MUSEUM OF EAST TEXAS ANNOUNCES ROBERT POLAND COLLECTION THROUGH MAY 26TH.

Lufkin: TheMuseum ofEast Texas is delighted to premiere the Robert Poland Collection, an exhibition of 92 pieces of musical miscellany. “I guess you could say this collection has come from all over the world,”Poland said. “It represents about 10 percent of my entire musical collection. I have always loved music, even as a kid, and every time I ever made any money I have always purchased something that has become a part of this collection.”                        

“Included in the exhibit are autographed albums, records, signed guitars, instruments, photographs, and other music related items. Items from Janis Joplin, Bill Haley, James Brown, Patsy Cline, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Willie Nelson, Muddy Waters, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Elvis Presley, W.C. Handy, Gene Krupa, Marvin Gaye, George Strait, and others too numerous to mention are on exhibit. Music has always been a big part of my life and I think it is important to share what we know with other people, especially children, so they can also develop an appreciation for music,”Polandsaid.

When Polandwas contacted by Museum Director J.P. McDonald regarding the possibility of an exhibition, Poland“felt like it was time to show the collection. I think the public will enjoy it as much as I have.” The Robert Poland Collection will be open to the public through May 26^th.

About the Museum

The Museum of East Texas is a non-profit organization whose primary mission is education through exhibitions of art and history. The Museum is located at 503 N. Second Street in Lufkin, Texas. For general information, to schedule a docent-guided tour, or for facility rental information, call (936) 639-4434.

The Museumof East Texasinvites the public to attend the opening reception of Look to the Past, Reflect on the Future this Sunday, March 10, at 3 p.m. This event will include performances by classically trained vocalist Rev. Valencia Edner, Ms. Barbara Brown, and Rev. Bettie Kennedy.

This event is in conjunction with the opening of the exhibition Look to the Past, Reflect on the Future. According to Executive Director J.P. McDonald, “The year 2013 represents the 150^th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, the 100^th Birthday of Rosa Parks and the 50^th anniversary of the ‘I Have a Dream Speech,’ by Martin Luther King Jr. From its permanent collections, the Museum developed an exhibition of historic photographs, including the acclaimed image of Rosa Parks, with an accompanying letter from Ms. Parks to Nicholas C. Chriss, a UPI reported who was seated behind her when the photograph was taken inMontgomery,AL, on December 21, 1956. Additionally, on view is the complete text of the Emancipation Proclamation and the ‘I Have a Dream’ speech.”

A portion of the subjects in the photographs have never been identified. TheMuseumofEast Texasrequests and would appreciate assistance from the community to identify the unknown people and places in this exhibition of historic photographs.

This event is open to the public and free of charge.

Spring Break at the Museum of East Texas The Museum of East Texas invites you to bring your family and join us for Spring Break at the Museum. This is sure to be a fun-filled spring event for our young friends and their families. Throughout the week of March 11-15, the Museum will have art activities including painting, drawing, and clay, from 10:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. This event is open for all ages and all participants must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Refreshments will be provided throughout the day.

Spring Break at the Museum is come and go, so you are welcome to come for fifteen minutes or stay all day. As always, this event is open to the public and free of charge. Spring Break at the Museum hours are 10:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday of Spring Break, March 11-15, 2013. Underwriters for Spring Break at the Museum! and all education programs at the Museum are the I.D. and Marguerite Fairchild Foundation; the Simon and Louise Henderson Foundation; the Ernest L. Kurth, Jr. Charitable Foundation; the Museum Guild, and the Junior League of Lufkin. About the Museum The Museum of East Texas is a non-profit organization whose primary mission is education through exhibitions of art and history.

The Museum is located at 503 N. Second Street in Lufkin, Texas. For general information, to schedule a docent-guided tour, to become a Museum member, or for facility rental information, call 936.639.4434 or visit our website at www.metlufkin.org. # # #

The Museum of East Texas invites you to bring your family and join us for Easter Baskets on Parade! from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, March 24th. This is sure to be a fun-filled spring event for our young friends and their families. This year, our participants will be making paper Easter bonnets with Carolyn Spears and painting with watercolor artist Agnes Smith in the Education Room. This event is open for all ages, but the Museum asks that children under the age of 12 please be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

Easter Baskets on Parade! is come and go, so you are welcome to come for fifteen minutes or stay for two hours. All participants will be given a set of watercolors to take home with them. As always, this event is open to the public and free of charge. Refreshments will be provided. In addition to the fun festivities for children, Easter Basket interpretations will be on display in the front entry of the Museum. These baskets will be made of traditional and non-traditional materials, displayed on pedestals and auctioned in a silent auction.

We are grateful for the talents of Cyndy Aldred, Kyley Cantwell, Denise Stringer Davis, Piero Fenci, Bettie Ford, Russ Havard, Ann Phifer Reyes, Barb Richert, Connie Thompson, and Rebecca West, who are creating these unique and beautiful baskets. The baskets will be available through silent auction March 22 to March 24 at 5 p.m. Baskets may be picked up March 25 th and a portion of the proceeds will benefit the Museum. For more information regarding the auction, please call 936.639.4434.

The Pineywoods Audubon Society, in conjunction with the Museum of East Texas, is proud to present Birding Antarctica, a presentation by Dr. Craig Rudolph. This event is scheduled at the Museum of East Texas on Thursday, November 1, at 7 p.m. and is open to the general public.

Rudolph explains, “Antarctica is a fascinating region with unique bio-geographical characteristics. The geography of Antarctica differs markedly from the Arctic in ways that have major implications for the flora and fauna of these two superficially similar regions. These differences will be discussed against the background of travels from the southern tip of South America to the Falkland Islands, South Georgia, and the Antarctic Peninsula.”

Dr. Craig Rudolph is a Research Ecologist with the U. S. Forest Service, Southern Research Station in Nacogdoches, Texas. He holds a PhD. from Texas Tech University and his current research involves Red-cockaded Woodpecker ecology, fire-maintained pine forests in the southeastern U. S., ecology of Louisiana Pine Snakes, and the structure of butterfly faunas in relation to fire regimes. He has traveled widely to observe the biology and culture of the planet.

This event is open to the public and free of charge. All are welcome! Due to the renovation of the Civic Center, Museum parking is located on Paul Street. Enter the Museum through the double doors or through the special needs accessible ramp. For further information, please contact 936.639.4434.