Popular Destinations in the Houston Museum District

 The Houston Museum District Association (HMDA) is an artistic, scientific, and educational collaborative that uses the collective resources of the many Houston Museum District institutions to provide citizens and visitors with a diversity of experiences. HMDA formed in 1997 with eleven institutions, and is now a 501(c)(3) organization with 19 members within a 1.5 mile radius of Hermann Park. These institutions include the Museum of Fines Arts, Houston, and the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston.

With a collection exceeding 65,000 works of art, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston ranks as one of the 10 most comprehensive art museums in all of America. The museum’s campus features six main areas, ranging from the Glassell School of Art to the Lillie and Hugh Roy Cullen Sculpture Garden, along with multiple cafes and libraries and a cinema. In the past the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston has hosted special exhibits such as Soul of a Nation, a virtual panel discussion highlighting multiple Black cultural organizations in Houston. Individuals interested in the decorative arts, meanwhile, can explore the two adjacent house museums, Rienzi and the Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens.

The Contemporary Arts Museum Houston was established in 1948 with a goal of sharing and preserving exciting art not just from the Houston region, but from visual artists around the world. In addition to hosting exhibits and special events highlighting new art, the museum is committed to exploring art’s function in the modern world through a series of lectures, programs, and museum publications. The museum also operates a store that contains contemporary art pieces and designer-made jewelry, as well as educational toys and games. A stainless steel building designed by renowned architect Gunnar Birkets, the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston is one of the most recognizable buildings in the city.

A few of the other institutions making up HMDA include the Houston Center for Photography (HCP) and the Houston Zoo, Inc. HCP began as a small visual arts gallery in 1981. Over the course of more than four decades, HCP has provided the public with more than 300 photography classes for photographers at every level, along with year-round workshops and free access to the HCP gallery. Exhibits at the museum in 2022 included Beyond the Record: Muriel Hasbun, Stephanie Concepcion Ramirez, Jessica Carolina Gonzalez and Collaborations XIX: Rooted, part of the Access and Community Education program that promotes artists and photographers from local high schools.

Finally, the Houston Zoo is a global leader when it comes to protecting and saving animals in the wild. The zoo is the proud home of more than 6,000 full-time residents, with each animal receiving the highest possible standard of treatment. The Houston Zoo educates upwards of 2 million visitors every year, while supporting nearly 50 wildlife conservation initiatives in countries around the world. It is the best attended attraction in the Houston region, and the second most visited zoo in the United States.

Additional HMDA institutions range from the Asia Society Texas Center to the Houston Museum of African American Culture. More information about these and other venues can be found online at houmuse.org.

Photos Presented in Masterpieces of the Mineral World

 In addition to serving as the president and CEO of the Houston Museum of Natural Science (HMNS) since 2004, Joel A. Bartsch educates the public on mineralogy via methods like curated museum exhibits and publications. One example of Joel Bartsch’s published works is Masterpieces of the Mineral World: Treasures from the Houston Museum of Natural Science (Masterpieces of the Mineral World).

Masterpieces of the Mineral World educates readers on pieces from the HMNS’ Cullen Hall of Gems and Minerals, one of its permanent exhibits. They are presented as a coffee table book, primarily photographs rather than text highlighting each specimen. Jeffrey Scovil took the 150 photos within, taking care to emulate the view granted by real-world visitors to the hall, who may observe the pieces through the glass from all angles.

Wendell E. Wilson and Mark Mauthner authored Masterpieces of the Mineral World, and Bartsch curated the photographs. Harry N. Abrams Published the 264-page hardcover book in November 2004.

Legacy of Charro, Houston Museum of Natural Science’s Iguana Mascot

 Joel A. Bartsch is a longtime institutional leader who holds responsibilities as CEO with the Houston Museum of Natural Science (HMNS). One of the unique aspects of the museum Joel A. Bartsch guides is the Cockrell Butterfly Center, which inhabits its own glass pyramid and was for many years home to the HMNS’ unofficial iguana mascot Charro.

