Hmong at Heart is back
On February 16, MCM welcomed back the award-winning exhibit that just completed a national tour of
10 cities, with over 230,000 exhibit visitors. The exhibit was a result of a grant from the Freeman Foundation
Asian Exhibit Initiative in 2003, administered by the Association of Children's Museums. The 1,000 sq. ft.
exhibit uses interactive environments and storytelling to bring to life the remarkable 5,000-year old history of
the Hmong culture.
MCM Executive Director Ruth Shelly explained that the Hmong culture is perhaps one of the least
understood in Wisconsin.
"The Hmong culture is one that mainstream America does not know very well at all," she said. She
attributes this to the fact that Hmong refugees are fairly new to Wisconsin and despite their culture's long
history, they do not have a definitive homeland. But it is the Hmong people's resilience and durability,
despite dislocation and persecution, which the exhibit celebrates.
"Regardless of their many transitions, the Hmong culture, their language, and their traditions have survived,"
Shelly said. "That is a remarkable story of inspiration."
The entrance to Hmong at Heart features interactive experiences for all ages. Older children and adults
can read about the history of the Hmong culture and watch a video about the exhibit's development, while
younger tots simply enjoy taking pegs in and out of an interactive map. A quilt made by Hmong elders,
which depicts the migration of the Hmong people, hangs on the entrance wall. From there, visitors are taken
on a journey into the daily life of the Hmong people.
From a village in Laos, to a refugee camp in Thailand, and finally to a Hmong American home, the
exhibit features a number of interactive displays that bring the Hmong culture to life. In the Laotian village,
children can dress up in traditional Hmong clothes, practice making rice with a traditional rice pounder,
and plant vegetables in a plot on a ‘Laotian mountainside.’ In the “Thai refugee camp,” visitors are exposed
to the Hmong's drastic life change when they were forced to flee persecution from the Laotian government.
In this part of the exhibit, children can ration food on a scale at the food distribution center, view a U.S.
government pamphlet created for refugees, and visit a mail house. In the Hmong American house, visitors
get a sense of how Hmong traditions have blended with the American culture.
The exhibit is rich in interactive experiences for children of all ages, while also catering to older
children and adults with informative placards and videos detailing the history and experiences of the
Hmong people.
"We really wanted to put the story out there, so everyone has an ample opportunity to learn about this
fascinating culture," Shelly said.
Exhibit creators relied heavily on community relationships in order to create a culturally sensitive and
historically representative exhibit. Aside from extensive research, creators worked with Hmong elders and 4th
10 cities, with over 230,000 exhibit visitors. The exhibit was a result of a grant from the Freeman Foundation
Asian Exhibit Initiative in 2003, administered by the Association of Children's Museums. The 1,000 sq. ft.
exhibit uses interactive environments and storytelling to bring to life the remarkable 5,000-year old history of
the Hmong culture.
MCM Executive Director Ruth Shelly explained that the Hmong culture is perhaps one of the least
understood in Wisconsin.
"The Hmong culture is one that mainstream America does not know very well at all," she said. She
attributes this to the fact that Hmong refugees are fairly new to Wisconsin and despite their culture's long
history, they do not have a definitive homeland. But it is the Hmong people's resilience and durability,
despite dislocation and persecution, which the exhibit celebrates.
"Regardless of their many transitions, the Hmong culture, their language, and their traditions have survived,"
Shelly said. "That is a remarkable story of inspiration."
The entrance to Hmong at Heart features interactive experiences for all ages. Older children and adults
can read about the history of the Hmong culture and watch a video about the exhibit's development, while
younger tots simply enjoy taking pegs in and out of an interactive map. A quilt made by Hmong elders,
which depicts the migration of the Hmong people, hangs on the entrance wall. From there, visitors are taken
on a journey into the daily life of the Hmong people.
From a village in Laos, to a refugee camp in Thailand, and finally to a Hmong American home, the
exhibit features a number of interactive displays that bring the Hmong culture to life. In the Laotian village,
children can dress up in traditional Hmong clothes, practice making rice with a traditional rice pounder,
and plant vegetables in a plot on a ‘Laotian mountainside.’ In the “Thai refugee camp,” visitors are exposed
to the Hmong's drastic life change when they were forced to flee persecution from the Laotian government.
