Museums/Exhibits

Museums and exhibits have varying schedules; please call for exact days, hours and prices. Receptions are denoted with Reception

• ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES , 19th St. & the Parkway, 215-299-1000. GECKOS: FROM TAILS TO TOEPADS, Features dozens of live geckos and interactive displays that show the species' strange traits, like their disposable body parts and abrasive voices. Runs through Sept. 7. LIVE BUTTERFLIES, Features an indoor tropical garden swarming with butterflies of all shapes, sizes and colors. There are also chambers where visitors can see pupae emerging and compare butterfly metamorphosis to the development of other species. Ongoing. DINOSAUR HALL, Features fossilized skeletons of more than 30 species of dinosaurs and a hands-on exhibit where visitors can search for dinosaur bones in the sand and dirt. Ongoing. MISS ETHELDRED BENNET: THE FIRST LADY GEOLOGIST, Features fossils found by the titular subject (1775-1845), who created a scandal among the English upper class when she began gathering fossils in Wiltshire and collaborating with other paleontologists. Among the items on display are three clams with preserved body tissue and the books of her contemporaries. Ongoing.
• AIA CENTER FOR ARCHITECTURE , 1218 Arch St., 215-546-1146. DETOUR: ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN ALONG 18 NATIONAL TOURIST ROUTES, Features 18 miniature rest stop designs, which were created during Norway's recent attempt to beautify travel routes. Runs through Sept. 11.
• AMERICAN SWEDISH HISTORICAL MUSEUM , 1900 Pattison Ave., 215-389-1776. FROM COLONY TO COMMUNITY: THE STORY OF NEW SWEDEN, Features artifacts from the Swedish and Finnish immigrants who settled in the Delaware Valley in the 17th century to form the New Sweden Colony. Runs through Nov. 22.
• ART INSTITUTE OF PHILADELPHIA , 1622 Chestnut St., 215-246-3302. DENISE FIKE: THE ART OF FASHION, Features the title artist's collage paintings created with high-gloss enamel, vintage wallpaper, and copper and silver leaf. Her subjects include brides, students, designers, "wannabees," "shouldabees" and people she simply passes on the street. Runs through Aug. 21.
• BETSY ROSS HOUSE , 239 Arch St., 215-686-1252. PLAY BALL: A HISTORY OF BASEBALL IN PHILADELPHIA, Features artifacts commemorating the history of all of Philadelphia's baseball teams, from the Phillies to the Pythians, the city's first African-American team that formed in the 19th century. The collection includes jerseys, photographs, stadium seats and more. Runs through Sept. 1.
• BRANDYWINE RIVER MUSEUM , 100 Creek Rd., Chadds Ford, 610-388-2700. FRUITS OF SUMMER, Features more than 50 still lifes from a variety of American artists who lived during the 19th century. Runs through Sept. 7.
• CAMDEN COUNTY CULTURAL & HERITAGE COMMISSION , 250 S. Park Dr., Haddon Township, NJ, 856-858-0040. LINES AND PUDDLES, Features paintings and photography by eight artists, including Noreen Scott Garrity, Matt Feinstein, Laurie Werth and more. Runs through Aug. 29.
• CENTER FOR EMERGING VISUAL ARTS , 1521 Locust St., 215-546-7775. THE MESSENGER IS ALREADY DEAD, Features photographs by Peter Prusinowski, collage and sculptural objects by Katie Murken and an installation by Scott Pellnat. Runs through Aug. 20.
• CHEMICAL HERITAGE FOUNDATION , 315 Chestnut St., 215-925-2222. MAKING MODERNITY, Features scientific papers, rare books and artwork exploring how chemistry affects our daily lives. Ongoing. SLOWLIFE, Features paintings of plants, live plant specimens and time-lapse movies showing the growth of plants. Ongoing. TRANSMUTATIONS: ALCHEMY IN ART, Features depictions of alchemy in paintings and drawings from the 17th to 19th centuries. Ongoing. THE WHOLE OF NATURE AND THE MIRROR OF ART, Features reproductions of engravings made in the 17th century to accompany alchemy books. Subjects include the famous Philosopher's Stone and the quest to understand the properties of the natural world. Ongoing.
