I had the opportunity a few years back to see the replica skeleton of humanity's ancient ancestor "Lucy" at the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. My nieces, who were 5 and 7 at the time, had learned about the 3.2 million year old fossil in school. The real Lucy fossil, discovered in Ethiopia in 1974 is wrapping up a 6-year tour with a final Southern California stop at the Bowers Museum in Santa Ana before returning to Ethiopia. She's going back into protective storage in Ethiopia, so this could be your one chance to see this historic fossil in person. The exhibit Lucy's Legacy: The Hidden Treasure of Ethiopia runs February 10 to May 12, 2013.
Also on exhibit at the Bowers is CUT! Costume and the Cinema, a look at cinematic couture, showing award-winning costumes from 25 different films from the renowned British costumer, Cosprop Ltd. Movie costumes reflect the fashion from Elizabethan England to colonial Virginia, 19th Century Paris, WWI Italy, 1930s Shanghai and WWII Belarus. CUT! Costume and the Cinema is on exhibit Dec 15, 2012 to March 10, 2013
Opening February 16 at the Bowers, Maurice Sendak: 50 Years, 50 Works, 50 Reasons, will showcase the late writer, illustrator and artist's work in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the publication of his children's book Where the Wild Things Are. The exhibit includes works by the artist in various media as well as commentary on his career from well-known personalities. February 16 to April 28, 2013.
Where: The Bowers Museum, 2002 North Main Street, Santa Ana, CA 92706
Cost: $15 adults, $12 kids, $2 discount for online purchase, Free on the 1st Sunday of the month
Tickets and Info: www.bowers.org, (714) 567-3600
More:
- Free Museum Days in Los Angeles
- Things to Do Near Santa Ana
- Overview of Los Angeles Area Museums
- Top Los Angeles Art Museums
Photos and Maurice Sendak illustration courtesy of the Bowers Museum