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Burke Museum of Natural History & Culture


October 26, 2016

Arts Roundup: Calidore String Quartet, I Dig Dinos – and a Halloween Organ Concert

Celebrate Halloween with a concert of spooky organ classics in Kane Hall or a dinosaur dress-up party at the Burke Museum. Catch performances from jazz pianist Marc Seales, the Calidore String Quartet, or fado singer Mariza. The Jacob Lawrence Gallery celebrates the centennial anniversary of its namesake’s birth with a new exhibition. Calidore String Quartet…


October 12, 2016

Arts Roundup: Chamber Dance Company, Mindfulness Meditation – and Stylus Fantasticus

Chamber Dance Company

The Chamber Dance Company celebrates the birth of post-modern dance in Meany Hall, the School of Drama opens its season with a modern retelling of a Greek classic, and School of Music faculty members Stephen Stubbs and Tekla Cunningham give a performance of 17th century works. The Henry Art Gallery invites the public to practice…


October 5, 2016

Arts Roundup: The Silk Road Ensemble, Birds at the Burke – and Double Rainbow All the Way

Lalya & Majnun

It’s a busy week for the arts: The Silk Road Ensemble and Mark Morris Dance Group collaborate on a new work at Meany Center; School of Music artist-in-residence Greg Sinibaldi gives the first faculty recital of the school year, and the Burke Museum hosts its annual “Birds at the Burke” day. The Henry Art Gallery…


August 18, 2016

Paleontologists with the UW’s Burke Museum discover major T. rex fossil

Paleontologists prepare to remove a Tyrannosaurus rex skull from a fossil dig site in northern Montana and transport it to the Burke Museum at the University of Washington.

Paleontologists with the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture and the UW have discovered a Tyrannosaurus rex, including a very complete skull. The find, which paleontologists estimate to be about 20 percent of the animal, includes vertebrae, ribs, hips and lower jaw bones.


June 8, 2016

Arts Roundup: ArtVenture, Wild Nearby – and Design Graduation Exhibition

Burke Museum: Wild Nearby

Spring quarter is drawing to a close, but there are still plenty of arts events on campus. Swing by the Henry Art Gallery to see giant wood sculptures by Paul McCarthy and artwork by the 2016 graduating class of MFA and MDes students — or bring the whole family for an ArtVenture. Explore the beauty…


May 19, 2016

Burke Museum breaks ground on new building for Washington state museum

The New Burke

More than 500 people gathered May 18 on the University of Washington campus to celebrate the start of construction on the New Burke Museum. The Burke is Washington’s oldest museum and since 1899 has been the State Museum of Natural History and Culture; soon it will be Washington’s newest museum. Opening in 2019, the New…


May 11, 2016

Skull specializations allow bats to feast on their fellow vertebrates

Skull of a fish-eating bat.

Over their 52-million-year history, a few bats have evolved a taste for their fellow vertebrates. Now biologists at the University of Washington and the Burke Museum of History and Culture are shedding light on how these so-called “carnivorous bats” adapted to the daunting task of chowing down their backboned prey.


Arts Roundup: MFA Dance Concert, Photomedia Graduation Exhibition – and ‘Short Takes’ on Orpheus

This week, visit the School of Art + Art History + Design for a visiting scholar lecture or graduation exhibition, and engage directly with the artists at the Burke Museum’s Native Art Market. Catch the annual MFA Dance Concert or a performance by the School of Music’s Daana Quartet. Explore the enduring legacy of the…


May 4, 2016

Arts Roundup: School of Music Scholarship Recital, ArtVentures – and Native Art Market

This week in the arts, see the world-renowned Martha Graham Dance Company perform at Meany Hall and witness the talent of the next generation at the 2016 School of Music Scholarship Recital. Explore production design at a UW Drama exhibition, take an ArtVenture at the Henry Art Gallery and shop for Native American art at…


April 6, 2016

Arts Roundup: Anoushka Shankar, Creole Carnival – and the New Burke Community Open House

UW World Series takes center stage this week with three events: dance-theater ensemble Jane Comfort & Company, world-renowned sitar player Anoushka Shankar, and GlobalFEST: Creole Carnival. Learn about the Burke Museum’s renovation plans at a community open house, see an exhibition by School of Art + Art History + Design graduating honors students, or take…


December 9, 2015

Arts Roundup: UW Symphony, Maker:Market – and Handel’s ‘Messiah’

The School of Music wraps up the quarter with four back-to-back days of events, including the Wind Ensemble, Symphonic and Campus Bands, UW Symphony, and two performances of Handel’s “Messiah.” There are still a few days left to catch the School of Drama’s production of “Loot” or visit the Jacob Lawrence Gallery for “Toward a…


November 16, 2015

Microbes that are key indicators of Puget Sound’s health in decline

Paleontologists with the University of Washington’s Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture find that tiny organisms called foraminifera have a big story to tell about the health of Puget Sound. Two recent studies about the health of Bellingham Bay and inlets in the Bremerton area found the diversity and number of foraminifera — single-celled marine organisms that live on the sea floor — deteriorated significantly. The decline of these microscopic organisms is consistent with the deterioration of snails and other larger marine animals, even though analysis showed a reduction of chemical pollutants in Bellingham Bay and Bremerton over the same period of time.