• CITY HALL , Broad & Market sts., 215-686-9912. IN YOUR DREAMS, Features paintings, photography and illustrations by 50 local artists who drew inspiration from dreaming. Runs through Sept. 11.
• DELAWARE ART MUSEUM , 2301 Kentmere Parkway, Wilmington, DE, 302-571-9590. OUT OF THE COMMONPLACE: THE FOLK ART OF DELAWARE, Features paintings, drawings, tools and other artifacts that make up the folk art of Delaware's people, including antique brooms and a wooden fence with the American flag painted onto it. Runs through Aug. 16. ILLUSTRATING HER WORLD: ELLEN B. T. PYLE, Features 50 illustrations by the title artist, who is most recognized for her 40 covers of The Saturday Evening Post. The collection was organized by great-granddaughter Lisa Smith, along with the museum. Runs through Jan. 3. Opening reception Fri, Aug. 7, 6pm. *
• DELAWARE CENTER FOR THE CONTEMPORARY ARTS , 200 S. Madison St., Wilmington, DE, 302-656-6466. FRACTIOUS HAPPY, Features Heather Harvey's site-specific installation, which consists of walls layered heavily with white spackle. Runs through Oct. 11. ORIGINS, VISITED, Features jewelry, sculpture and mixed-media works by Hratch Babikian, whose small, sleek pieces are created with metals, stones, paper and wood. Runs through Oct. 18.
• DELAWARE MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY , 4840 Kenneth Pike, Wilmington, DE, 302-658-9111. SHELL GALLERY, Features a simulation of the Great Barrier Reef, a 500-pound giant clam shell, models of mollusks and a variety of real shells that visitors can touch and play with. Ongoing. DARWIN AND EVOLUTION, Features artifacts and documents guiding visitors through Darwin's life and experiences, and the discovery of his groundbreaking theory. Ongoing. ANIMAL ADAPTATIONS, Features demonstrations of how certain animal species, like the black rhino and giant anteater, overcome difficult environmental pressures to survive. Ongoing. BUTTERFLY GARDEN, Features a variety of native plant species that attract butterflies, hummingbirds, beetles and other wildlife. Ongoing.
• DEMUTH MUSEUM , 120 E. King St., Lancaster, 717-299-9940. THE PHILADELPHIA TEN ON THE ROAD, Features works by a group of local female artists who traveled up the East Coast between 1910 and 1940, showing their works in small venues. These "rotary exhibits" aimed to promote education and encourage women's involvement in the arts. Runs through Feb. 20. DEMUTH'S DESTINATIONS, Features Charles Demuth's modern works, which document his travels in the United States and overseas. Runs through Aug. 30.
• ELFRETH'S ALLEY , 126 Elfreth's Alley, 215-574-0560. THE IRISH AND ELFRETH'S ALLEY IN 1900, Features artifacts exploring how the Irish community on Elfreth's Alley lived and interacted with each other and the outside world at the turn of the 20th century. Ongoing.
• FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF PHILADELPHIA , 10 Independence Mall, 215-574-6000. MONEY IN MOTION, Features interactive displays that explore the country's financial history. Visitors can view a rare $100,000 bill, test their skills at detecting counterfeit cash, and learn how the government predicts our economic future. Ongoing.
