MOUNDSVILLE, W.Va. — Grave Creek Mound Archaeological Complex in Moundsville invites visitors to take a break from the summer heat while enjoying a variety of programs and activities during the month of August. They include the monthly “Second Saturday” film, along with two art exhibits and art activities. All programs are free and open to the public.
The featured “Second Saturday” film is titled “The War of 1812.” This two-hour PBS film will be shown starting at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 13. During the War of 1812, the United States fought the British, Canadian colonists, and native nations in a struggle that threatened the existence of Canada and divided the United States to the point that the new nation almost broke apart. The war had its share of legendary heroes and battles, but also prominent blunders and less than heroic individuals. Stunning reenactments, evocative animation, and incisive commentary by key experts combine to tell the story of this war that shaped the destiny of a continent. The filmwas produced by WNED-TV Buffalo/Toronto and Florentine Films/Hott Productions Inc, in association with WETA Washington, D.C.
The museum’s Featured Artist of the Month for August is Susan E. Drennan, who describes herself as primarily a landscape artist. Her art is about nature, including the nature of a person, animal, place, or thing. In a sense, this encompasses everything in life, but to Drennan, it encompasses the essence of its being. She has worked in watercolor, pastel, acrylic and oil, and her artwork is constantly evolving. The viewer is invited to share her artistic journey as reflected in this exhibit.
A second art exhibit will be on display in the museum’s Activity Room. It features art by members of NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Health, directed by Patty Neis. Acrylic paintings and some three-dimensional works are included. The NAMI exhibit will be on display through August and September.
In keeping with the artistic theme, the museum’s Discovery craft table invites visitors to discover molas, colorful rectangles of fabric that are meticulously appliqued in vibrant colors by women of the Kuna tribe who live in the San Blas Islands off the coast of Panama. Traditionally, the molas are part of the blouses worn by Kuna women. It can take more than 100 hours to sew a mola panel, so museum visitors will create their mola designs using construction paper and glue instead. Visitors can turn to the colorful NAMI artwork for inspiration to make their own colorful mola. This craft will be available during regular museum hours.
Operated by the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History, Grave Creek Mound Archaeological Complex features one of the largest conical burial mounds built by the Adena people between 250 – 150 B.C. and ranks as one of the largest earthen mortuary mounds anywhere in the world. Exhibits and displays in the Delf Norona Museum interpret what is known about the lives of these prehistoric people and the construction of the mound. The complex also houses the West Virginia Archaeological Research and Collections Management Facility.
Admission to Grave Creek Mound Archaeological Complex is free. The Delf Norona Museum, located at 801 Jefferson Avenue, is open 9 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and closed Sunday and Monday. Access to the Mound and other outdoor areas closes at 4:30 pm.
For more information about activities and programs at Grave Creek Mound, contact Andrea Keller, cultural program coordinator, at (304) 843-4128 or andrea.k.keller@wv.gov or visit www.facebook.com/gravecreekmound and www.twitter.com/gravecreekmound.