Exhibits and Events at the Clarke in February

This is a press release from the Clarke Historical Museum:

Please note we are now in our winter hours. We are closed Monday and Tuesday, open Wednesday through Sunday 11 am to 4 pm. February’s Arts Alive has been canceled.

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Blog: www.clarkemuseum.org/blog

Want an easy way to regularly support the Clarke’s work without the big upfront cost? Become a sustaining member! http://www.clarkemuseum.org/membership.html 

The Clarke is Hiring!

Looking for an engaging job making a difference in local understandings of regional history, meet interesting people, and be at the forefront of innovative programming? Come work at the Clarke! We are hiring a Nealis Hall Native American Wing Registrar and Donor Development Coordinator. More information, including pay rate, hours, and benefits at the link below. 

http://www.clarkemuseum.org/work-at-the-clarke.html

Exhibits and Displays

Opening February 2022: Bobs and Beads: 1920s Fashion

The 1920s were a time of immense change in all facets of life in the United States.

One of the most visual indicators of change in a society is clothing and the 1920s are a great example. New materials, silhouettes, lengths, designs, and accessories became possible in this era with improving methods of producing synthetic materials, improved access to cultural information in other parts of the world, and growing popular visual culture like movies and influential movie stars becoming fashion icons. Decreasing costs of synthetic materials, increasing incomes, and increased leisure time all set the stage for the seasonable fashion cycles and fast fashion of later decades.

This exhibit explores the social, cultural, and economic changes taking place in the 1920s through the lens of fashion trends, clothing, and accessories from the Clarke’s collections.

Weapons Vault Reopened!

The Clarke’s Weapons Vault is back open for viewing! Come see one of the most notable and extensive historic firearms collections in the county at the Museum. During most Arts Alives, historic firearms expert Dean Thomas is in the Vault to answer questions about the displays.

Coming soon: Victorian Underwear

Did you know that “well-to-do” women in the Victorian Era wore up to 11 layers of clothing that was considered “underwear” at the time? See the essential layers needed to create the iconic Victorian silhouette in this exhibit coming soon to the Clarke.

Tobacco Baskets and Tools on Loan from The Trinidad Museum 

Ron Johnson, known for his fascinating in-depth catalogs on local Native basket weaving and craft traditions created this exhibit exploring the traditional cultivation, harvest, and use of a local form of tobacco for the Trinidad Museum in 2020. It features items from the Clarke Museum, Trinidad Museum, and private collections. There are also catalogs for sale that feature full-color images on all the items on display and in-depth explanations written by Ron Johnson and former Clarke Curator Coleen Kelley Marks.

Hover Case

The Hover collection is a core collection at the Museum featuring a variety of baskets from around Northwestern California. Items from the Hover Collection are rotated on and off display once a year to give the baskets and items time to rest from light exposure. The collection was begun by a Karuk weaver frequently referred to as Emma Pearch, and pieces were added to the collection by at least 2 subsequent generations of her family. It was donated to the Museum to be used for public education. A full catalog of the Hover collection (titled “The Hover Collection of Karuk Baskets”) is available for purchase at the Museum.

Pine Nuts 

Pine nuts are a vital food source for local tribal communities, and also frequently appear on local regalia including dresses and necklaces. Learn more about this essential seed and see examples of its use in regalia in this new exhibit.

Upcoming Events:

Here’s what’s cooking behind the scenes at the Clarke. Be among the first to know when tickets go on sale by joining our newsletter or following us on social media. Tickets will likely sell out for ticketed events very quickly once they go up for sale. Please note that any events noted as ‘in person’ may switch to be virtual depending on the COVID situation. If you have registered for an event, be sure to check your email for any updates on the event format.

Educator Tour of Eureka’s Chinatown

March 12, 4 pm – Free for educators

We’ve had a number of local educators interested in incorporating the story of Eureka’s Chinatown into their classrooms and are planning on hosting a tour for educators specifically, which will include previews of the Eureka Chinatown Project’s curriculum. Special thanks to California Retired Teachers Association Div 27 for sponsoring this tour. Please contact [email protected] for more information and to save a spot. There are only 25 spots available on this tour so sign up early!

Tours of Eureka’s Chinatown Open to the Public March through October

Select Saturdays, 4 pm. Sliding Scale $10-$20 per person.

Order tickets at http://www.clarkemuseum.org/chinatown-walking-tours.html

Join the Clarke Museum, Humboldt Asian Pacific Islanders In Solidarity (HAPI) and the Eureka Chinatown Project on a walking tour exploring the history of the Chinese population in Eureka and Humboldt County, including their arrival, expulsion, and efforts to recognize the important role this community played in creating the Humboldt County we know today. This is a walking tour that will consist of walking about a mile on mostly flat paved ground. Seating is very limited along the route and the tour usually lasts about an hour. Dress in layers as some parts of the tour can be warm and others cold and windy no matter what time of year. 

Tour of the McKinleyville Land Trust Dow’s Prairie Educational Wetland

April 23, 1 pm via Zoom

Join the Clarke for a virtual tour of the Dow’s Prairie Educational Wetland! This unique site introduces traditional ecological knowledge, landscape restoration processes and the wonderful world of the outdoors to dozens of local schools from kindergarten to the 5th grade. To protect the important restoration work happening this site is usually not open to the public, so this is a great opportunity to see it and learn more about the exciting work happening at Dow’s Prairie. We hope to potentially do an in person tour of this site when COVID conditions calm.

This event will be livestreamed onto the Clarke’s YouTube page- join our newsletter to be notified about this event!

Saturday Speaker Series:

Starting the third Saturday of February, the Clarke Saturday Speakers Series is back! Presentations are the third Saturday of each month at 2 pm. Format will vary, join our newsletter or follow us on Facebook for the most up to date information. Here are a few of our confirmed speakers and topics for 2022:

April: Carla Baku, discussing her historical fiction book “Chasing Down the Moon” about the 1885 Chinese Expulsion. Signed copies are available for purchase now from the Museum’s Gift Shop.

May: Lynette Mullen: Eureka’s Red Light District

June: Jerry Rohde “Vanished VIllages: how early-day Humboldt towns got started and why they faded out” Jerry will be using the Lentell Map to point out the locations of these bygone towns.

July: Josh Buck, Timber Heritage Association: Northwestern Pacific Railroad

November: Alme Allen, Karuk/Yurok artist- Woodcarving Traditions

Jeannie Pfaelzer: Driven Out- Eureka’s Chinatown and the context of the 1885 Chinese Expulsion from Eureka

Date and time TBA, In-person at the Clarke Museum. 

For the safety of all participants, properly worn masks and vaccination proof are required to attend in person. This event will also be livestreamed through the Clarke Museum Facebook and Youtube pages.

Tea and Cocktails: Roaring 20s Rescheduled to Fall, 2022

Local distilleries and local restaurants team up with the Clarke to host a roaring 1920s cocktail party! Join our newsletter for updates on the format and when tickets go on sale. Proof of vaccination is required to attend.

Participating Distilleries:

Alchemy Distillery 

Dutch and Dewey Distillery

Humboldt Craft Spirits

Humboldt Distillery 

Food Catered by:

Gabriels

Dina Fernandez

Want to sponsor the event? We are looking for business and individual sponsors for the event and your name/business logo will appear on advertising and other promotional materials for the event. Email [email protected] for more information.