• FRANKLIN INSTITUTE , 20th St. & the Parkway, 215-448-1200. AMAZING MACHINE, Features 25 rarely displayed machines, including Mailardet's automaton and a model of the Strasbourg cathedral clock. Ongoing. THE GIANT HEART: A HEALTHY INTERACTIVE EXPERIENCE, Features a massive model of a human heart that you can walk through, and which has interactive stations that pertain to blood, health, anatomy and heart ailments. Ongoing. THE FRANKLIN AIR SHOW, Features model and life-size airplanes, a flight simulator and sound effects, which were designed to make you feel as if you're in the middle of a live air show. Ongoing. FRANKLIN: HE'S ELECTRIC, Features a variety of Benjamin Franklin's belongings and inventions, including a lens, lightning rod and bifocals. Ongoing. JOEL N. BLOOM OBSERVATORY, Features refractor and reflector telescopes that provide an up-close look at planets, stars and other galaxies. Ongoing. SIR ISAAC'S LOFT, Features paintings by imaginary artists, grouped in a faux art gallery in order to demonstrate scientific concepts. Also, a movie screen simulates different principles of physics, from the mechanics of levers to the composition of atoms. Ongoing. SPACE COMMAND, Features 30 interactive stations about space exploration, which allow visitors to play with telescopes, learn about the history of space exploration and try on astronaut suits. Ongoing. THE TRAIN FACTORY, Features interactive stations about how trains work, including one that allows visitors to keep the Baldwin 60000 train running by adding coal and tinkering with the controls. Ongoing. GALILEO, THE MEDICI AND THE AGE OF ASTRONOMY, Features artifacts from the life of Galileo Galilei, renowned for his scientific discoveries and artistic innovations. The centerpiece of the exhibit is one of the telescopes that Galileo built, of which only two remain. Other artifacts include instruments, paintings, prints and manuscripts, which reveal the intersection of science and art in Galileo's time. Runs through Sept. 7. STAR TREK, Features authentic "Star Trek" objects from all five of the TV series and 10 of the films, including Captain Kirk's chair and the Next Generation Bridge. Runs through Sept. 20. RACE: ARE WE SO DIFFERENT?, Features the works of scientists, artists and teachers who came together to explore the complexities of race. Runs through Sept. 7.
• GOGGLEWORKS CENTER FOR THE ARTS , 201 Washington St., Reading, 610-374-4600. IT IS WHAT IT IS, Features drawings, paintings, prints and sculptures by 15 artists chosen by organizer by Tara Espinoza and gallery coordinator Kristen Egan. Runs through Aug. 28. Opening reception Thu, Aug. 6, 5:30-7:30 pm. *
• HAGLEY MUSEUM & LIBRARY , 298 Buck Rd., Wilmington, DE, 302-658-2400. FROM THE ORIENT: SOUVENIRS FROM CAPTAIN SAMUEL FRANCIS DU PONT'S VOYAGE OF 1857-1858, Features the artwork, furniture and souvenirs that Du Pont acquired for himself and his family during his travels to Japan and China. Ongoing.
• INDEPENDENCE SEAPORT MUSEUM , 211 S. Columbus Blvd., 215-413-8655. WHAT FLOATS YOUR BOAT?, Features interactive stations exploring the science, history and artistic talent behind boat construction. Ongoing. OLYMPIA: LAUNCHING THE AMERICAN CENTURY, Features documents and artifacts exploring the U.S. Navy at the time of the Spanish-American War and the role of the USS Olympia ship. Ongoing. SKIN & BONES: TATTOOS IN THE LIFE OF THE AMERICAN SAILOR, Features traditional and modern tattooing tools, historical photographs, personal stories from tattoo artists and other forms of tattoo-related art. The exhibit also explores the role of tattoos in a sailor's life and how the art has become mainstream. Runs through Jan. 3.
• INSTITUTE OF CONTEMPORARY ART , 118 S. 36th St., 215-898-7108. ODILI DONALD ODITA: THIRD SPACE, Features the title artist's huge, colorful, abstract paintings — made with 115 different colors of wall paint — that take inspiration from Op Art. Runs through Dec. 6.
• LONGWOOD GARDENS , 1001 Longwood Rd., Kennet Square, 610-388-1000. THE BUDS AND THE BEES: POLLINATION AND THE SECRET LIVES OF PLANTS, Features rotating exhibits exploring the world of pollination. Ongoing.
• MAIN LINE ART CENTER , 746 Panmure Rd., Haverford, 610-525-0272. THREE GENERATIONS OF ILLUSTRATIONS, Features children's books' illustrations by Margot Zemach and her two daughters. Runs through Aug. 31.
