The Elephant in the Room: The Allure of Ivory and Its Tragic Legacy

September 8, 2018 - March 31, 2019

Old City Hall

September 8, 2018 – March 31, 2019; Old City Hall

In conjunction with our Lightcatcher exhibition, Endangered Species: Artists on the Front Line of Biodiversity, the Museum will explore the story of ivory from pre-history to modern times, featuring a selection of ivory from the Museum’s collection. The exhibition will cover areas of research in elephant communication, the devastating effects of ivory hunting, and highlight how organizations are trying to save these incredible animals around the world.

Meet filmmaker Patricia Sims, director of the documentaries Return to the Forest and When Elephants Were Young, in the Old City Hall exhibition The Elephant in the Room: The Allure of Ivory and Its Tragic Legacy on Saturday, October 6 at noon to learn more about elephants, the importance of their tusks, and other facts about these majestic creatures. Sims will answer questions about Asian elephants and talk about some of the topics addressed in the exhibition. Sims has documented the plight of endangered Asian elephants in Thailand since 2010. Her films explore new strategies for the future of human-elephant relations and the survival of all elephants. Join us at 1pm in the Rotunda Room of Old City Hall for a screening of the short documentary Return to the Forest. (31 min.), about the successful reintroduction of Asian elephants into the wild in Thailand. Narrated by William Shatner, Return to the Forest is the heartfelt story of the Elephant Reintroduction Foundation in Thailand and its mission to return captive Asian elephants back to the wild, saving them from abuse, exploitation, and extinction. Director Patricia Sims will give a behind-the-scenes discussion after the film. All ages are welcome! Included with admission/Members free.