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Unicorns at AMNH!
By
Jen Carlson
Published Mar 8, 2007
Modified Mar 7, 2008
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By
Jen Carlson
Published Mar 8, 2007
Modified Mar 7, 2008
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The latest exhibit coming to the American Museum of Natural History is the first ever to "trace the cultural and natural history roots of some of the world’s most enduring mythological creatures". In other words: Dragons and Unicorns and Mermaids, oh my!
The exhibit, Mythic Creatures, won't be opening until May of this year, but it will stick around until next January and highlight legendary fantastical beasts and undersea monsters. From the description:
"For thousands of years, fantastical creatures have been a part of human experience through legends and fables, ancient and contemporary art, performance, and even in the accounts of early naturalists. Mythic Creatures will include spectacular sculptures, paintings, and textiles, along with a number of cultural objects from around the world ranging from shadow puppets to ceremonial masks and helmets that will bring to light surprising similarities—and differences—in the ways peoples around the world have envisioned and depicted these strange and wonderful creatures.
Mythic Creatures will also feature preserved specimens from the Museum’s collections and even fossils of prehistoric animals to investigate how they could have, through misidentification, speculation, and imagination, inspired the development of some legendary beasts."
We sort of imagine the exhibit will look like a cross between The Neverending Story and Smurf Village.
Photo by Victor Zhang.
Tagged
American Museum
animals
art
history
museum
Mythic Creatures
Natural History
photos
Smurf Village
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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