• MORRIS ARBORETUM , 100 E. Northwestern Ave., 215-247-5777. THE TEXTURE OF TREES, Features Andrea Baldeck's photographs, which explore how trees shape our environment. Runs through Sept. 1. ARTIST-IN-RESIDENCE PATRICK DOUGHERTY, Features the ongoing construction of a site-specific sculpture made entirely from local twigs and saplings. Dougherty's creations, which are often more than 20 feet tall, last for about two years before they begin to dissolve. Ongoing. TREE ADVENTURE, Features several installations and stations where visitors can learn about trees and their relationship to people. The main attraction, "Out on a Limb," takes visitors 50 feet up in the air for a bird's-eye view of Morris' gardens. Ongoing.
• MUTTER MUSEUM OF THE COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS , 19 S. 22nd St., 215-563-3737. THE MUTTER OSSUARY, Features an ossuary — a receptacle for the bones of the dead — inspired by ancient ossuaries throughout Europe. Ongoing. THE DEVOURING ELEMENT: LEAD'S IMPACT ON HEALTH, Features biological specimens, images, artifacts, rare books and manuscripts from the Library of the College of Physicians, which deal with lead's involvement in human biological development. Historically, lead was not seen as a danger to human health but rather as a useful supplement. Only recently has lead's poisonous nature been fully understood. Ongoing.
• NATIONAL CONSTITUTION CENTER , Independence Mall, 525 Arch St., 215-409-6600. THE STORY OF WE, THE PEOPLE, Features multimedia presentations on the history of the U.S. Constitution, which allow visitors to take the presidential oath, sit in a Supreme Court Justice's chair, and e-mail elected officials about current constitutional issues. Ongoing. NAPOLEON, Features the infamous French emperor's rare, personal items, from the collection of historian Pierre-Jean Chancelon. Runs through Sept. 7.
• NATIONAL LIBERTY MUSEUM , 321 Chestnut St., 215-925-2800. ORDINARY PEOPLE: EXTRAORDINARY ACTS, Features paintings and photography that depict the story of ordinary heroes: the woman who jumped onto train tracks to save a stranger, the professor who sacrificed his life to save his students during the Virginia Tech massacre, and many others. Ongoing. PEACE SEEKERS, Features the stories of 20 individuals and organizations that are trying to bring about international peace, including celebrities like Elie Wiesel and Bono, religious figures like Pope John Paul II, and organizations like Doctors Without Borders and the Bill Gates Foundation. Ongoing. NEW PRESIDENTIAL PORTRAITS, Features a wall-sized portrait of every U.S. president, including the newly elected Barack Obama. Ongoing. DENSABURO OKU, Features sculptures by Japanese glass artist Densaburo Oku, who handcrafts depictions of fish out of glass and metal. Runs through Aug. 16.
• NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AMERICAN JEWISH HISTORY , 55 N. 5th St., 215-923-3811. SHAPING SPACE, MAKING MEANING, Features sketches, computer-generated images and videos that give viewers an inside perspective on the process of curating a museum exhibition. Ongoing.
• NOYES MUSEUM OF ART , 733 Lily Lake Rd., Oceanville, NJ, 609-652-8848. REALITY RECONSTRUCTED, Features huge horizontal paintings that highlight the geometrical nature of everyday life. Runs through Oct. 11. NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WOMEN ARTISTS: CELEBRATING 120 YEARS, Features works from across the nation by members of NAWA, founded in 1889 as the Woman's Art Club by five bold female artists. Runs through Aug. 30. SIGHTS AND SOUNDS OF SUMMER, Features paintings and photography by the signature artist members of the Noyes Museum. Runs through Sept. 13. EXPOSURE: DOMINIK SPOLITINO, Features photography by the title artist, whose typically monochromatic landscapes illustrate the interaction of natural elements. Runs through Sept. 2. FOUNDATION: JAMES WATKINSON, Features drawings, photographs and dreamy landscapes by the title artist. Runs through Sept. 2.
