Mary Brogan Museum Melds Art and Science
One of the more unique museum experiences in north Florida, the Mary Brogan Museum of Art and Science in Tallahassee focuses not on just science or art, but the space where they converge. Commonly known as "the Brogan," the Mary Brogan Museum bills itself as a hands-on interactive experience that teaches as well as entertains.
It has occupied its building on South Duvall Street since 1998. The Brogan was created when two existing museum bodies, the Odyssey Science Center and The Museum of Art/Tallahassee merged. The Brogan is an official affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution.
A huge variety of classes are available for field trips and other group excursions. The museum offers three floors of exciting interactive exhibits and regular shows. Here are a few highlights:
Hurricane Simulator -- Step inside this booth to experience the sensation of a Category 1 hurricane.
Marvelous Machines -- Explore the principles of physics with such fun gizmos as the Tennis Ball Launcher, Clever Lever, Gear Table and Powerful Pulley.
Close-Up Colony -- Get an up-close and personal view inside a European honeybee hive! Meet the queen herself, and witness how she interacts with her worker bees.
Sound Machines -- Learn how sound travels in the Hearing Range, Whisper Dish, Pitch Match and Laser Spirograph.
The Brogan also plays host to traveling exhibits:
BIG BUGS: The World of Giant Insects continues through Aug. 21, 2011. This fun combination of bugs and robots features animatronic insects anywhere from 60 to 600 times their normal size. Controlled by computers, these giant bugs move their heads, wiggle their antennae, buzz their wings, gnash their mandibles and extend their enormous bodies for visitors.
APPETITE: Expressions of the Politics Encircling Food is a national photography showcase exploring something that's on everyone's mind and palate: food. There are more than 150 photos by 21 American artists. From new interpretations of classic 17th century still life paintings to modern cafeterias and fried chicken, APPETITE examines how nutrition, diets and food politics permeate society through marketing and pop culture.
Posted on Jan 27, 2011 by Christopher Lloyd
