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| - I wanted to visit the Heard Museum for years because I had read about their extensive collections. As I walked around for the first time, I was surprised because it's obvious that the Heard is trying to be a lot of things at once: a gallery of art, a cultural center, a history museum, and a sales gallery. It can make a visit more challenging because the lines between these different aspects can be blurry.
An exhibition of one of my favorite sculptors, Allan Houser, brought me to the Heard. As much as I enjoyed seeing his sculptures, his works were displayed like a last-minute house guest: wherever there was room. Aside from a great timeline of his accomplishments, curatorial context for the viewer seemed to be absent. This can be frustrating but it shouldn't discourage a visit to the Heard. You'll just have to do some of the heavy lifting yourself. There is a lot to see and the acres of katsina figures alone can keep you entertained for while.
I don't write about museum gift shops because they don't have anything to do with the museum experience but the Heard's gift shop is an exception because it sells high quality genuine Native American rugs. This is a valuable learning experience because, unlike in a museum setting, you can touch these textiles and get a true appreciation of the skill and time required to produce such quality. Aside from a visit to Hubbell Trading Post in northeastern Arizona, the Heard's gift shop can provide a nice experience in itself.
So, yes, go to the Heard and get your hands dirty. It's worth it.
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