• PENN MUSEUM OF ARCHAEOLOGY AND ANTHROPOLOGY , 3260 South St., 215-898-4000. FULFILLING A PROPHECY: THE PAST AND PRESENT OF THE LENAPE IN PENNSYLVANIA, Features photography, artwork and family heirlooms, including wooden masks, pipes and even an umbilical cord bag, which tell the story of how the Lenape Nation of Pennsylvania has persevered over the years. Runs through Sept. 13. PAINTED METAPHORS: POTTERY AND POLITICS OF THE ANCIENT MAYA, Features more than 20 recently conserved, painted pottery vessels from the village of Chama. Penn Museum archaeologist Robert Burkitt traveled to the territory, where — far from the more sophisticated Mayan meccas — he discovered the vessels. The exhibit also features 150 ancient Mayan artifacts, including jade carvings, musical instruments and burial urns, as well as videos and photographs of Mayan life in Chama today. Ongoing.
• PENNSYLVANIA ACADEMY OF THE FINE ARTS , 118 N. Broad St., 215-972-7600. SIDNEY GOODMAN: MAN IN THE MIRROR, Features more than 60 drawings and watercolors in the first exhibition of artist and PAFA professor Sidney Goodman's works on paper. Recurring themes include city life and human frailty. Runs through Sept. 20. THE COLOR OF LIGHT, Features paintings by Elizabeth Osborne, one of the most recognized artists in Philadelphia. Recurring themes include abstracted landscapes and still lifes, and portraits inspired by Salvador Dali's style. Runs through Sept. 20. PUBLIC TREASURES/PRIVATE VISIONS, Features paintings of American landscapes by artists from the Hudson River School in New York, which were taken from the Metropolitan Museum of Art's and Philadelphia artists' collections. Runs through Sept. 20.
• PHILADELPHIA ATHENAEUM , 219 S. 6th St., 215-925-2688. ENCHANTING SIMPLICITY, Features a collection of children's books from both the past and present, from the Athenaeum's collection. Runs through Aug. 7.
• PHILADELPHIA MUSEUM OF ART , 26th St. & Ben Franklin Parkway, 215-763-8100. DESIGNING MODERN, Features contemporary art from the '20s to the present. Runs through Sept. 1. HENRI MATISSE AND MODERN ART ON THE FRENCH RIVIERA, Features paintings from Henri Matisse and other artists, which showcase the Mediterranean coastline, a dazzling landscape and center of intellectual activity for modern artists. Runs through Nov. 1. AN ENDURING MOTIF: THE POMEGRANATE IN TEXTILES, Features textiles that portray pomegranates, which are prized for their medicinal properties and are symbols of health, fertility and resurrection. Runs through Aug. 1. NOTATIONS: THE CLOSING DECADE, Features artwork in a variety of media dating from the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 to the attacks of 9/11. The pieces range in subject and mood, but all invite reflection on the turbulent end of the 20th century. Runs through Nov. 1. THE ART OF JAPANESE CRAFT: 1875 TO THE PRESENT, Features nearly 50 pieces, including lacquerware, paintings, wood sculpture and metalwork, made in Japan since 1875. Runs through Sept. 1. SHOPPING IN PARIS, Features nearly 25 Parisian and American clothing outfits from the period between 1850 and WWI, along with accessories, photographs and film clips from the early 20th century. The exhibit seeks to give viewers a sense of the luxurious Parisian fashions during this period, the lifestyle of women who wore such clothing, and how Paris influenced fashion in the U.S. Runs through Sept. 1. WROUGHT AND CRAFTED, Features jewelry and metalwork by American craftsmen from 1900 to the present. The exhibit also highlights Philadelphia's rich legacy of metalwork, including work from the Pennsylvania Museum and School of Industrial Arts in the 1870s and contemporary Philadelphia craftsmen like Olaf Skoogfors and Sharon Church. Runs through Feb. 1. A TASTE FOR MODERN, Features 23 chairs, from the basics like Jean Prouve's 1930 "Standard" chair to more experimental forms like the "Plan-o-Spider" patio chair made of enameled metal and bungee cords. Jeanne Rymer, former head of the Interior Design Program at the University of Delaware, donated the chairs in 2007. Runs through Sept. 20. VISUAL DELIGHT: ORNAMENT AND PATTERN IN MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY DESIGN, Features nearly 30 pieces, including sculptures, lighting fixtures and a whimsical armchair made from manipulated steel, from the 1960s to the present. Each piece in the collection explores the ways in which ornaments and patterns influence our experience of viewing art. Runs through Sept. 1. SPECTACLE, Features more than 40 photographs from the 19th century to the present, including works by Eugene Atget, Robert Frank, Gordon Parks, Diane Arbus and David Graham. They capture events ranging from the Mummers Parade to Pope John Paul II's travels. Curated by Julia Dolan. Runs through Sept. 7. LATE RENOIR, Features almost 80 paintings, drawings and sclptures from Pierre-Auguste Renoir's last phase of his career, alongside 20 works from Aristide, Henri Matisse and Pablo Picasso. Runs through Sept. 1. RAGAS AND RAJAS: MUSICAL IMAGERY OF COURTLY INDIA, Features paintings and sculptures about Indian culture, including images of royal assemblies, festivals, births, marriages and battles that were made exclusively for royal patrons. Curated by Yael Rice. Runs through Oct. 1. ADVENTURES IN MODERN ART, Features 100 paintings, sculptures, watercolors and drawings from archaeologist Charles K. Williams II's personal collection. Curator Innis Howe Shoemaker chose pieces by prominent American artists, including Joseph Stella, Oscar Bluemner, Charles Demuth and Arthur Dove. Runs through Sept. 13. SKYSCRAPERS: PRINTS, DRAWINGS AND PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY, Features more than 50 prints, drawings and photographs that focus on skyscrapers — a symbol of human achievement and technology, especially at the turn of the century. Curated by John Vick and John Ittmann. Runs through Nov. 1.
• PHILADELPHIA MUSEUM OF JEWISH ART , 615 N. Broad St., 215-627-6747. WHAT WAS OUR VISION, Features 16 mixed-media works by Zoe Cohen, which are based on her research of how ancient Eastern cultures connect to Judaism. Curated by Matthew F. Singer. Runs through Aug. 16.
• PHILIP AND MURIEL BERMAN MUSEUM OF ART , 601 E. Main St., Collegeville, 610-409-3500. EVERYTHING I SEE IS NEW AND STRANGE, Features a wide range of mediums — watercolors, drawings, oils, block prints, ceramics and carvings — by Walter Inglis Anderson. Runs through Aug. 24. FOLK ART FROM THE DAVID BRONSTEIN COLLECTION, Features American folk art from Harrisburg's David Bronstein's collection, which includes chalkware, tinware, stoneware, redware, wood carvings and painted chests. Paintings from David Ellinger and Medinger pottery will also be featured. Runs through Aug. 29. PHILADELPHIA TRI-STATE ARTIST'S EQUITY 60TH ANNIVERSARY EXHIBITION, Features 80 works by member artists, chosen from more than 400 entries. Runs through Sept. 4.
• ROSENBACH MUSEUM & LIBRARY , 2008 Delancey Place, 215-732-1600. A MAD TEA PARTY, Features an installation honoring "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland," including place settings for the Hatter, March Hare, Dormouse and Alice, which come from the museum's collection of ceramic and silver tea sets. Runs through Sept. 1.
• RUTGERS-CAMDEN CENTER FOR THE ARTS , 326 Penn St., Camden, NJ, 856-225-2700. GREEN? CONTEMPORARY LANDSCAPES, Features paintings by Diane Burko, Howard Watson and others exploring environmental and development issues, and the places where they overlap. Runs through Aug. 14.
• SCHUYLKILL CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION , 8480 Hagy's Mill Rd., 215-482-7300. A RAKE'S PROGRESS: AN AGRARIAN MORALITY TALE, Features Gary Miller's installation of sculptures made from tree branches and limbs. Runs through Dec. 15. GIMME SHELTER, Features six semi-permanent, functional shelters within the woodlands of the Schuylkill Center. Designed by both artists and architects, the pieces include a bird-seed shelter and a woodland canopy. Runs through May 9.
• WHARTON ESHERICK MUSEUM , 1520 Horse Shoe Trail, Malvern, 610-644-5822. WHARTON ESHERICK OUTHOUSE, Features a reconstruction of Wharton Esherick's three-sided outhouse, which was inspired by the 1919 film "The Cabinet of Dr. Caligary." Ongoing.