In this part of the exhibit, children can ration food on a scale at the food distribution center, view a U.S.
government pamphlet created for refugees, and visit a mail house. In the Hmong American house, visitors
get a sense of how Hmong traditions have blended with the American culture.
The exhibit is rich in interactive experiences for children of all ages, while also catering to older
children and adults with informative placards and videos detailing the history and experiences of the
Hmong people.
"We really wanted to put the story out there, so everyone has an ample opportunity to learn about this
fascinating culture," Shelly said.
Exhibit creators relied heavily on community relationships in order to create a culturally sensitive and
historically representative exhibit. Aside from extensive research, creators worked with Hmong elders and 4th
and 5th graders from Randall Elementary. Students at Randall Elementary spent a year studying the Hmong culture and took field trips throughout
Wisconsin to learn firsthand about the Hmong people.
"For the Hmong community, we wanted to honor the remarkable Hmong community and history," Shelly said. "It was not only about the
integration of the Hmong community, however, but also working with children. One of the main goals of the exhibit was to help all kids understand
that they have a culture and to help facilitate respect for other cultures."
Hmong at Heart will spend another five months at the Madison Children's Museum before traveling to the Minnesota Children's Museum in August.
The exhibit will also soon reach outside museum walls. Madison schools will be receiving Hmong culture field packs which Shelly says are chockful
of "artifacts, books, documents, and curriculum guides."
"I am very proud of the fact that the exhibit has a life outside of the museum," she said.
While Hmong at Heart has proven a major achievement for MCM, there is more excitement in MCM's future. In the Spring 2010, MCM plans to
move to its new facility at 100 N. Hamilton. The new facility is over five times the size of its current location and will allow for the popular child
hotspot to broaden its content and cater to a larger age-range. On the docket is more cultural exhibits like Hmong at Heart and more science
exhibits.
Wisconsin to learn firsthand about the Hmong people.
"For the Hmong community, we wanted to honor the remarkable Hmong community and history," Shelly said. "It was not only about the
integration of the Hmong community, however, but also working with children. One of the main goals of the exhibit was to help all kids understand
that they have a culture and to help facilitate respect for other cultures."
Hmong at Heart will spend another five months at the Madison Children's Museum before traveling to the Minnesota Children's Museum in August.
The exhibit will also soon reach outside museum walls. Madison schools will be receiving Hmong culture field packs which Shelly says are chockful
of "artifacts, books, documents, and curriculum guides."
"I am very proud of the fact that the exhibit has a life outside of the museum," she said.
While Hmong at Heart has proven a major achievement for MCM, there is more excitement in MCM's future. In the Spring 2010, MCM plans to
move to its new facility at 100 N. Hamilton. The new facility is over five times the size of its current location and will allow for the popular child
hotspot to broaden its content and cater to a larger age-range. On the docket is more cultural exhibits like Hmong at Heart and more science
exhibits.
Laura Salinger is a
freelance writer based
in Madison.
freelance writer based
in Madison.
By Laura Salinger
On a cold Saturday morning in late February, State Street was nearly desolate
as only a few stragglers braved the cold with upturned collars. But inside 100
State Street, the Madison Children's Museum (MCM) was abuzz with youngsters
trailed by doting parents. Familiar exhibits occupied the museum's first floor.
Upstairs, however, the cow-milking exhibit and dinosaur bone excavation site
were put on hiatus to welcome back the museum's largest and most in-depth
exhibit to-date: Hmong at Heart.
On a cold Saturday morning in late February, State Street was nearly desolate
as only a few stragglers braved the cold with upturned collars. But inside 100
State Street, the Madison Children's Museum (MCM) was abuzz with youngsters
trailed by doting parents. Familiar exhibits occupied the museum's first floor.
Upstairs, however, the cow-milking exhibit and dinosaur bone excavation site
were put on hiatus to welcome back the museum's largest and most in-depth
exhibit to-date: Hmong at Heart.