIONS REQUIRED.*

January 30 - Hot Wheels™: Race to Win™ and Thomas & Friends™: Explore the Rails

February 11 - Hot Wheels™: Race to Win™ and Thomas & Friends™: Explore the Rails

WintEr 2017

Inside this issue:Beetle Mania: The Art of Joan DanzigerAlbrecht Dürer: Master PrintsHot Wheels™: Race to Win™

A publication of Reading Public Museum • Planetarium • Arboretum

Hot Wheels™: Race to Win™ January 21 – April 25, 2017

Buckle up and race with the most famous toy vehicles on the planet—Hot Wheels! Be part of a dynamic race team working together to build and test the world’s fastest (and safest) speed machines, using Hot Wheels® diecast cars to experiment and play. This behind-the-scenes look at the thrilling world of racing investigates the scientific process for designing super-fast cars!

SPEED. POWER. PERFORMANCE.

BLUE ZONE (DESIGN)What makes one car faster than another? Getting ready to race means choosing the right body and tires designed to maximize your speed. In the Blue Zone, find out how race teams adjust their cars to give them the edge to win!

YELLOW ZONE (POWER)What makes a car GO? Every car needs an engine to get off the starting line. In the Yellow Zone, find out how engines use fuel to spin the wheels and burn up the track!

GREEN ZONE (SPEED)When it comes right down to it, it’s all about the speed! On race day, every team is focused on crossing the finish line first. In the Green Zone, see what happens on race day as drivers and their teams pour on the speed to win.

HOT WHEELS and associated trademarks and trade dress are owned by, and used under license from, Mattel. ©2017 Mattel. All Rights Reserved.

Produced by

Sponsored locally by

Meet Me at The Museum

How and why did you begin volunteering at The Museum?My school was talking about how The Museum needed some volunteers, so I instantly became interested.

What were some of your volunteer experiences?I volunteered as various mascots that came with the exhibits, such as Clifford The Big Red Dog™, Curious George™, and most recently, a dinosaur. I also helped out with setups for events throughout The Museum. Most recently I’ve been helping out with different events for kids; such as, Pokemon Go Day, birthday parties, and RPM’s Discovery Camp.

Why would you recommend volunteering to friends and family?I’d recommend volunteering at The Museum because it’s a great way to gain experience in numerous different categories. Also, it’s very easy to make many new friendships with employees and fellow volunteers. Finally, it’s just really fun!

What has been your favorite experience thus far while being a volunteer?My favorite experience while volunteering at The Museum so far was probably volunteering at the Discovery Camp. Not only did it make my summer fun, it made this summer one of the best summers ever!

Hot Wheels™: Race to Win™ January 21 – April 25, 2017

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RED ZONE (SAFETY)Racing is a dangerous sport. Winning the race is the goal — but sometimes crashes happen. The safety of the driver is always everyone’s top priority. In the Red Zone, learn about the technology that keeps drivers, crews, and fans SAFE at a race!

Meet Carlos, a 17 year-old Berks Catholic High School senior who loves to volunteer at The Museum. When he is not volunteering, he enjoys reading comic books, playing video games, and spending time with his friends and family.

Say hello to Carlos Torres — Making a difference at The Museum

Thank you Carlos for everything you do at The Museum! If you are interested in volunteering at The Museum, please contact Melissa Varone at melissa.varone@readingpublicmuseum.org.

Albrecht Dürer: Master Prints January 14 – May 7, 2017

Beetle Mania: The Art of Joan Danziger January 14 – September 3, 2017

This engaging exhibition features more than thirty woodblock prints and engravings by (or after) the German Renaissance master printmaker Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528).

The artist was an extraordinary innovator who revolutionized the medium of printmaking in the late fifteenth century. Trained as a goldsmith, the painter, etcher, and draftsman was praised for the remarkable compositional complexity and high level of naturalism in his works. Dürer established an international reputation for his skills in printmaking, which he had single-handedly elevated to an independent art form. Examples from his celebrated Small Woodcut Passion (1508-10), Life of the Virgin (1503-10), and the full set of sixteen prints from the Engraved Passion (1507-12) will be featured in the exhibition.

The exhibition also includes several works by some of Dürer’s most influential contemporaries, Albrecht Altdorfer and Martin Schongauer, among others.

Explore the extraordinary world of sculptor Joan Danziger of Washington, DC, whose creations—creepy, crawly specimens with six legs and wings—take center stage in the new exhibition, Beetle Mania: The Art of Joan Danziger.

