Treasured Lands: The Fifty-Eight U.S. National Parks in Focus

Treasured Lands - Final Gallery Talk

Quang-Tuan Luong at workAll good things must come to an end. The last day to view "Treasured Lands: The Fifty-Eight National Parks in Focus" is Saturday, August 4.

Join us for a final gallery talk on Saturday, August 4 at 2 PM in the "Treasured Lands" gallery. Photographer Quang-Tuan Luong has created stunning works depicting the natural beauty of America's landscapes. We will explore his techniques as well as his artistic project of capturing all of America’s national parks in large-format photographs.

The gallery talk is free. For further information, call the Museum's front desk at 781-861-6559 or refer to our website.

For more on Quang-Tuan Luong and his work, read two of our previous blog posts: on how the exhibition has been received by the public and on the show itself.

Credit: Quang-Tuan Luong at work in King’s Canyon National Park, August 2007. Photograph by Buddy Squires. © Buddy Squires, used with permission.


"Treasured Lands" Photographer Returns to Museum Sept. 10

Yosemite "Luong’s large-format camera creates images of beaches and glaciers  and deserts and waterfalls from American Samoa to Maine that were so astonishingly sharp and mesmerizing that my father was convinced there was some special 3-D technology involved. There’s not: they’re just awesome photos."

- Seth Kugel, The New York Times

Photographer Quang-Tuan Luong prefers to capture his images with a large format camera and film sheets over using a lightweight digital camera. The spectacular images in his exhibition, "Treasured Lands: The Fifty-Eight U.S. National Parks in Focus," testify to his success. Using this technology, his camera catches more detail than the human eye can perceive, making his photos particularly dense and rich.

Treasured-lands-mohn-events Visitors love this show - many report they have returned to visit it four or five times. "Treasured Lands" strikes a deep chord with many people, so we have invited Luong to speak at the Museum on Saturday, Sept. 10. Join us at 2 PM for "Treasured Lands: Journeys and Vision." Luong will show us fresh images from the "Treasured Lands" project that occupied him for fifteen years, explain how his explorations of the American National Parks have influenced his recent photographic work, and delve into the intricacies of large format photographic technology. He will be on hand following the talk for a book signing. Spectacular Yosemite, 2011, will be available for purchase. His free public lecture is sponsored by the Lowell Institute. For more information about the talk, visit our website or call the Museum during business hours at 781-861-6559.

A computer scientist by training, Luong’s love for nature and adventure led him to become a mountain climber, wilderness guide, and full-time photographer. In picturing the distinguishing features of each of the 58 national parks, Luong shares his understanding of what makes a particular place unique. His photographs allow us to see the parks with fresh eyes. They also serve as a reminder for us to cherish and protect these treasured lands.

For the past twenty-five years, I have been privileged to travel, trek, and climb in some of the most remote and beautiful corners of the earth. My goal has always been to bring back the wonders I’ve seen to people who can’t get there.

--Quang-Tuan Luong

Photo Credits:

Yosemite National Park, California, January 2002. Quang-Tuan Luong. © by the artist.

Quang-Tuan Luong Speaking at the National Heritage Museum, March 2010. Courtesy of Quang-Tuan Luong.


December Programs at the Museum

Come join us during this festive month of December for public programs suited to the holiday season.

Yosemite This Saturday, December 4th, Museum staff will offer a gallery talk in our exhibition, “Treasured Lands: The Fifty-Eight U.S. National Parks in Focus.” Learn more about photographer Quang-Tuan Luong, the man behind these stunning worlds of natural beauty, as well as his techniques and his artistic project. Find us in the "Treasured Lands" gallery at 2 p.m. for this free talk.

 

Trainshow Mark your calendars so you and your family don't miss the annual December Model Train Show. It will be held Saturday, December 11, 10 AM–4:30 PM and Sunday, December, 12 Noon–4 PM (special hours). The HUB Division of the National Model Railroad Association never fails to delight fans large and small with their model train display, so gather neighbors, grandchildren, and friends for this event. Admission: $5/family (members); $7/family (non-members); $5/individual.

We look forward to seeing you at the Museum!

 

Photo credits: Yosemite National Park, California, January 2002. Quang-Tuan Luong. © by the artist; courtesy National Heritage Museum.

 


Fall Public Programs at the Museum

Fall is a busy time, so be sure to mark your calendar with the following public programs at the National Heritage Museum. We look forward to seeing you!

Gallery Talk: Curators’ Choice Theodore Ross and His Wife's Spirit, 85_80_25cS1

Saturday, October 9, 2 p.m.

Join Museum staff as we explore favorite objects from our broad collection in “Curators’ Choice: Favorites from the Collection,” a brand new exhibition opening today. Free.

 

DeanLahikainen Lecture: The Art of Collecting: A Curator's Personal Journey

Saturday, October 23, 2 p.m.

Dean Lahikainen, Carolyn and Peter Lynch Curator of American Decorative Arts at the Peabody Essex Museum, will discuss our fascination with historical objects and show us some of his personal favorites. This lecture complements the exhibition, “Curators’ Choice.” This free public lecture is funded by the Lowell Institute.

 

Lecture: What Is It about Diners? More Than a Meal, That's for Sure RJSG at CAM lg  

Saturday, November 20, 2 p.m.  

Richard J. S. Gutman, director and curator of Johnson and WalesCulinary Museum in Providence, RI, will hold an illustrated lecture that complements the exhibition, “Night Road: Photographs of Diners by John D. Woolf.” Gutman will elaborate on the staying power of the classic diner, based on 40 years of eating and research. This free public lecture is funded by the Lowell Institute.

 

Yosemite Gallery Talk: Treasured Lands

Saturday, December 4, 2 p.m.

Join Museum staff and enter worlds of stunning natural beauty in the popular exhibition, “Treasured Lands: The Fifty-Eight U.S. National Parks in Focus.” Free.

 

Finally, looking ahead to winter, we know you've been waiting for the holiday train show dates – we've received inquiries. Note that the Museum will be open for both Saturday and Sunday on this mid-December weekend.

 

Model Trains 2010_02_14_0237_Cropped

Saturday, December 11, 10 AM–4:30 PM and Sunday, December 12, Noon–4 PM

An annual favorite, the HUB Division of the National Railroad Association will delight fans large and small with their model train display. $5/family (members); $7/family (non-members).

 

All programs take place at the National Heritage Museum, located at 33 Marrett Road, Lexington, Massachusetts (at the corner of Mass. Ave. & Rte. 2A). Admission and parking are free.

 

Please note our winter hours:

From Monday, October 4, 2010, through May 3, 2011, the Museum will be open Wednesday through Saturday, 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

 

The Museum is wheelchair accessible. Hearing assistance devices are available for all lectures.

For more information, call 781-861-6559 or visit www.nationalheritagemuseum.org.

 

Photo credits:

Dean Lahikainen. Courtesy of Dean Lahikainen; Richard J.S. Gutman. Courtesy of Richard J.S. Gutman; Theodore Ross with His Wife’s Spirit, 1862–1875. W.H. Mumler (1832-1884). Boston, Massachusetts. Gift of the Supreme Council, 85.80.25c; Yosemite National Park, California, January 2002. Quang-Tuan Luong. © by the artist; Train Show. National Heritage Museum.