Ocean life is endlessly fascinating to so many people, even in a completely landlocked state like Colorado. The animals are just so iconic — sharks, dolphins, sea turtles… the list goes on and on. But for many, the quintessential animal is the orca (or killer whale).
The Denver Museum of Nature & Science’s, 2001 Colorado Blvd., latest exhibition, “Orcas: Our Shared Future,” delves deep into the cultural history of humans’ relationship with the animals and just how intelligent and complex they are.
Developed by the Royal British Columbia Museum in Victoria, BC, in partnership with Museums Partner, an exhibition design firm specializing in traveling exhibits, the interactive exhibit opens on Friday, March 15.
We conducted an email interview with the museum’s Chris Patrello, Curator of Anthropology, and Julie Peterson, experience developer, about what makes these animals so special, what visitors can expect and more.
Interview edited for brevity and clarity.
Why are so many people fascinated by orcas?
Orcas are powerful, intelligent, and elusive marine mammals that have become ubiquitous in popular culture over the last 60 years. They thrive in an ecosystem that is completely different from ours, and are apex predators. For many people, including millennials who grew up with “Free Willy” and SeaWorld commercials, orcas have been part of their childhood. Even for older generations, who came of age during the era of live capture for marine parks, many people – especially in the United States and Canada – have been surrounded by larger-than-life stories about orcas. They inspire a sense of wonder as evocative marine mammals and as enduring cultural symbols.
What will visitors get to see in the exhibit?
Visitors will see scientific specimens, artworks, and pop culture ephemera that demonstrate our complex and multidimensional relationship with orcas.
The exhibit approaches these issues from multiple perspectives, providing visitors with a deeper understanding of orca mammalogy and the social relationships that bond groups of orcas together. Likewise, the exhibit also highlights the diverse ways in which Indigenous peoples of the Northwest Coast articulate their relationships with orcas and their importance to ongoing and vibrant social practices that have existed since time immemorial. The exhibit also examines the history of orca captivity and the consequences of the marine park industry on orca populations, and closes with a section on orca advocacy and conservation, which will empower visitors to consider how we can collectively support habitat protection.
What do you hope visitors come away with?
By coming to know the story of orcas, we hope visitors are inspired to care about the health of the world’s oceans. The exhibit clearly shows that we as humans are deeply connected to orcas and the environment, no matter where we come from. We also hope that visitors come away with a deeper understanding of and appreciation for the art of Indigenous peoples of North America’s Northwest Coast, as there are truly beautiful examples throughout the entire exhibition. Visitors will also see the similarities between orca cultures and human cultures, reinforcing the importance of respecting and protecting these powerful creatures.
For tickets and more information, visit www.dmns.org.
Akropolis Reed Quintet Visits LCC
For a different take to reed instruments than you’ve likely ever heard before, you don’t want to miss the Akropolis Reed Quintet, which will be coming to the Lakewood Cultural Center, 470 S. Allison Parkway, at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, March 15.
Founded in 2009, the group has charted on Billboard and have won numerous national prizes, according to provided information. Their performance will include the regional premiere of “A Soulful Nexus” by Los Angeles based composer, conductor and musician Derrick Skye, and the music by Ravel and Gershwin.
Tickets and information can be found at Lakewood.org/LCCPresents.
A New Take on Sherlock Holmes Inspects Northglenn
Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes is one of the world’s most beloved fictional characters. Holmes is getting a different take in Phamaly Theatre Company’s production of “Miss Holmes.” The show is coming to the Parsons Theatre, 1 E. Memorial Parkway in Northglenn, from Thursday, March 21 through Thursday, April 7.
The show follows Miss Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Dorothy Watson must uncover the truth on a pattern of sinister murders in London. According to provided information, the adaptation “reexamines the world of Holmes and Watson through a feminist lens as they attempt to navigate a society that simply will not accept their brilliance.”
Get tickets at www.northglennarts.org.
Clarke’s Concert of the Week — Madi Diaz at the Bluebird Theater
Pennsylvania’s Madi Diaz makes the kind of alt-country that can pull on the heart string at one moment and then make you laugh with her wry approach to the world in the next. Her career has taken her all over the map, from the bars and dives of Nashville to playing guitar in Harry Styles’ touring band. This February she released her best album yet, “Weird Faith.”
In support of the album, Diaz will be performing at the Bluebird Theater, 3317 E. Colfax Ave. in Denver, at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, March 19. She’ll be joined by singer/songwriter Daniel Nunnelee. Get tickets at www.ticketmaster.com.
Clarke Reader’s column on culture appears on a weekly basis. He can be reached at Clarke.Reader@hotmail.com.