An exhibition developed by the Smithsonian Gardens and made available through the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service, titled “Habitat,” will open Sunday at the Hoard Historical Museum, 401 Whitewater Ave., Fort Atkinson, according to information released by the museum.
Within the release, Hoard Historical Museum Director Merrilee Lee noted that the exhibition, which will be presented on the museum’s grounds, will be available for viewing through the end of 2023.
This year marks the second in which the exhibition is being made available at the museum, the release noted.
The exhibition focuses on the “uniqueness and importance of the natural environment,” the release stated.
The exhibition includes various sculptures created by local artists, the release continued.
Featured as part of the exhibition are various outdoor kiosks, each of which tells the story of a different aspect of habitats or explores a unique habitat and the life that can be found in it, the release noted.
Kiosks incorporate gardens on the property, along with other landscaping elements, to help connect the exhibition to the museum, the release stated, offering as an example, a presentation called: “Monarchs and Meadows,” which explores connections between pollinating monarch butterflies and native plants.
Kiosks have been placed in the museum’s rain garden, which is filled with pollinator-friendly native plants, the release explained.
The Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service encourages host sites to partner with local individuals and organizations, the release stated.
“We are fortunate to have numerous groups and agencies devoted to preserving and protecting the natural world around us,” Lee was quoted as saying in the release. She noted that the museum received help with installing the exhibition from the Walworth/Jefferson County Chapter of the Ice Age Trail Alliance. The group also assisted with outreach, she said.
A partnership formed between the museum and area artist Karen Gomez also was instrumental in enhancing the Smithsonian-based exhibition, Lee stated, adding that Gomez helped to create featured artwork.
Museum staff member Cheryl Rezabek also contributed artwork to the exhibition, Lee said.
The full exhibition includes sections relating to such topics as fungi, monarchs, nests and insects, and explores the critical role played by organisms in creating and sustaining habitats. The exhibition also identifies ways in which people can help protect organisms.
The exhibition further explores different ecosystems and their scientific study, Lee said, citing as an example a section about dragonflies, which, she said, focuses on the study of “indicator species” to determine the health of an ecosystem.
On Sunday, between 1 and 4 p.m., representatives from area organizations, including the Ice Age Trail Alliance, Rose Lake Friends, the Wild Ones, the Butterfly Lady Karen Albrecht, and the 4H natural science program, among others, will be hosting informational booths on the museum grounds.
Kids crafts and light refreshments also will be available, the release stated.
In addition, Oconomowoc-based Wildlife in Need Center representative Emily Mundshower, along with several animal ambassadors, will arrive at 2 p.m. to present a program offering information about area animal habitats. The center works to rehabilitate wildlife and facilitate the release of animals back into the wild, the release noted.
The Hoard Historical Museum is open Tuesdays through Saturdays, between 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
For more information about the Smithsonian Gardens, visit its website: https://gardens.si.edu.
For more information about the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service, visit its website: sites.si.edu.
For more information about the Ice Age Trail, visit: www.iceagetrail.org. Information about the Walworth/Jefferson County Chapter of the Ice Age Trail Alliance is here: WalworthJeffersonCoChapter@iceagetrail.org.
For more information about the Hoard Historical Museum, visit its website: www.hoardmuseum.org.
Museum staff and volunteers install panels that are part of an exhibition, which opens Sunday, titled: “Habitat.” The exhibition, which has been installed on the museum grounds, is provided by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service. Contributed photo.
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