MARIPOSA MUSEUM OFFERS FREE “DISCOVER MARIPOSA DAY” FOR FAMILIES, ADULTS
SATURDAY, SEPT. 9 
PETERBOROUGH, N.H. — This Saturday, September 9th, the Mariposa Museum and World Culture Center will open its doors free of charge to families and others wishing to discover what the museum is all about.
“Discover the Mariposa Day” at the museum, at 26 Main Street in Peterborough, will feature a number of scheduled activities, including art-making and storytelling between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. plus opportunities for visitors to discover and enjoy the many games, puzzles, puppets, books, costumes, and musical instruments to play that have made the Mariposa a favorite family stop since it first opened in 2002.
Adults without kids are also welcome to stop in and enjoy the museum, activities, and the current featured exhibits.
From 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., visitors may create a peace flag in the outdoor Zen Garden adjacent to the museum — a Mariposa tradition in the spirit of Tibetan prayer flags.
From 10:30 to 11 a.m., art teacher and artist Katharine Fox will lead a “Making Monoprints” class for budding artists, exploring color, texture, and a printing medium found in many cultures around the world.
From 11:15 to 11:45, picture book stories from Japan will be shared by Hiroko Chinone, using the museum’s Kamishibai theatre, a picture frame used in this traditional form of street entertainment in Japan.
From 1:30 – 2:30, Simon Brooks, one of New Hampshire’s (by way of England) favorite storytellers, will entertain with “Stories of Friendship and Cooperation” from England, Japan, and Africa.
And from 2:45 – 3:15, Eugenia Villanueva from the Mariposa staff will lead a “Guess What?” activity, allowing visitors to guess the purpose of artifacts from the Mariposa’s collection of over 7,000 artifacts.
There are also two exhibits on view. The first, for children, is “Wimmelbooks: The Whole World on One Page.: From the International Youth Library in Munich, this exhibit features enlarged pages from the classic Wimmelbook series of wordless picture books (from Europe) that encourage children to make up their own stories.
The second exhibit, “Flow Through: The Time Markers,” is an exhibit for all ages of exquisite beaded sculpture by famed outside artist Nancy Josephson, whose work has been exhibited at the Brooklyn Museum and The American Visionary Art Museum in Baltimore among many other institutions.
All events are free, and volunteers and staff will be on hand to help visitors find games and puzzles, puppet theatres, instruments, play kitchen, and exhibits that are permanently available.
“Discover the Mariposa Day” is sponsored by Eppes-Jefferson Foundation, Joseph’s Coat of Peterborough, and NH Charitable Foundation.
“We know there are many families in our region who don’t know what the Mariposa Museum is or that such a fun and interesting resource for children exists here in Peterborough” said Karla Hostetler, Executive Director. “The Mariposa is a wonderful place for adults, but there are also three floors of hands-on activities for children to enjoy, designed to pique curiosity and stimulate imaginations while also introducing the idea that we live in a world of many, fascinating cultures, made all the richer by its many languages, different ways of dressing, eating, playing, and understanding the world.”
Hostetler said the day will also promote the value of family memberships, which for just $65 offer a family of four free admission all year to the museum and to many events, including the monthly music series. The Mariposa is also a member of NARM, the North American Reciprocal Museums program, which for a $100 membership offers family benefits at the Mariposa plus free admission and discounts in restaurants and gift shops at 1,00 other museums across the country. Many NH libraries also offer patrons free passes to the Mariposa.
“Once families do discover the museum it becomes a staple of childhood,” Hostetler said. “We’re making sure this Saturday will be super fun so as many people as possible will bring this experience into their family’s lives. Simon Brooks is a superb storyteller, just loads of fun, and Katharine Fox is a wonderful art teacher. Our staff is going all out to ensure everyone — of any age — has a great time.”
The Mariposa, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, is dedicated to fostering peace across cultural borders. The museum is wheelchair accessible.
For more information, visit www.mariposamuseum.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For further information, contact Tina Thaing, Administrator, 603-924-4555