Unfortunately, the iguana passed away in May 2022. Known for lounging on his “throne” (an air conditioning vent), Charro would get out and about at night, snacking on Pentas flowers. He was also known for his ability to chase other males away during mating season. As described by the butterfly center’s manager, he was “intermittently grumpy or spicy” and “gave really good side-eye,” which she attributes to Charro’s facial structure more than anything.

Charro mellowed with age and took on a late career as a thespian, starting with donning a unicorn hat. From there, he progressed to roles as a Boy Scout, Yoda, an entomologist (butterfly collector), and even Juan Valdez, the Colombian Coffee Growers Federation’s ambassador. After retiring to warm baths and fresh salad at the back of the center in 2021, the celebrity iguana put in a holiday appearance as Charro Clause, wearing a scarf and festive hat.

The average iguana has a lifespan of between 12 to 15 years, and Charro passed all expectations by dying in his sleep just after his 23rd birthday. He left behind him a worthy successor in Nacho, who now presides over the Cockrell Butterfly Center.

Stars of the Pharaoh - Planetarium Shows at HMNS

 An accomplished museum executive in Houston, Texas, Joel Bartsch has spent more than three decades at the Houston Museum of Natural Science, where he served in various capacities. In 2004, Joel A. Bartsch accepted the role of president and CEO of the Houston Museum of Natural Science (HMNS).

One of the planetaria shows at HMNS' Burke Baker Planetarium is Stars Of The Pharaohs. The show reveals how the early astronomers on Earth documented the stars, made the first solar calendar, and aligned Egyptian temples and pyramids with celestial geometry. The show also explores some of an ancient civilization's momentous temples and tombs. Actor John Rhys-Davies narrates Stars Of The Pharaoh.

Burke Baker Planetarium at HMNS has been presenting astronomical programs since its opening in 1964. The well-appointed exhibition hall features all the earmarks of an advanced planetarium. It has been retrofitted with the Digistar 6 Sych, a leading digital planetarium system worldwide. The Digistar system also has a cloud library, which helps incorporate the latest discoveries into the planetarium's shows.

Theater Offers State-of-the-Art Movie Experience at HMNS

A graduate of Rice University, Joel Bartsch is a Houston, Texas resident who started his career at the Colorado School of Mines Geology Museum as a curatorial assistant and assistant to the director. Since then, he has held key roles at various prominent museums. Joel A. Bartsch serves as the president and CEO of the Houston Museum of Natural Science (HMNS).

The renovated Wortham Giant Screen Theatre at HMNS offers state-of-the-art 4K digital projection of large 3D images on a giant 60 x 80-foot screen. This enables clear visualization of roughly eight-story-high images. Families, seniors, students, and museum members are welcome to watch movies at the theater, which augments its quality 3D visuals with an enhanced six-track sound system.

As of Q4 2022, some of the shows at the Wortham Giant Screen Theatre are "Dinosaur Discoveries: A Holographic Adventure," "Mummies: Secrets of the Pharaohs," and "Sea Lions 3D." Dinosaur Discoveries: A Holographic Adventure is HMNS' first HoloTheater. HMNS works closely with BASE Xperiential to create this educational laser-aided 3D holographic imagery.

 

Houston Museum of Natural Science Showcases Dreher Masterworks

 

Joel A. Bartsch is the president and CEO of the Houston Museum of Natural Science in Texas. In his first year as president of HMNS, Joel Bartsch restructured the museum and made it profitable again by directing the museum’s curators and staff to create immersive art exhibitions, which attracted more visitors.

Since the Houston Museum and Scientific Society established the Houston Museum of Natural Science 113 years ago, the museum has remained a relevant tourist center in Texas. This is because of the museum’s impressive art collection and special exhibitions, which attracts almost 2 million visitors annually.

The Dreher Masterworks is one of HMNS’s special exhibitions, which helps it attract visitors. The exhibition features works by Gerd Dreher and his relatives, talented carvers from Idar-Oberstein, in Germany.

