Prairie Museum of Art and History is getting off to a great start in 2016.
Our January lobby exhibit is an awesome collection of about 115 armadillos of all descriptions and sizes on loan to us from Karen Dilts of Colby.
Karen's collection started 47 years ago when she married into a family of notorious collectors. When Karen was asked what she collected, she thought if she ever collected anything it would be something no one could ever find. Her answer was armadillos since her mother came from Texas. Thereafter, her family and the Dilts have gone out of their way to find armadillos for her.
The exhibit includes nearly everything armadillo. There are puppets, figurines, jewelry, plush stuffed toys, bobble-heads, books, puzzles, cartoons, yard art and much more.
(Click image to enlarge)
This hand-puppet was the beginning of Karen's collection. The most recent addition is a small crocheted finger-puppet.
Armadillo facts:
Armadillo is Spanish for "little armored one."
Nine-banded armadillos weigh from 2 to 20 pounds, have short legs, big ears and a ringed tail almost as long as their body.
Armadillos search for food by rooting in the ground. Their stout claws are great diggers and they often damage lawns and gardens while searching for insects - their main diet.
Armadillos can be found from Texas, along the southern tier of states to Florida, South Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky, and northward into Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, and even Kansas.
During the Great Depression armadillos were known as "Hoover hogs" because they were eaten instead of the "chicken in every pot" as President Herbert Hoover promised.
Armadillos often end up as road kill because of their habit of jumping up in the air when startled. Not a good plan when being approached by a moving vehicle!
As always there is no admission to see the lobby exhibit, view the art in the Garvey Education Room, or shop the Museum Mart. Stop at Prairie Museum of Art and History to see what's new for 2016.
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