greg and i rode the citibikes down to liberty street and then walked down broadway to the national museum of the american indian. the large group of people in the photo are surrounding the charging bull statue that sits in a small park in the middle of broadway. it's very popular with tourists, which greg finds endlessly amusing. he says there is always a crowd around it.
lots of souvenirs are sold here along the sidewalk . .
the museum is housed in what was once the u. s. customs house . .
they have copies of interesting documents displayed along the circular counter as the building also houses the national archives. today i saw a paper signed by dean martin declaring bankruptcy and also albert einstein's declaration of intention for citizenship.
the main exhibit is through two doors off the main rotunda, one on the east side and one on the west. i haven't been here in over a year and they now have a wonderful exhibit with photos and videos of the current nations living on long island and in upstate new york. there is also now an acknowledgement of the many nations of native peoples that have been here for thousands of years along with a beautiful collection of clothing, beadwork, tools, baskets and current artwork. there is also a stronger connection to the american indian museum in d. c., primarily through an enlarged gift shop and cafe! i'm surprised about the cafe and would like to come back and visit . . it closed at 5 today and so i missed it.
i love this photo of two mohawk steel workers on top of an arch of the verrazzano bridge in 1963 . . looking down!
beadwork purses by members of the tuscarora nation near niagara falls.
ooger uk inua (walrus spirit) by larry beck (chnagmiut yup'ik, 1938-1994) - hubcaps, tires, chair legs, pvc plastic (1982).
kevin red star (absaroke, crow, born 1943), bird's head shield, 1981, acrylic and mixed media on canvas.
mebêngôkre krokrokti (feather headdress or cape) from brazil, ca. 1990 - macaw feathers, heron feathers, cotton cordage.
it's a much smaller museum than the one in d. c. but wonderful to visit.
items from the gift shop:
beautiful weaving and beadwork . .
these plates . . ! they also had several cookbooks which i remember seeing when in washington . . (you can see that visit
here).
a handmade wool wall hanging by a canadian inuk artist which i thought was really lovely.
it was a nice visit and i hope i get back soon . .
back outside, i just had to take a few photos of the people waiting in line for pics of themselves with the bull . .
yes, they are all waiting for a photo of themselves beneath his tush. we are all too funny sometimes.
this was me in london: always looking at postcards and popping into the tourists shops for tea towels or cheap cotton tote bags with a bus or big ben on it.
taking a short cut through the oculus to walk home along the river.
sidetracked by auntie anne's buttery pretzels . .