The Dreher Masterworks showcases over a hundred carvings from the Dreher family and some of the most impressive gemstone carvings in modern history. One attractive feature of the exhibition is that the curators gathered many displayed pieces from private collections whose owners have never publicly displayed them.

Curators included beautiful carvings of animals like toads, fish, mice, and other animals, which the Dreher family made from various forms of precious stones in the exhibition. Organizers of the exhibition schedule these carvings to remain on display at the Houston Museum of Natural Science until May 2023.

An Overview of Natural Sciences

 Natural science is a scientific discipline that focuses on describing, comprehending, and predicting natural occurrences by arriving at a conclusion using data obtained through experiments and observation. In addition, natural science is distinct from social science since the latter focuses on understanding people rather than the natural world. However, with learning as their ultimate objective, social science and natural science have one thing in common.

Life science and physical science are the two primary subfields of natural science. Biology is another name for life science, and physics, chemistry, earth science, and astronomy are the different fields of physical science.

Biology covers all living things on Earth. Biology aims to comprehend all living things' lives, including their physical makeup, geographic location, and interactions with their surroundings. The study of biology encompasses a wide range of subjects, including food science, animal biology, agriculture, and human biology. Biologists are scientists or subject matter experts researching various life forms, including humans, animals, plants, and even microorganisms. Fields of work in biology include food and nutrition, medicine, microbiology, and physiotherapy.

The study of matter and energy's properties is known as physics. Physicists concentrate on subjects like how heat and light work, radiation, mechanics, electricity, and more. They also study the world's functions, using theories about motion, force, time, energy, space, and other factors.

Chemistry is a field in physical science that deals with matter and investigates how atoms interact and react with one another. Professionals in this field are called chemists, and they research chemical behavior, reactions, and properties of various materials, their structures, and their composition. Chemistry is useful in many ways, like developing new medications, researching environmental pollutants, and developing novel substances.

Earth sciences focus on different aspects of what makes the Earth what it is. The field comprises several diverse scientific disciplines, including geology, oceanography, geography, atmospheric sciences, and planetary science. All these disciplines aim to comprehend the various natural processes on Earth better. For instance, to understand the Earth's surface and how places are linked, geologists map it out.

Astronomy is also known as space science. It encompasses much more than simply studying stars; it also studies planets and designing space missions. This field of science involves understanding all the natural processes in space because there is still so much unknown about the universe outside of planet Earth. Space scientists work in various fields, including planetary science, aerospace engineering, cosmology, and astrobiology.

The importance of natural science lies in the various breakthroughs humans have attained with it. Game-changing heights like the first moon landing, electricity, and air travel will not be possible without it. Human life is easier because medicine chemists produce cures for many life-threatening diseases, and food nutritionists can now produce large quantities for the people. Natural science remains relevant due to constant problem solving and new inventions humans benefit from.

Whether it be weather patterns or the formation of stars and galaxies, natural science aids in human understanding of the world around them and their quest for answers to the seemingly inexplicable.

How Museums Are Funded

 Most museums usually give free entry to view many artifacts and historical items. However, the cost of maintaining a museum is quite expensive. According to a survey by the Association of Art Museum Directors in 2018, about 39 percent of 210 art museums had operating budgets under $5 million, and 8 percent had operating budgets over 45 million dollars. The report also mentioned that 31 percent of the operating budget went into exhibitions, curation, conservation, and other art-focused activities. With these statistics in mind, one might wonder how museums are funded.

The first source of income for museums is public funding. This comes from the government via taxes. Most citizens support public funding, as they believe that if a museum gets its money from the government, it would spend less time sourcing funds from other sources and have more time to focus on catering to the public and its visitors. However, public funding usually totals up to 20 percent of a museum’s annual funding.

On the downside, public funding may come with conditions, such as offering free admission to visitors, which reduces avenues to gather income. Some grants given by the government may have to be used for particular projects only, such as building a new wing and other infrastructure.