Enter the world of Coleoptera, the largest and most diverse order of insects commonly known as beetles. Danziger’s colorful works, which will cling to the walls throughout the gallery, will be paired with some of RPM’s scientific specimens of beetles, as well as some cultural artifacts from ancient Egypt and South America, decorated with the insects. The artist enlists metal wire, iridescent glass, celluclay, and paint to create her much-larger-than-life-sized sculpted beetles. Some of her sculptures measure nearly five feet!

the artist notes that her work uses “...animal imagery as metaphorical or psychological subjects giving the sculptures a life of their own creating a magical world. Beetles, especially the scarab, have inspired creative myths in many cultures because of their ability to survive, and have been objects of fascination and awe.”

The artist earned a BFA in painting from Cornell University and continued her studies at the Art Students League in New York and the American Academy of Fine Arts in Rome. Danziger has exhibited throughout the U.S. including Washington, DC’s American University and the Corcoran Gallery of Art, the New Jersey State Museum, the Jacksonville (FL) Museum of Art and Sciences, the California Museum of Science and Industry, and the New York State University Art Gallery, among others.

Albrecht Dürer (German, 1471 – 1528), Agony in the Garden (from the Engraved Passion), 1508, engraving, 4 1/2 x 2 12/16 in., Museum Purchase.

Joan Danziger, Blue Beetle, 2011, metal, glass, acrylic and paint, 32 x 31 x 6 inches, courtesy of the artist.

Sponsored locally by

Art reaches beyond the walls of The Museum as the number of outdoor sculptures in the 25-acre Arboretum continues to grow. Beginning at the northwest corner of the grounds, near the intersection of Parkside Drive North and Park Road, and extending across the campus to Museum Road, a total of twenty-two sculptures are placed for the enjoyment of all who stroll the outdoor paths. In the autumn months alone, three new sculptures were added, making for a continuously changing space and experience.

Two of the new sculptures, Phoenix and Phoenix Struggle were created by

Philadelphia artist Joe Mooney as part of a series in 2006. They have been brought to Reading through the generosity of Dr. Luther W. Brady. For the artist, the visible cutting edges of the stainless steel are purposeful, showing his hand in the work, and creating a more tactile appearance. The Phoenix series expresses the cycle of life through faltering, falling, and rising again. Mooney has exhibited extensively throughout Pennsylvania and across the US.

The third Arboretum addition is no stranger to the grounds. Many will fondly remember Pelicans (1931) by Earl Lincoln Poole (American, 1891-1972) as the bronze grouping that served for many years as a fountain centerpiece in the rose garden. It was removed in 1968 for the construction of The Neag Planetarium, and then reinstalled in 1974 near Museum Road as the formal entry to The Arboretum. The grouping was restored in 1996, removing the corrosion that had occurred over the years. Earl Poole was a graduate of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in Philadelphia, and was a recognized painter of birds and animals. He was appointed to The Museum’s staff in 1925, and acted as director from 1938 until his retirement in 1957.

Next time you’re in The Arboretum, take a look at the art that surrounds you. You’ll find these sculptures and nineteen others waiting to enhance your uniqueexperience at The Museum.

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Arboretum Additions

Joe Mooney (American, b. 1949), Phoenix, 2006, stainless steel, Gift, Dr. Luther W. Brady.

Joe Mooney (American, b. 1949), Phoenix Struggle, 2006, stainless steel and steel, Gift, Dr. Luther W. Brady.

Background: Earl Lincoln Poole (American, 1891-1972), Pelicans, 1931, bronze, Museum Purchase.

Grab your tickets and climb aboard the Birthday Express to celebrate your special boy or girl with a train-themed birthday party at the Reading Public Museum! Your little engineer will love making their own conductor hat, experimenting with toy trains, and racing the rails with train-themed games and relays.

After the party, guests are welcome to stay and explore the rest of The Museum. Can’t stay? Use your free return pass to visit another time, RPM’s gift to all party attendees! Our Birthday Express parties are perfect for children turning 3 to 6 years old and are available Saturdays and Sundays starting at 10 a.m. from 1/7/17 through 5/7/17. Choo-choo-choose the date and let our Party Conductors do the rest! Go hassle free by purchasing our premium food package, or bring your own.

ALLLLLL ABOARD — The BirThday express!

Explore New GalaxiesSoar into the galaxies with two brand-new planetarium shows, The Dark Matter Mystery and The Hot and Energetic Universe.

The Hot and Energetic Universe invites guests to see how astrophysics plays a key role in understanding our universe. With the use of immersive visualizations and real images of modern astronomy, this presentation takes you to the most spectacular regions of our ever-changing universe! See it every Sunday at 2 p.m. January – March.

