Arizona State Museum

10/15/2026

Congratulations to Dr. Ed Jolie, ASM Clara Lee Tanner associate curator of ethnology, and his many co-authors on a newly published article in “Science Advances.”

In it, the authors reaffirm 23,000 years as the age of the famous footprints discovered in White Sands National Park and demonstrate that humans withstood abrupt swings in the environment within individual lifetimes.

Expanded excavations at White Sands National Park have unearthed 20 stratigraphic horizons containing in situ human footprints, megafaunal trackways, and linear features created by travois. Advances in radiocarbon dating of conifer pollen, combined with ...

10/13/2026

Something new is coming!

ASM’s latest pop-up exhibit, "FORGE+FUTURE: Contemporary Native Jewelry Artists," is opening at Tucson Meet Yourself! After taking a sneak peek into 9 different artist studios and learning about their art, take some time to try out stamp work at our hands-on station. We enjoyed curating this exhibit and look forward to sharing it with you. See you there!

Tucson Meet Yourself
October 16-17-18, 2026
11:00am-6:00pm | Free
Downtown at Jacomé Plaza, near the entrance to the Main Library, in the Global Arts Triangle
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ASEP Designs
Maria Samora Jewelry
Matagi Fine Art
Tucson Meet Yourself

10/12/2026

10/11/2026

ASMers just returned from the 23rd Biennial Mogollon Archaeology Conference, held this year at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces.

Dr. Patrick Lyons, ASM director, presented, “Ancient Immigrants at Point of Pines: Tusayan or Kayenta?”. Photo 1.

Patrick was also one of 5 co-authors on a paper given by School of Anthropology PhD candidate Amanda Semanko, “Scarlet Macaws and Strontium Isotopes: Identifying Breeding or Management Locations in the Mogollon and Beyond.” No photo, unfortunately.

Dr. Ben Bellorado, ASM assistant curator of archaeology, delivered the keynote presentation at the conference banquet, "Hot on the Heels of Leadership and Ritual Practice: Tracking Continuity, Change, and the Movement of Elite Footwear and Religious Practitioners Before, During, and After Chaco." Photo 2.

10/08/2026

This week we installed some contemporary jewelry pieces at the Alfie Norville Gem and Mineral Museum, located in the historic Pima County courthouse in downtown Tucson. Stop by to see them!

The display is a companion to our newest pop-up exhibit, “Forge + Future: Contemporary Native Jewelry Artists,” which will debut at Tucson Meet Yourself (Oct. 16-18).

Our great thanks to our friends and colleagues for their partnership.

ASMers in the photos: Dr. Ruth Jolie, associate curator of ethnology; Gina Watkinson, assistant conservator; Ruben Urrea Moreno, exhibit preparator; Andrew Higgins, registrar.
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10/07/2026

Join us this Saturday at the University of Arizona Museum of Art (UAMA) to celebrate Dia de los Muertos/Day of the Dead!

ASM will present the hilarious and moving storyteller, Zarco Guerrero, and his masked characters, at 1:00 p.m.

This program is presented in collaboration with UAMA in celebration of their "Staged: The Art of Performance" exhibit. Art activities, food, and more from 12:00-4:00. Free event.
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10/04/2026

Diane Dittemore, ASM associate curator emerita, shared these photos from the opening of, “Hopi Kachina Dolls: Blessings for a Balanced World,” at the Brooklyn Museum.

Photo 1. (L-R) Dr. Kelley Hays-Gilpin, Edward Bridge Danson, Jr. chair of anthropology at the Museum of Northern Arizona and exhibit catalog contributor; Colleen Lucero (Hopi), guest curator and managing director of the Hopivewat Learning Center; Monica Nuvamsa (Hopi-Tewa/Acoma/Havasupai), exhibit contributor, artist, and interim executive director of the Hopi Foundation; and Diane Dittemore, ASM associate curator emerita and exhibit catalog contributor.

Photo 2. (L-R) Colleen Lucero (Hopi), guest curator and managing director of the Hopivewat Learning Center; Dare Turner, curator of Indigenous art at the Brooklyn Museum; and Nancy Rosoff, Andrew W. Mellon senior curator of arts of the Americas at the Brooklyn Museum.

The exhibit runs through June 27, 2027.

Congratulations to all!

Thanks to Diane and Kelley for the pics!

10/02/2026

If you happen to be in the NYC area, check out this new exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum:

Hopi Kachina Dolls: Blessings for a Balanced World
October 2, 2026–June 27, 2027
Brooklyn Museum, New York

Several ASM objects showing katsina imagery, including basketry, pottery, and one large doll, are on loan for this exhibit! Retired Associate Curator Diane Dittemore is a contributor to the accompanying catalog.

Exhibit Overview
Kachina dolls (tithu) represent Katsinam, spirits who bring much-needed moisture and keep the world in balance for the Hopi. Carved from cottonwood and distinctively painted, the dolls are treasured gifts from the Katsinam, given primarily to Hopi girls and women. This exhibition is the first to examine the Hopi kachina doll tradition from their recipients’ perspective.

Photo: Tsaqapta (Bowl) with Sa’lakwmana (Salako Maiden), 1900–1925. Ceramic, slip, and pigment. Gift of Judith and Andrew Finger. ASM 2017-59-5.

10/01/2026

Attention Educators!

Arizona State Museum is partnering with the Smithsonian to offer a unique and engaging workshop for K-12 teachers. 

Using the Harvard Project Zero "Look-Listen-Connect" strategy for student engagement, teachers will learn about musical storytelling in the corrido and blues traditions, look at museum objects and cultural symbols, and think about cultural identity. Enjoy a live musical performance and try your hand at writing your own song. Dinner is included.

Arts Integration with the Smithsonian
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
3:30 - 7:00 p.m.
City High School, downtown Tucson (37 E Pennington St.)
Teachers will earn 3.5 professional development hours at this free training!

Register here: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=Kl6bmOQU_k6Tt4zdX8XRHPhdgQ0ONydBpBKhyNxv8SZUODRHQkIyWjI5Q1Y5Vjk5MkFOR1VQR1NPVy4u

09/30/2026

Congratulations to Ruben Urrea Moreno, ASM’s exhibit preparator and artist!

Ruben's latest mural will be unveiled and feted at the University of Arizona on November 6, at the Albert B. Weaver Science-Engineering Library, 744 N Highland Ave. The mural honors Los Universitarios, Mexican American students whose leadership helped pave the way for generations of Wildcats.

Event details and registration: https://events.trellis.arizona.edu/en/f44lNu67/los-universitarios-mural-dedication-5a3UV43WaLB/overview