November 10, 2015

Arts Roundup: Akram Khan Dance Company, meet the mammals – and Beethoven back-to-back

Get your fill of Beethoven in three back-to-back days of concerts at the School of Music – and in a recital by cellist Sæunn Thorsteinsdóttir, newly appointed artist-in-residence. DXARTS presents its fall concert of electroacoustic music, and the Henry hosts two public lectures. Plus, don’t miss three nights of Indian classical dance with the Akram…


October 14, 2015

Arts Roundup: Pianist Jonathan Biss, Internet Meditation – and Chamber Dance Company

This week is packed with events and exhibits across campus. Get your modern dance fix with Chamber Dance Company in Meany Hall. Face your fear of snakes at the Burke and take an art break with internet meditation at the Henry Art Gallery. For classical music lovers, there’s a World Series performance by pianist Jonathan…


October 7, 2015

Arts Roundup: Jazz, modern dance – and birds at the Burke

Image of Ted Poor playing a drumset

There’s something for everyone this week: catch a world premiere at the UW World Series, explore the Burke’s world-renowned collection of birds, or enjoy the sounds of 1962 jazz with the School of Music. The Chamber Dance Company celebrates 25 years with four performances at Meany Hall and the Jacob Lawrence Gallery hosts an exhibition…


September 30, 2015

Arts Roundup: Photography, a world premiere – and the acoustics of books

This week, UW World Series begins its 2015-2016 season at Meany Hall with Japanese butoh ensemble Sankai Juku, and continues with a collaboration between string quartet ETHEL and Native American flutist Robert Mirabal. Just across Red Square, acoustical engineer Zackery Belanger explores the acoustics of books in a Henry Art Gallery talk, where visitors will…


Known fish species living in the Salish Sea increases in new report

An illustration of the longfin sculpin (Jordania zonope).

A new report published Tuesday documents all of the fishes that live in the Salish Sea. In total, 253 fish species have been recorded, and that’s about 14 percent more than in the last count.


September 23, 2015

Arts Roundup: birthdays, butoh – and 37,000 balloons

Arts Roundup is back! The leaves are turning yellow, the days are getting shorter and students are arriving on campus – it’s time to kick off a new season of arts events at the UW. This weekend marks the end of the popular Martin Creed exhibit at the Henry Art Gallery and with it, your…


September 4, 2015

Grant will help Native American undergraduates attend first scientific meeting

Two professors from the University of Washington and Oklahoma State University have been awarded a grant from the National Science Foundation to bring six Native American undergraduate students to their first scientific meeting. The students will attend the Jan. 2016 annual meeting of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology in Portland, Oregon. Known commonly…


August 13, 2015

‘Scarface,’ an ancient cousin to mammals, unearthed in Africa

Photograph of the skull of Ichibengops munyamadziensis.

A team of scientists has identified a new species of “pre-mammal” based on fossils unearthed in Zambia’s Luangwa Basin in 2009. The ancient, Dachshund-sized creature lived some 255 million years ago, in a time just before the largest mass extinction in Earth’s history. Its discoverers include Christian Sidor, professor of biology at the University of…


August 4, 2015

New fish genus and species named for its red, fingerlike fins

Red, orange and pink color variation.

University of Washington scientists recently announced the name of a new genus and species of frogfish, which are small, stocky creatures found in most tropical and subtropical oceans around the world.


June 10, 2015

Arts Roundup: Art breaks, ArtVentures – and 80 days of summer

80 Days of Summer

School may be out for summer, but the arts on campus are heating up. Art Breaks and ArtVentures abound at the Henry Art Gallery, and the Jacob Lawrence Gallery is buzzing with the work of recent grads. Kids and kids at heart will want to check out the daily activities offered at the Burke Museum…


May 20, 2015

Burke Museum paleontologists discover the first dinosaur fossil in Washington state

The first dinosaur fossil from Washington state (left) is a portion of a femur leg bone (full illustration right) from a theropod dinosaur.

Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture paleontologists have documented the first dinosaur fossil from Washington state. The fossil was collected by a Burke Museum research team along the shores of Sucia Island State Park in the San Juan Islands.


May 6, 2015

Arts Roundup: Art, artifacts — and ‘The Magic Flute’

Burke Museum Artifact ID Day

May starts strong, bursting with arts events for the community to enjoy. The School of Art + Art History + Design begins the month with the Painting + Drawing BFA graduation show, followed by the Kollar American Art Lecture featuring Kenneth Haltman. The School of Music starts its run of “The Magic Flute,” co-presented with Pacific MusicWorks, and the Burke Museum hosts the annual Artifact ID Day.