In The Dark Matter Mystery, find out how galaxies stay together, why they look the way they do, and what we know today about the mysterious "Dark Matter." Scientists know that it is out there, but have NO IDEA what it is made out of. See it every Sunday at 3 p.m. January – March.

Every party includes a trip to the Thomas & Friends™: Explore the Rails exhibition where your guests will help Thomas and his friends solve the problems that arise in the land of Sodor!

Hurry and book your party today before this train leaves the station! For details and pricing, please contact Laura Oswald at 610-371-5850 x235 or email laura.oswald@readingpublicmuseum.org.

ADMIT ONE

See calendar section for full show schedule.

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Join Your Museum Today!The Reading Public Museum is dynamic and ever-changing, offering diverse exhibitions all year long! Temporary exhibitions featuring science and art combine with our permanent galleries to offer you an engaging experience every time you visit. As a Member, every visit to The Museum and Neag Planetarium is FREE! Plus, there are even more benefits.

Please check www.readingpublicmuseum.org and click on “Join and Support” for complete details and to join securely online.

The Museum ShopLooking for a unique gift? You’ll find handmade gifts, toys and games for children, exquisite jewelry, and more. Our stock is always changing, so stop in often to see our new items! Open during regular Museum hours (no admission required). Members receive 10% off every day!

Book a Group VisitWe’re thrilled to welcome eager and attentive learners from Pre-K to Seniors on a daily basis. Group rates apply to 10 or more people. For more information or to book a group, contact wendy.koller@readingpublicmuseum.org or 610-371-5850 x223.

Museum Address/Phone 500 Museum Rd., Reading, PA 19611 610-371-5850

Museum Hours Daily: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. For Holiday hours, please check our website.

Museum Admission $10 Adult (18-64); $6 Seniors/Children/College Students (w/ID); Members and Children 3 and under are free.

Planetarium Hours Sun. 1, 2, 3 & 4 p.m. plus Weekday Shows at 4 p.m. (Monday through Friday - with some exceptions) Show Prices (for each show): $8 Adults (18-64); $6 Seniors/Children/College Students (w/ID); Members and Children 3 and under are free.

From the Director

ALLLLLL ABOARD — The BirThday express!

In Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew, The Bard writes “winter tames man, woman, and beast,” and he may be right. However, you notice he makes no mention of taming of the children! When the winter winds blow and it is too cold to send the kids outside to burn off their pent-up energy, the Reading Public Museum comes to the rescue. Just in time to help you cope with that cabin fever, Hot Wheels™: Race to Win™ comes speeding into town.

Another blockbuster hit from the same team that developed our highly popular Lego®: Castle Adventures and Dora and Diego — Let's Explore exhibits from recent years, our new Hot Wheels© exhibition allows kids of all ages to develop their own race team and test the world’s fastest (and safest) speed machines using the famous Hot Wheels© diecast cars. Thanks to the sponsorship of our friends at nearby Crystal Cave, this exhibition will be here until the snow is gone and spring has sprung, giving children and their families all winter to explore science, engineering, and teamwork concepts through play and experimentation.

While Hot Wheels© will have kids racing upstairs to our Second Floor Galleries, Thomas and Friends™: Explore the Rails is still welcoming folks aboard in our World Cultures Gallery on the First Floor and will be here until May 14 for families and school groups to enjoy, as will Nature’s Numbers in our Science Gallery through September 8. New to the Meinig Family Gallery is Beetle Mania: The Art of Joan Danziger, an exhibition that pairs the artist’s jewel encrusted beetle sculptures with other beetles from The Museum’s collection and will be of interest to the art, science, and history lovers among us.

So, if old man winter has you down, head on over to Museum Road to check out our entire line-up of world-class exhibitions for the entire family, and check out a show in The Neag Planetarium while you’re on campus. We promise that volume of Shakespeare will still be waiting for you on the nightstand when you return home, but after a visit to the Reading Public Museum, you may just be too tired to read it!

John Graydon Smith- Director and CEO

Friday, January 13, 2017 • 6 – 10 p.m.

• Beer Tasting by Stoudts Brewing Company

• Great team-building and networking opportunity Friday night!

• Family fun on Saturday and Sunday!

www.readingpublicmuseum.org

Birdie SponsorStevens and Lee/Griffin

Financial Group

Par SponsorsBerks • Fire •

Water Restorations, Customers Bank, Haverford Trust Company, and

Masano Bradley