zee final post 5/12

This week was similar to the week we had to turn in our group projects... it seemed a little crazy. Despite starting last week and trying to pace myself, I still felt like I was doing so much every day. lol. I think I was obsessing about trying to cover every little detail about each of my objects; it starts to get a little jumbled.
I've spent about 13 hours working on the research over the past week, which includes last week's visit to the museum during cancelled-class time as well as this past Monday when Dr. C allowed me to sit in the museum with my objects Monday when it was closed [it was too quiet! I was a little creeped out]
two hours definitely goes to figuring out the Adobe-Pro thing [so many complications; so these docs better go through. lol]
But it has been a great learning experience. The structure of the class was different and challenging, which I was a little apprehensive about at first, but it all started to flow. [I wish it was twice a week though] but it has provided a better perspective on museum work, which I appreicate and hope to take further. It has also been great working with everyone in the class! I liked that it was small and we could all learn from eachother [cheesy, I know]
**Thanks Dr.Castenada!**

total time: 13 hours

lab hours 5/5

Well this has been a more eventful week in terms of lab hours. I've spent about 4 hours catching up on reading as well as object reasearch reading [hoping I could take care of two birds with one stone] Also spent additional 1 hours looking for other resources and reading people's blogs. I spent an hour in the museum yesterday with Stacey and was happy to see one visitor very interested in our exhibit, but she had to go to class
I suspect my two baskets won't give me much trouble [don't jinx it...] but have concerns about creepy-urn, which maybe Dr.C can provide some guidance on [I may be jumping the gun and overthinking it]
I would also like to try to pool resources with others who have Pomo/ NW coast baskets, if anyone is interested?
Glad we don't have seminar today, but am looking forward to getting some questions answered at the museum :)
and spending lots of time in the library...woohoo!

total time: 6 hours

lab hours 4/28

This has been another slow week. I'm anxious to start on my object-research, but I think I' m still a little confused...But once I get done with papers due this week, I will be researching sources
I spent about 45 minutes catching up on people's blogs, and reading what others had done for this week's assignment
Spent an hour on the repatriation assignment [thanks stacey for the explanation about why there werent many magazines!]
15 minutes reading through new info added to Cotton- Accession file
Unfortunately, I'm cathcing up on the reading right now for today, so an hour [so far] for that.


total: 3 hours

Repatriation

[[It appears that a lot of people have used the Spring 2010 magazine for this assignment-there were only two on the shelf and the other one didn't list specific incidences...so sorry if there are repeats :/]]

2."Denver Museum of Nature & Science, Denver, CO [August 29, 2008]. In 1983 a donor gave the museum a whale hairpiece made out of mountain goat-horn with abalone insets, which art dealer Michael R. Johnson indicated that he had obtained a decade earlier from Mrs. Dan Katzeek of Klukwanm, Alaska. Johnson opined that this type of whale hairpiece, intended for use with a single braid, would have been worn around the time of Captain James Cook's thrid Pacific voyage [1776-1780]."
[American Indian Art, Vol.35(78):95, Spring 2010]

7. "US Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area, Coulee Dam, WA (September 3, 2008). The notice pertains to 2,266 'unassociated funerary objects' retrieved from various sites within the Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area, which features a reservoir formed as a result of the completion of Grand Coulee Dam on the Columbia River in 1941. Dating to as far back as 2,500 years ago, the materials consist mainly of stone and bone utilitarian artifacts, which the government agreed should be transferred to the Confederated Tribes of Colville Reservation in Washington."
[American Indian Art, Vol.35(79):95, Spring 2010]

8."Field Museum, Chicago, IL (September 10, 2008). In 1902 the museum purchased a wooden rattle and worked walrus tusk from navy lieutenant George T. Emmons, who served in Alaska and from whom the instituion acquired a considerable amount of Native American material starting in the 1890's. The thirteen-inch-long, red-and-blue rattle represents an oyster catcher; the walrus tusk is composed of four sections, each about eleven inches in length. Collection information states that the tusk sections were 'found in an old cave on a small island in Icy Straits (southeastern Alaska) where a Shaman of the "Hoonah" tribe was laid away,' while the oyster catcher came from a grave house on Frederick Bay, 'near the village of "Gan- der-kan", of the Hoonah tribe.' The museum agreed to give both unassociated funerary objects back to the Hoonah Indian Association of ALaska."
[American Indian Art, Vol.35(79):95, Spring 2010]

lab hours 4/21

Spent about 30 minutes catching up on blogs
30 minutes deciding and searching for catalog from library
1.5 hours reading over the catalog
1.5 hour for writing the paper :)