The biggest disadvantage, however, is that government funding usually brings governmental interference. This means the museum must answer to the government. The government may exercise political influence over the museum. This would be an issue for more authoritarian governments. Nonetheless, most museums greatly appreciate government funding as it saves more time from sourcing funds elsewhere.

Secondly, museums earn income from business, trading, and programs. These can be sub-divided into admission fees, book and gift shop sales, membership, and admission fees. Earned income usually accounts for a larger annual income, making up 10-40 percent of a museum’s annual income. Museums could also rent out their space for weddings and other events. Corporations also sponsor events, be it exhibitions or educational programs. However, ethical issues may make museums warier of sponsorships from particular corporations.

Donations and fundraisers are also very important to museums. They can total up to half of most museums’ yearly income. Private individuals and corporations can send gifts that can be used for anything, including salaries or infrastructure, but some donors may donate for certain projects.

Asides from money, museums accept different types of donations, including real estate, stocks, and securities. Private donations can help museums operate successfully even with minimal state support. However, on the other hand, museums must constantly keep an eye out for donations from sketchy individuals and avoid dependence on the rich. If unable to remain independent from the rich, it may become difficult to operate the museum without interference, or they may receive grants for specific purposes, as with public funding.

Moreover, museums could sell some of their treasured pieces in their collection. However, deaccessioning comes with strict guidelines, which include using funds acquired from the piece’s removal only for new acquisitions and no other projects.

Destinations to Visit in the Middle East

 

The Middle East comprises 14 countries. And despite the distortion of the Middle East in the international media as a dangerous and war-stricken region, the region offers remarkable travel destinations.

The first city of interest is Qatar. Recently announced as the host country of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, interest in the country as a tourist destination has spiked. It offers a "true Arabian nights" kind of experience with rides on camels and cave exploration. Since it is near the sea, tourists can enjoy water-based activities such as jet skiing and kite surfing. Its capital, Doha, offers a more sophisticated and cosmopolitan environment, with luxury hotels, malls, and restaurants. It is also home to the Museum of Islamic art, which has acquired collections of treasures that speak of the history of the Islamic world.

Another interesting place to visit in the Middle East is the country of Oman, a small nation that juts out into the sea of Oman, the Arabian gulf, and the Arabian sea. According to the World Economic Forum, it was recently listed as one of the safest places to visit. The locals are very friendly, and it is safe for solo female tourists to travel there. You can visit the Empty Quarter- what is known as the world's largest sand sea. You can also ride a camel and race through the desert on quad bikes.

A must-visit place for tourists in the Middle East is Cyprus. While it is situated close to more troubled countries, it is still considered a generally safe place to visit, not counting petty crime. It welcomes at least 2 million tourists per year. The people are very warm and hospitable. Cyprus is famous for its coastlines and scenic mountain range. One can go on a hike through the Troodos Mountains and paths along the coast and other nature trails. In winter, you can ski while enjoying breathtaking views of Mount Olympus. Cyprus also boasts of delectable cuisine blended from different cultures.

Moreover another city of interest is Petra. Announced in 2007 as one of the world’s new seven wonders, it is now one of the most sought-after tourist destinations in the Middle East. It was founded in the sixth century by the Edomites, but the Nabateans truly built the city by carving it from rock. It is located in Jordan and is nicknamed the ‘Rose City.’ It has one of the most stunning architectural structures and deservedly earned its position as a World Heritage Site.

Finally, the UAE is difficult to ignore when visiting the Middle East. The United Arab Emirates is home to several tourist destinations, most notably its capital, Abu Dhabi, and Dubai. Both cities are home to world-famous landmarks such as the Emirates Palace, the Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall, and the Dubai Creek. They also encompass an aesthetic of a futuristic city brought to the present.

The Middle East is home to cities rich in culture and history. From cities as old as Damascus to new age mega cities in the UAE, a trip to the Middle East would prove worthwhile. The people are quite friendly, and as long as tourists are willing to abide by their customs and traditions, they will enjoy their stay.