March 18, 2015

Arts Roundup: Exhibitions, music — and Native Art Weekend

As we approach spring break, sit back, relax and take in an event or two. This week, the Henry Art Gallery hosts a slew of collaborative events including a performance by the Seattle Chamber Players and Juan Pampin, director of Digital Arts and Experimental Media (DXARTS).


March 4, 2015

Arts Roundup: Music, drama — and the Dance Majors Concerts

From drama to dance to dinosaurs, it’s an exciting week in the arts. The School of Drama’s production of “The Hostage” continues, the Burke Museum presents Dino Day and the School of Music offers a plethora of performances including Music from the Great War and Studio Jazz and Modern Bands.


February 18, 2015

Arts Roundup: Drama, music – and ‘Music of Today’

This coming week, the School of Music leads the way with a variety of events to keep your calendar full. Highlights include the UW Chamber Orchestra performing two nights, a faculty recital with Jazz Studies Professor Marc Seales, and a Music of Today performance in collaboration with the Center for Digital Arts and Experimental Media.


January 15, 2015

Tiny plant fossils a window into Earth’s landscape millions of years ago

An international team led by the University of Washington has discovered a way to determine the tree cover and density of trees, shrubs and bushes in locations over time based on clues in the cells of plant fossils preserved in rocks and soil.


January 7, 2015

Arts Roundup: Lectures, ArtBreak – and the Takács Quartet

Melia Watras

Welcome back to a new year and new quarter! Henry Art Gallery kicks off the first Arts Roundup of the year with an assortment of events related to the exhibit “Ann Hamilton: the common S E N S E,” including a lecture presented by Seattle Arts and Lectures and an unusual exhibition tour with ArtVenture.


December 10, 2014

Arts Roundup: Exhibitions, drama — and ‘An Appalachian Christmas’

As autumn quarter comes to a close, Arts Roundup begins a holiday hiatus. But first we offer some final suggestions of campus art activities, including Mark O’Connor and his band performing ”An Appalachian Christmas.”


November 26, 2014

Arts Roundup: Exhibitions, music — and ArtBreak with Barbara Ciega

The holiday season is officially upon us and the arts host a lineup of events to get you in the festive spirit. The School of Music paves the way with performances ranging from the Percussion Ensemble to CarolFest. If you’re looking for an exhibition to explore, the Burke Museum’s recently opened “Here & Now: Native Artists Inspired” will be the perfect option after the Thanksgiving bustle.


November 19, 2014

Arts Roundup: Drama, dance — and ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray’

Have you ever considered the implications of privacy around art and cultural institutions? Then don’t miss the three-day symposium “Surveillance and Privacy: Art, Law and Social Practice” hosted by the Henry Art Gallery and the Center for Digital Art and Experimental Media (DXARTS).


November 12, 2014

Arts Roundup: Music, film — and ‘Meet the Mammals’

Jon Kimura Parker

It’s a packed week in the arts, with a diverse array of options to suit any fancy. The UW World Series has a music-themed weekend with Jon Kimura Parker on Friday night and Touré-Raichel Collective the next. Also, don’t miss the last film in the Climate Change and Nuclear Risks: A Speaker & Film Series presented by the Burke.


October 10, 2014

Citizen science key to keeping pace with environmental change

Seven students stand on beach holding bird carcass

Better integration of citizen science into professional science is a growing consideration at the UW and elsewhere.


October 8, 2014

Arts Roundup: Drama, music — and Anne Hamilton’s ‘The Common S E N S E’

Ann Hamilton

Fall is a busy time for the arts on campus, with a dizzying array of performances and exhibitions to take advantage of.


October 1, 2014

Arts Roundup: Music, The Big Draw — and Chamber Dance Company

Maria Adams

Fall quarter has started, which means the weekly arts roundup is back in action. This week, the Burke is hosting The Big Draw and Grammy Award-winning saxophonist Branford Marsalis performs at Meany Hall on Oct. 4.


July 9, 2014

Arts Roundup: Exhibits, theater and Burke’s Summer Festival

Girl on the shoreline with mountain in background.

Summer is here and with that comes a vibrant local arts scene. In this special issue, we highlight events not only on the UW’s Seattle campus but also events in the community that involve our talented students, faculty and alumni.


June 4, 2014

Arts Roundup: Drama, art — and University Symphony

As spring quarter comes to a close and summer quickly approaches, we encourage you to take advantage of some of the final arts events until next fall. Highlighting the week are a variety of performances from the School of Music, School of Drama’s “The Workroom” and the Undergraduate Theater Society’s “Dog Sees God.”


May 28, 2014

Arts Roundup: Drama, Gospel — and the Burke trivia night

Rounding out spring quarter is a variety of events to keep you entertained. From the Undergraduate Theater Society’s production of “Dog Sees God” to various music performances presented by the School of Music at Meany Theater, prepare yourself for the rest of spring quarter because it’s looking bright!


April 30, 2014

Arts Roundup: Lectures, music– and Alonzo King LINES Ballet

The forecast is looking bright not only in relation to the weather but also for the arts on campus!



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