FROGS! A Chorus of Colors - Midland Center for the Arts

Contact:
Julie Dukes
Communications Manager
(989) 631-5930 x 1602
[email protected]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 8, 2014
Alden B. Dow Museum of Science and Art presents
FROGS! A Chorus of Colors
Hop in for this “toad-ally”
interactive and educational exhibition!
January 18 – May 11, 2014
MIDLAND, MI – Is the world’s largest frog really the size of a human infant? Do frogs drink? And
can a frog REALLY kill a person? Find out answers to these questions and more at the Alden B.
Dow Museum of Science & Art’s special exhibition, “FROGS! A Chorus of Colors,” on display
January 18 through May 11, 2014, at Midland Center for the Arts.
Frogs live almost everywhere – from tropical forests to frozen tundra and scorching deserts.
Museum visitors will get eyeball to eyeball with more than 70 live frogs from around the world –
including visually stunning creatures with names like Chinese Gliding Frog, Amazon Milk Frog,
Fire-bellied Toad and Smokey Jungle Frog, complete with their noisy croaks, yaps, chirps,
whoops, snores and whistles – all housed in detailed habitats complete with rock ledges, live
plants and waterfalls.
“This exhibition showcases the beauty and elegance of frogs – so often overlooked – and will
forever change your mind about these colorful creatures,” remarks Museum Director Bruce
Winslow.
This exhibition isn’t just pretty to look at; it offers a lot to learn for all ages! Over 8,000 students
from across the Great Lakes Bay Region are expected to experience “FROGS! A Chorus of Colors”
when they visit Midland Center for the Arts as part of fun and informational field trips.
Visitors will explore frog biology and natural history, the roles they play in human cultures, their
importance to ecosystems and the perils they face in a changing environment. Check out the
skeleton of the world’s largest frog and learn how the frog’s skeleton allows it to out jump
Olympic athletes. Examine the stages of metamorphosis with preserved specimens. Perform a
virtual frog dissection without hurting any frogs, create a chorus when you push buttons to
activate recorded frog calls, and test your frog knowledge on subjects – from basic to bizarre.
The Museum is open Wednesday through Sunday. For a complete listing of hours and special
events – including “Frog Frenzy” family day on February 1, special Spring Break hours, Thursday
evening tours and exclusive opportunities to view frog feedings – visit www.mcfta.org/frogs.
“FROGS! A Chorus of Colors” was created by Peeling Productions at Clyde Peeling's REPTILAND.
This exhibition is sponsored by The Dow Chemical Company, Dow Corning Corporation, Quick
Reliable Printing, Covenant HealthCare, Saginaw Spirit, McDonald’s (Midland), and The Little
Forks Conservancy.
ALSO ON EXHIBIT (through April 13):
Batrachology: Amphibians in Art
Works by multiple artists fascinated by batrachology: the study of amphibians.
Nature’s Fading Chorus: The Works of Brandon Ballengée
Using high-resolution scanner photography, Ballengée creates large-scale portraits of frogs that
document his ecological studies to increase the public’s environmental understanding.
Museum School Faculty Exhibition
Recent works of faculty members demonstrate the skills of the professionals providing year-round
instruction in the Museum School.
The Alden B. Dow Museum of Science and Art (ABDM) provides a forum to engage the people of midMichigan in the constructive and creative expressions found in science and in art. Exhibitions in the
Museum, classes at the Museum School, multiple outreach programs, a permanent collection and various
special events are all components in the ABDM programming.
Midland Center for the Arts, Inc. is a non-profit, tax-exempt corporation formed under the laws of the State
of Michigan incorporating six groups: Alden B. Dow Museum of Science and Art, Center Stage Choirs, Center
Stage Theatre, MATRIX:MIDLAND, Midland County Historical Society, and Midland Symphony Orchestra.
Activities at Midland Center for the Arts are supported in part by the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural
Affairs, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. For the latest Center news, visit our web
site at www.mcfta.org.
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Midland Center for the Arts  1801 W. St. Andrews Rd.  Midland, MI 48640  (989) 631-5930  (989) 631-7890 fax  www.mcfta.org
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