I was hoping to take-up some of Dr.C's suggestions for getting more lab hours, but this last week was rather hectic and I was feeling a little under the weather. So hopefully I will be able to visit the exhibits and work in the museum over the next few days.
Also enjoyed the presentation last week from Dr.Roberts; it was great that he included so much history/background as to how the women's group was formed.
[Did not appreciate those people coming in the middle of our class :/ very distracting!]

lab hours 4/14

I went to the museum-opening about an hour and a half early, in hopes of being able to help with any last minute touches, but it seemed like everything had already been covered [I hope this can still count for something since I had intentions of being put to work :) ]. But this was my first time seeing it, so I took my time looking at everything before the room got crowded [it was a good turn-out!]
Worked on the assignment today for 2.5 hours; I spent way too much time on the job boards, but it was interesting and intimidating at the same time, which explains why it took me so long to choose a position to post. Definitely puts things into perspective.
I was impressed by my classmates' postings [that had been completed so far] and realized I didn't have much to say for the assignment, even though it seemed like a good excersize. But its a learning experience, which is what I also took from the Burcaw reading; that we should be prepared to start at any level to work our way up, and get out foot in the door. It was encouraging to read that, and also about filling vacancies by promoting/ hiring from within. I'm interested to hear more about this in the next couple weeks.
There's a lot of work to do before I can tackle one of those job postings in the real world. But I'm motivated and optomistic.

Time: 4 hours

museum jobs

1] N/A unfortunately, I do not yet have any experience working or volunteering in a museum. [I can only say that I've gone to a LOT of them]

2][[AAM Job Headquarters]]
Job ID: 6692918
Position Title: Curator
Company Name: Navajo Nation Zoo
Job Function: Directors/Administrators
Entry Level: No
Job Type: Full-Time
Location(s): Window Rock, Arizona, 86515, United States
Posted: April 6, 2010
Job Duration: Indefinite
Min Education: BA/BS/Undergraduate
Min Experience: 1-2 Years
Required Travel: 0-10%
Salary: $36,753.00 - $36,753.00 (Yearly Salary)

Job Description
The Navajo Nation Zoo is seeking to hire one Curator to direct operations at our unique facility. Please note that although "Curator" is the official title, this position acts as Director of the organization.

The Navajo Nation Zoo is operated by the Navajo Nation Department of Fish and Wildlife, and is funded by the Navajo tribal government. The 34 year-old facility exhibits a total of 41 species, all of which are native to the Navajo reservation. Outdoor exhibits include bears, cougars, Mexican gray wolves, bobcats, raccoons, porcupines, golden eagles, and many more. Our indoor "Discovery Center" features reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates, as well as an indoor waterfall/pond, video displays, and a "kids corner." We also have a playground and are currently developing a petting area. We host over 40,000 visitors a year, including 2,000 visitors at our "ZooBoo" event and 6,000 visitors at our "ZooFest" event. The Zoo is certified by the USDA.

The Curator will direct all Zoo operations and oversee the facility and animal collection. S/he will monitor and enhance the cultural, educational, recreational and conservation programs at the facility. S/he will supervise and coordinate six full time staff members, including four zookeepers, one office specialist, and one educator. S/he will oversee the budget and seek external funds through the adopt-an-animal program, grant-writing, corporate sponsorships, etc. S/he will also be responsible for strategic and master planning, compliance with regulations and certification, working with support organizations, education and outreach, event planning, and more.

The Curator also serves as a program manager with the Navajo Nation Department of Fish and Wildlife, and reports to the Department Director.

Job Requirements
Minimum qualifications include a Bachelor's degree in Biology or related field, plus two years experience in animal husbandry, one year of which must have been in a supervisory capacity.You can learn more about the Navajo Nation Zoo at www.navajozoo.org and read news articles about the Zoo at www.mholdgate.com/news.

I chose this paricular job posting because I'm interested in working in a zoo at some point, and this job combines both loves of animals and museum work [curator]
Although I have limited knowledge about the Navajo, I appreciate the fact that according to the mission statement, this is "the only Native American zoological facility in the United States" and also the incorporation of rehbilitation/release of animals as well as use of plants/animals in traditional ceremonies.

*I have great organizaional skills, persuassive and people skills [too much time in customer service], supervision experience, and overall communication and multitasking skills
*BA in Anthropology and and some understanding of the basic info/behaviors of many of the animals featured at the zoo
*I do not have much experience with grant-writing or working with organizations, but possess good writing skills, I am a quick learner, and work well under pressure when its for the right cause, in this case, directing the organization, raising and providing funds for the well-being of the animals.