Just Food: The Right to Food from a Faith Perspective May 1 – July 4, 2010, Temporary Gallery SUNDAY MAY 2, 7 pm: Opening Night Do not forget us! Hashin Hanoon, Iraq This exhibit explores the connections between food, justice, human rights and faith through art from around the world. In total 40 pieces of art were commissioned for the exhibit, which also includes artifacts and hands-on activities. Is food ever just food? Food is not only something to be routinely prepared and consumed. Food is essential for human life. Without food there is hunger, conflict and death. With food there is vitality, community, and celebration. The right to food has been declared to be a human right. The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1976) affirms “the right of every man, woman and child, alone and in community with others, to have physical and economic access at all times to adequate food or means for its procurement in ways consistent with human dignity.” Fishing Ovid Charlotte Is food always just food? Food is not always justly accessible. Access to food depends on fair and efficient systems for production and distribution. The food insecurity for many people around the world indicates that our food systems are unjust. Is the abundant food available to some of us just food, when it is not equally accessible to others? The responses of people of faith to the abundance of food or its lack, for themselves or their neighbours, have been shaped by the unique beliefs of their religion. With the articulation of human rights and the call for their promotion in the twentieth century, people of faith have been challenged to consider and apply their religious convictions and actions related to food in light of the premises and promotion of human rights within a secularized and global society.

Singing in Time: Music and Mennonites July 8 – October 30, 2010, Temporary Gallery and other concert venues This exhibit explores the social importance of music in Mennonite society. While many realize the centrality of the religious choral tradition, there exist also folk and secular themes throughout Mennonite history. There are two parts to this exhibit: the gallery experience and an historical concert series. Musical instruments, rare hymnals and an audio console are found in the gallery, where you can listen to samples of Mennonite music, new and old. The concert series will take place at different locations and feature live performances by Mennonite musicians and singers that will help express the main themes of the exhibit: The Musical context of Anabaptist origins; Plain Singing; Global Influences; Harmony; and Secular Music. Join us in celebrating this tradition, which runs so deep but varies so widely. 1.Thursday July 8, 2010, 7:30 pm, Mennonite Heritage Village (Opening Night) 2.Saturday, September 11, 7:30 pm at the Krahn Barn, Neubergthal 3.Saturday, October 2, 7:30 pm at Laudamus, CMU, Winnipeg

Mennonite Floor Paintings by Margruite Krahn April 12 – June 14, 2010 Imperfect Groote Schtove at Eddies

Mennonite Women Evolving: Art by Bev Friesen and Gail Sawatzky November 3, 2010 – March 1, 2011 Be Fruitful and Multiply Gail Sawatzky Sisters in the Willows Bev Friesen

The Plett Homestead: Archaeology at Blumenhof December 5, 2009 – August 2, 2010 Auditorium, Mennonite Heritage Village In the summers of 2008 and 2009 archaeologists excavated the remains of the Cornelius and Sarah Plett homestead, which was inhabited from 1875 to 1906. The artifacts discovered at the site are on exhibit and matched with some items from the museum collections, providing a better idea of what life was like for the Pletts over one hundred years ago. Learn about the Plett family and what archaeology can tell us about history. For educators, please enquire about our Plett Site Edu-kit, an interactive kit for students to learn about historical archaeology and Mennonite pioneer families. This shoe belonged to a child aged 3-5 years old. It was discovered in a water-logged state at the bottom of the cellar of the Plett home, along with 18 other shoes. It is currently undergoing conservation at Parks Canada. Detailed photographs will be included in the exhibit until the preserved shoes are available in May, 2010. The Pletts brought some items with them from Imperial Russia in 1875, including some ceramic items. Both of these artifact fragments are known to be of Russian origin (learn more at the exhibit!). Small open sleigh bells such as these could be easily attached to harnesses, and were common until the 20th century.

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