CALM and art for seniors

museumsenior072: CALM and art for seniors
Eager seniors got a close look and a chance to see what the skin on a gopher snake feels like, as CALM docent Connie Selgrath brought it by for their examination.
Normally, if you went to an art museum, the last thing you would expect or want to see would be a live snake. Throw in a couple of high profile birds, and no one would fault you for thinking perhaps someone forgot to close the windows over night. Not so on Sept. 5 at the Bakersfield Museum of Art. The animals, residents of the California Living Museum (CALM), were part of the entertainment for Senior Wednesday, a monthly cooperative effort between the museum and the Kern Senior Collaborative, exposing senior citizens to many kinds of art, even the slithery and winged, moving variety.

Approximately a dozen seniors were introduced to a long, gopher snake, a dignified looking red tail hawk and a curious-looking owl, that never once said, "Who."

During the hour-long presentation, not one senior questioned if this was art, as CALM Education Manager Debby Kroeger and docent Connie Selgrath kept the audience interested and entertained with facts and anecdotes about their living displays. One resident did dash out of the room, but that was only while the gopher snake was being exhibited. She apologized saying she had a bad experience with a snake in her youth.

As the snake slowly, slithered, under, over and around Selgrath's arms, Kroeger explained that it was a misunderstood reptile. As the expression goes, "art is in the eye of the beholder" and in this case the non-venomous, gopher snake's markings often get it confused with a rattlesnake. Instead of being appreciated for helping control rodents in the wild, the gopher snake is often attacked, injured or killed by humans who mistakenly fear it as a threat to their safety.

Back into a large, soft, cloth sack went the snake -- his performance for the day at an end.

Next on the bill, tethered to Selgrath's hand, was the red tail hawk. And this work of art is like an old master. As its age increases, it becomes more valuable. The hawk is one of the oldest, if not the oldest resident at CALM. It has resided there for 24 years. Here is where the comparison to rare art can be made. Kroger explained to her stunned audience that 90 percent of birds of prey in the wild, such as the hawk, rarely survive one year.

"The museums in Bakersfield cooperate and support each other," Kroeger said. "So, when David Gordon (the art museum's director of education) invited us, we were pleased be a part of the activity. Connie, who has been a docent with us for six years, assists with a lot of these off site programs. She likes being "Vanna White" (flips the letters on the TV show "Wheel of Fortune") modeling the animals. The audience was really interested and enthusiastic. I especially liked that they asked questions. An interested audience helps make for a good presentation."

Last on the program for the day was the owl. Before it made an entrance on Selgrath's arm, Kroeger had primed the audience with a little "feather knowledge." She held up two feathers -- one of which was the owl's and the other another bird of prey. Kroeger let each audience member feel the two feathers.

"Notice how the owl's feather is softer," she asked. "It is the softest of the birds of prey and that's what gives it a quiet flight in comparison to all others."

Kroeger encourages those who would like to be a volunteer docent at CALM to contact her by calling (661) 872-2256. She will invite you to come out to observe a docent in action and get the details. Next step is the training which takes about three months because it covers everything from wildlife and plants to habitat information.

"Docents are the personal link between CALM and our visitors -- they make learning come alive," Kroeger said. "I would love to have several docent graduates ready for our busy spring season."

CALM is a combination zoo, botanical garden and natural history museum, operated by the Kern County Superintendent of Schools and located in northeast Bakersfield. CALM is home to native animals that because of injury or abandonment cannot survive on their own in the wild.


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