33rd Annual Juried Art Exhibition
January 14 - February 26, 2012 Opening Reception January 14, 2012, 4 - 6 pm
The Annual Juried Art Exhibition was founded by the Monmouth County Arts Council in 1979 and for 33 years it has been held at the Monmouth Museum. Last year the Museum assumed complete sponsorship of this annual exhibition.We will build on the excellent reputation of this long-established exhibition and champion its success for many years to come. This group exhibition features work in a variety of media and demonstrates the wealth of talent and creativity of artists worldwide. The juror this year is Island Weiss, of Island Weiss Gallery, New York, NY. The Museum will present 4 monetary Juror Awards and 4 Honorable Mention Awards at the exhibition opening reception January 14, 2012. Announcement of Accepted Artists.

Chairish the Museum Exhibition and Benefit Auction
January 14 - February 10, 2012
The Monmouth Museum is pleased to announce their sixth Annual "Chairish" the Museum Exhibition and Benefit Auction. The exhibition features wonderfully creative and unique chairs designed by local artists and craftspersons that are displayed at the Museum and in various locations in the community January 14 - February 8, 2012. All chairs move to the Museum February 10th, 2012 for our exciting Silent Auction Benefit Finale from 6 - 8 pm in the Main Gallery. Enjoy libations and light fare as you place your final bids. Tickets: $10 per person. All proceeds support educational programs at the Museum. Please call the Museum at 732-747-2266 for additional information. The Museum invites artists to participate in this year's Chairish the Museum exhibition. A variety of chairs are available at the Museum to design and decorate; please call 732-747-2266 for additional information. Click here for an Artists Entry Form.

SAVE THE DATE - Motown & Magic Benefit
March 24, 2012
7:30 concert in the Brookdale Performing Arts Theater
9:00 reception in the Monmouth Museum
A magical evening of performances, Motown sounds and the "Art of Illusion" exhibition featured in the Museum's Main Gallery. Join us for a special concert in the Brookdale Performing Arts Theater featuring the Motor City Revue band, an 11-piece group that faithfully recreates that signature Motown sound, offering music lovers an authentic tribute to the artists and songs that defined a generation. After the concert, visit the "Art of Illusion" exhibition in the Museum's Main Gallery, see magic performances and enjoy libations and light fare. Tickets: $50 per person; Band CD is included in price of ticket. For reservations and additional information please call Mary Suszkowski at 732-747-2266 ext. 5.

Art of Illusion: A Juried Invitational Exhibition

O N G O I N G - E X H I B I T I O N S

Changing Climate : Changing Weather
In the Becker Children's Wing through 2012
"Changing Climate: Changing Weather" will explore the related, but unique sciences of climate and weather. This hands-on exhibition will demonstrate how changes in our climate cause changes in our weather. Interactive elements will guide visitors through the history of weather and climate change studies through an in depth-look at the greenhouse effect and our earth's current challenge of global warming. The exhibition will also provide visitors with a greater understanding of what they personally can do to reduce their own carbon footprint by saving energy, using alternative energy sources and learning to "Reduce, Reuse & Recycle!" Come explore, be inspired and have fun!
- Learn about the history of climate and weather.
- Explore a virtual Weather Television Station.
- Experience different weather conditions through multi-sensory interactive displays.
- Learn about different types of clouds and the weather they produce.
- Understand climate change around the globe in our weather planetarium program.
- Visit our “Green Arts Studio” and create a work of art with recycled materials.

New! Becker Children's Wing After School Activities Tuesday - Friday, 3:30 to 4:30 pm, Free with paid admission.

Tuesdays: Traveling Trunk Program Explore a variety of topics in science, history and art with a Museum docent. Listen to stories, see artifacts, play a game and enjoy hands-on learning!

Wednesdays: Make A Craft with Recycled Materials Join us in the Green Arts Studio to make a fun craft with a variety of recycled materials.

Thursdays: Go on a Scavenger Hunt Explore our current exhibition "Changing Climate: Changing Weather" through a fun scavenger hunt.

Fridays: See a Movie in the Atmosphere Ampitheater Relax in our Atmosphere Ampitheater and enjoy one of our climate and weather related films, including animated and documentary features.

SPECIAL PROGRAMS
Twinkle Tots Planetarium Program Returns!
Fridays at 2 pm in the Becker Children’s Wing StarLab Planetarium
Children ages 4 - 6 years and their parents will enjoy a special program on stars with songs and stories.
Cost : $1 per person with price of admission.

School Group Tours School group tours will be scheduled on weekday mornings. Reservations are REQUIRED for all groups. Group rates are available. Download a promotional flyer here, a full teacher's activity guide will be available in October. Special Offer - Tour this exhibition with your group between October 2010 and February 2011 and save $1.00 per person. For reservations and additional information, please contact Marion Kanaga, Monmouth Museum Education Coordinator, at 732-747-2266 or mkanaga@monmouthmuseum.org.

DORN’S PHOTOGRAPHY COLLECTION
Ongoing in the Hall Gallery
The Monmouth Museum has been exhibiting selected historical images from the Dorn’s Classic Images collection for the past two years. Kathy Dorn Severini is the curator of the collection, which includes nearly 5,000 images of every aspect of past eras in Monmouth County. During the exhibition, photographs will be available for purchase (perfect for gifts!), with a percentage of sales donated to the Museum.

The Dorothy V. Morehouse WonderWing -
Ongoing (permanent exhibition)
Visit the Dorothy V. Morehouse WonderWing and discover exciting new features! This popular destination for children ages 2-6 is an educational space offering a permanent exhibition on the sea and the creatures that make it their home. Children can explore a pirate ship, perform in a Tiki theater, climb a tree house and slide through a whale. New features include a lighthouse with lovely undersea murals at the base, created by local artist Jim Fitzmaurice. Climb the steps inside and discover a lookout and periscope with views of the sea. Play hide-and-seek in a flashy kelp forest, and find sea creatures in a splashy new water table. Children will have a magical undersea learning experience with elements that are attractive and age appropriate, and draw young visitors to experiment, imagine, explore and discover.
WonderWing Hours (children under 6 years)
   Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday Call for hours**
   Friday, Saturday 10 AM - 4:30 PM
   Sunday 1 - 5 PM
   **sometimes the facility is booked for private birthday parties or school groups.

Private birthday parties may be booked in advance. Please call for hours.

VISIT STELLA THE STEGOSAURUS!
The Monmouth Museum recently installed a large Stegosaurus dinosaur sculpture on permanent display in the Museum’s patio garden. Artist Jim Gary (March 17, 1939 – January 14, 2006) was a self-taught metal sculptor best known for his large whimsical creations of dinosaurs assembled from discarded automobile parts. Welded by hand and painted in vivid colors, Gary's sculptures are almost life-size, and each is comprised of hundreds of car parts – he used as many as eight to ten automobiles to build a single dinosaur. A local artist, raised in Colts Neck, and a resident of Farmingdale, Gary established a gallery, Iron Butterfly, in Red Bank, featuring other artists he selected as well as his own work. Gary's art has been exhibited at museums throughout the country, including the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, the Boston Children's Museum and the Liberty Science Center in Jersey City. A traveling exhibition of his work, Jim Gary's Twentieth Century Dinosaurs has toured worldwide since the late 1970's. Pictured on the Museum's outdoor patio with our Stegosaurus sculpture is Tess Martin and her grandmother, Joann Kreger. Tess submitted the winning name of "Stella" in our dinosaur naming contest.