Leonardo: 500 Years into the Future represents the pivotal unity of art, technology and science of Leonardo da Vinci, Filippo Brunelleschi and the Sienese engineers of the Renaissance.

This is a world premier and exclusive U.S. showing at the Tech Museum beginning this Saturday September 27 and running through January 4, 2009.

Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci (1452 – 1519) was an astronomer, sculptor, geologist, mathematician, botanist, animal behaviorist, inventor, engineer, architect, musician, and painter. Leonardo is probably best known as the painter of the Mona Lisa and The Last Supper. Leonardo’s formal training in the anatomy of the human body and skill as an artist allowed him to make more than 200 drawings of the human body, visible anatomical features as well as internal organs. As an engineer, he drew plans for the submarine, helicopter, parachute, human powered flying machine, toothed wheels, pulleys and pulley blocks, crankshafts, flywheels, springs, shock absorbers, scissors, and the list goes on.

The exhibition, covering 30,000-square-feet in Parkside Hall, has a plethora of exhibits including art, sculptures, drawings, architectural projects, machines and mechanisms, anatomy, and aviation.

The life-sized and scale working models are based on conceptual drawings and designs by Leonardo, Francesco di Giorgio, Mariano di Iacopo (Taccola), and others. These models recreated using tools and materials common in Leonardo’s time. Most of Leonardo’s machines were never built in his lifetime, as many could not have been built due to the lack of suitable parts.

On display is a model of Leonardo’s Flying Machine where the wings are driven by back pedals, which the flier operates with alternating leg motions. The effect of this thrust is amplified by the hand-operated crank, which powers a hoisting device. Bring your wide-angle lens.

There is a cool planetary clock designed by Lorenzo della Volpaia. A planetary clock is not to keep time but to show the position of the heavenly bodies relative to the Earth, so that astrological influences could be calculated with precision.

Two Renaissance paintings by Leonardo’s disciples are included in the exhibition - Leda and the Swan and The Virgin and Child with St. Anne.

The curator of the exhibition is Leonardo da Vinci expert, Paolo Galluzzi, Director of the Institute and Museum of the History of Science - Florence, Italy.

Advanced “timed” tickets are required. Allow a minimum of two hours for the exhibition, as there are numerous displays and multimedia presentations.

Advance ticket sales have already exceeded last year’s Body Worlds exhibit.

This is a must see for the entire family.

The Tech Museum of Innovation
September 27, 2008 – January 4, 2009

Tickets and Operating Hours

Directions, Parking and Public Transportation

Click for photos…

The Smithsonian Magazine is hosting a Free Museum Day across the nation this Saturday, Sept. 27. And plenty of Bay Area museums are participating, like:

• Coyote Point Museum for Environmental Education in San Mateo
• Peninsula Museum of Art in Belmont
• The Exploratorium in San Francisco
• Berkeley Art Center in Berkeley
  
• Lindsay Wildlife Museum in Walnut Creek
• Hiller Aviation Museum in San Carlos
• Bedford Gallery in Walnut Creek

All you have to do is fill out this card for your free admission.

I confess, I didn’t know half of these museums existed until just now, so if the Smithsonian’s sole goal is to expose the public to museums, it already worked.

There’s more on this California list of participating museums, including some heavy-hitters like the J. Paul Getty Museum in L.A. and Mission San Juan Capistrano. Or you can find other museums nationwide that are participating, including (obviously) all the Smithsonian museums in Washington, D.C.

It’s unfortunate to not see any San Jose city museums participating, but such is life. I know of at least one SJ museum that will be very busy this weekend.

Posing by ‘Sforza’, (click the pic) the San Jose Horse Mounted Unit helped to welcome Leonardo - 500 Years Into the Future.

Many people have told me how sorry they were to have missed Gunther von Hagens’ BODY WORLDS just because they waited too long to buy tickets.

Leonardo - 500 Years Into the Future will be another must see event. The exhibition opens on September 27th and runs through January 4th. Tickets can be booked now.

The San Jose Sforza model: is 24 feet tall - made of steel and Fiberglass - weighs 6,600 pounds

About the San Jose Horse Mounted Unit - TACK

Leonardo: 500 Years into the Future - Tickets

My newest obsession lately is goofing around in Second Life. I’m still very much a newbie, but I’ve found some pretty spiffy places to kill time in and I’ve made a few random objects.

What I like to do is find any of the corporate-created sites. For example, Scion has some land - Scion City. You can drive around a Grand Theft Auto-Vice City-ish land. Or if you do a quick search, you can find yourself in Comcast’s themepark.

I already knew about San Jose State’s virtual campus (classes are held there, students create work, etc) and I have to admit, being able to sit on the chair that dangles from the Tower - that was kind of cool (in of course, a completely silly way.)

But I found another spot - The Tech!

When you visit The Tech in Second Life you can check out all sorts of exhibits and art. Even the IMAX works. Actually I’m not 100% sure on that one.. it says it’ll play a movie, but I have yet to get it to work. (Remember, still a newbie!)

Oh and for those that are super confused…

Second Life® is a 3-D virtual world created by its Residents. Since opening to the public in 2003, it has grown explosively and today is inhabited by millions of Residents from around the globe.

That’s not nearly enough to explain what Second Life is all about - check out the link to find out more.

Links:
Second Life
The Tech Museum SLurl: (this worked earlier, hopefully it’ll work for you - if it doesn’t, just search for “The Tech”)

I know we need the rain, but today was miserable! The forecast calls for an 80% chance of precipitation for this weekend. Ugh! In the need of a warm getaway, but unable to leave town, I’m planning to visit the enticingly mysterious (dry) Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum.

