Uncommon Gifts

Spokane's Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture (MAC), founded in 1916, has gone above and beyond when it comes to its duties of collecting historical artifacts and documents. Inspiring appreciation of all things historical, cultural, and downright fascinating, the MAC once again has delighted visitors with its new exhibit, Uncommon Gifts.

Showcasing seven internationally known artists with ties to the Inland Northwest, this exhibit proudly displays the Liberty Mutual/Safeco Insurance corporate collection. Artists include Jacob Lawrence, Fay Jones, Morris Graves, Barbara Thomas, and George Tsutakawa. Visitors can expect to see almost 500 works created on paper, 130 canvas and panel pieces, and more than 180 three-dimensional objects of glass, ceramic, bronze, and mixed media persuasion.

The Uncommon Gifts exhibit runs from June 25 to August 25. While you're there, check out the MAC's previously mentioned Dig It! The Secrets of Soil exhibit, or the Two to Tango: Artist and Viewer, Lasting Heritage. The MAC is a cultural showplace that strives to bring the past and present together with community events, rare pieces, and local artists. For more questions, visit the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture website, or call 509.456.3931.

Mobius Science Center

"Energy creates. Energy propels. Energy transforms. E=MSC."

Mobius Science Center (MSC), where free exploration of all things electronic, scientific, and wondrous is not only allowed, but encouraged. Expected to open for business on August 3, 2012, the official grand opening of this up-and-coming science museum is scheduled to happen sometime in early September. That's when the throngs of brooding high school students, science enthusiasts, and childlike parents will converge on Mobius. Why, you ask?

Uh, because of the Robotic Surgery station, of course. Complete with medical highlights, a one-a-kind interface, and role-play opportunities, this automaton creation will give even R2-D2 a run for his money. Not impressed yet? How about practicin' your jump shot at the Jump Time station. Show off your game, photograph that soon-to-be-famous action pose, and check out the scoreboard.

MSC will be featuring 75 various types of interactive exhibits, and more than 150 activity stations. Visitors of all ages can be sure that something will captivate their minds, exercise problem-solving skills, and create everlasting memories that will keep them coming back for more.

Located at 811 West Main Avenue in Spokane, Washington (right across from the Riverfront Mall), you can call 509.443.5669 for more information on Mobius Science Center, Mobius Kids Children's Museum, or Mobius Spokane in general. Sign up for memberships, summer camps, outreach programs, or learn about the scholarships offered.

Dig It!: The Secrets of Soil

Picture it: you as a young child, digging holes in your backyard, sifting through grass and dirt and worms to achieve whatever goal your creative imagination conjured up. In those tiny piles of dirt that you built, it probably never occurred to your young mind that there were more living creatures in any one pile of dirt than there are humans on this earth. From the obvious critters like slugs and snails, to the tiny microbes like heterotrophs and autotrophs, there's lots of goodies down in that soil.

Don't get freaked out yet... All those living organisms, and more, are thoroughly explained at the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture (MAC). The MAC, as it's so lovingly called, has an amazing interactive exhibit created by the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History. 4,000 square feet display the intricate systems of the soil, and how this overlooked ecosystem supports nearly every life form on earth. In addition, viewers of the exhibit will have the chance to learn about how soil corresponds with nutrition, global food production, climate change, and even animation for multi-media (who knew?).

The MAC will be showing off this exhibit until September 22, so dig deep and get dirty! For more information visit the MAC personally, or call 509.456.3931. Take a virtual tour, or find out about the Teen Interpreters helping out for the summer!