Author: Newsroom
Los Angeles, CA (February 27, 2025) — The Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County (NHMLAC) is proud to begin its new free discussion series, Elephant in the Room.
The bold new series kicks off tonight with the first of three nights this spring — each featuring panels of experts tackling the thought-provoking topics. Tonight’s “Dioramas: Art or Science?” will be followed by “Taxidermy: Challenges of a Lost Art” on March 13 and “The Many Faces of Conservation” on March 20.
Tonight’s Elephant in the Room will be among the first evening programs to take place in the new Commons Theater, the brand new venue space that is also home to NHM’s latest daytime programming, including the performing arts offering Ocean Encounters and the film T. REX 3D. This dynamic new multipurpose theater recently opened in the Museum’s new wing, NHM Commons, and will host films, discussions, musical performances, community events, and more.
Aligned with NHM Commons always remaining free of charge for visitors and wanting to honor the local community, Elephant in the Room events are free for both Members and guests to attend. Tonight’s panel will include NHM Exhibition Developer Dr. Matt Davis alongside artists Saul Becker and Yesenia Prieto, all of whom contributed to NHM’s Reframing Dioramas: The Art of Preserving Wilderness exhibition.
The series is also part of the celebration for NHM’s iconic 100-year-old diorama halls, which guests will be able to explore after museum hours tonight and during future Elephant in the Room events. In conjunction with the centennial, this year’s theme pulls back the curtain on the artistry, science, and controversies surrounding the museum’s beloved installations, providing a platform for dialogue and discovery.
Through these events, visitors will be able to take an informed and critical look at the evolving role of dioramas in addressing important issues in biodiversity, ecology, and conservation — and their lasting impact on those fields — as well as how dioramas combine immersive art and scientific accuracy to educate and inspire while focusing on the ethical issues surrounding dioramas.
LINK: nhm.org/elephant-room-small-talk-big-issues
WHEN: February 27, March 13 and March 20, 2025, 5-7 pm