In addition to the collection of artifacts, this Sunday kicks off an exhibition relevant to the disappearance of honeybees. A phenomenon I have been following for sometime now.

‘Vanishing Pollinators’ in the Museum Lecture Gallery.
Opening reception: Sunday, January 27 @ 3:00pm.

Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum
1342 Naglee Ave
San Jose, CA 95191

Monday - Friday: 10:00am - 5:00pm
Saturday - Sunday: 11:00am - 6:00pm

$9.00 general admission*
$7.00 seniors 55 and older and students with I.D.
$5.00 children ages 5 - 10
free children under 5
* $1.00 discount on general admission for members of AAA, AAM, KQED, and Military

Please note: Visitors 17 and under will not be admitted without a parent or chaperone at least 18 years of age.

Only Non-flash photography is allowed inside the museum.

As I walked into The Tech Museum of Innovation, for a special preview of the new Body Worlds 2 & The Three Pound Gem exhibit, I did so with an open mind.

I was pleasantly surprised to find the exhibit, even though in some cases staged with humor, tastefully done. This collection of human plastinates is an enlightening and informational look at our bodies.

The message that ’smoking is bad for you’ is an old one that is often ignored, but there is no ignoring the preserved black smoker’s lung. It will grab your full attention. Moving through the exhibit I was not put off. To the contrary, I was struck with the marvel that is life. I came away from the presentation with admiration for Dr. Gunther von Hagens scientific contribution.

The Exhibit opens September 27, 2007
For Tickets

I would like to thank The Tech and Body Worlds for a most enthralling tour and press conference. They have brought a not to be missed hit show to San José.
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The newly renovated The Plumed Horse restaurant in Saratoga officially reopens August 25th. To get a jump on the crowd come for a dinner that will benefit the solar initiatives of The Tech Museum of Innovation on Wednesday, August 22.

The Tech will install a new generation of solar panels and become greener by the power of the sun. It will inspire our kids, in the museum’s Energy Gallery, to become innovative and reinvent the Silicon Valley again and again and again. It takes 49 seconds of the sun’s energy to power the earth for one year. The big challenge for our generation is to harness enough sun beams to replace the use of fossil fuels.

The evening will feature a talk by T.J. Rodgers about “Silicon Valley: The Land of Chips, Solar Energy and Pinot Noir.” T.J.’s Clos de la Tech Pinot Noir will be poured during the evening.

Long time patrons and high tech entrepreneurs, Aki Fujimura, Gary Price, and Tony Zingale purchased the Plumed Horse to continue the tradition, significantly update the restaurant, and add to the already world-class wine program.

Completing the ownership team are the Executive Chef and Partner Peter Armellino, who was most recently Chef d’Cuisine at San Francisco’s Aqua, which earned a rare two Michelin stars, and the General Manager Joshua Weeks, whose face will be familiar to anyone who has dined at the “old” Plumed Horse in the past.

The suggested donation for the August 22nd event is $150 per person. RSVP to dinnerevent@thetech.org and include all guest names. Mail your tax deductible contribution to The Tech Museum, 201 South Market Street, San Jose, CA 95113 or call the Development Department at 408-795-6155 to use a credit card.

The Plumed Horse
14555 Big Basin Way
Saratoga Ca 95070
408 867 4711

I mentioned in an earlier post that every second Sunday of the month is free admission day at The Tech Museum of Innovation. There is also, a Tech Pass Program providing discount admission of $3 per person to gallery exhibits at the Tech Museum for a group of up to five people. San José Public Library branches and Santa Clara County Library branches receive 30 passes per month and are available on a first come basis. You must be a library cardholder to receive the discounted pass. This is a great opportunity for families to visit the Tech Museum without breaking the bank.

More information about the Tech Pass Program: San José Public Library and Santa Clara County Library

It has been a long Fourth of July week. Many activities, possibly a bit more money spent than expected. Therefore, you are looking for something the family can do this weekend that will not stretch the budget. How about something way too much fun and free? This Sunday and every second Sunday of the month is free admission day at The Tech Museum.

Upcoming 2007 dates:

Sept 9
Oct 14
Nov 11
Dec 9

More info here.

See also: Tech Museum Discount Admission

I have visited the Los Altos Library a number of times but never the History Museum located behind the library. This time I went into the museum. Upon entering, I was met by a museum volunteer ready to explain about the museum.

The upper level has a permanent exhibit that depicts how Los Altos has changed over time from the early days of vast orchards. One cool exhibit for the kids (like me) is a replica of downtown Los Altos in 1932 that features a model railroad and buildings of that era. There is a brochure available next to the exhibit that identifies the buildings within the train diorama.

Between the museum and the library is the J. Gilbert Smith History House Museum located on one of the last active apricot orchards in the Santa Clara Valley. The house, built in 1905, once belonging to orchard grower J. Gilbert Smith has been refurbished to replicate a farmhouse of the 1930’s. Tour of the house requires a docent guide.

Surrounding the house are outdoor exhibits, including a one acre apricot orchard, antique farm equipment, and a tank house. There are also picnic tables and many benches shaded by oak trees.

The admission free History Museum and History House Museum at 51 South San Antonio Road is open Thursday through Sunday noon to 4:00pm. There is daily access to the gardens, outdoor exhibits, and picnic tables.
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