Da Vinci —The Genius Exhibition in New Mexico in 2018

July 11th, 2017

(Albuquerque, New Mexico) The New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science (NMMNHS) hosts a special exhibition, Da Vinci—The Genius, February 10 through July 29, 2018. Da Vinci—The Genius was created by Grande Exhibitions with the assistance of Museo Leonardo da Vinci – Rome, and a number of experts in Italy and France to provide a truly authentic experience

 “The Museum has not hosted an exhibition of this scope since the blockbuster Titanic exhibition a few years ago,“ said Margie Marino, the Museum’s executive director in making the announcement to the Museum board of directors. “This is a world class exhibition that we anticipate will draw visitors from all over the United States.”

 Leonardo da Vinci was an uncommon talent at a very uncommon time: the Italian Renaissance. Born out of wedlock in the year 1452, Leonardo was forced by his modest circumstances to make his own way in the world. He was largely self-educated, using his insatiable curiosity and observational skills to create artworks of extraordinary beauty and hundreds of inventions of every possible type. He was an artist, inventor, musician, scientist, and philosopher. Hundreds of years before these inventions became commonplace, he designed a car, prototypes for manned flight, a bicycle, scuba gear—so many things that it was difficult to provide the full range of his interests within this 15,000 square-foot exhibition.

 According to Michael Gelb, the author of How to Think Like Leonardo da Vinci, curiosity is one of seven important steps to emulating Leonardo’s genius. An examination of his life and his work inspires one to utilize all their talents, and is very much a survival skill relevant to living your best life today.

 To apply all of one’s effort, skill, and interest to every plan and problem is the great educational message of the exhibition, which includes a feature on the most popular of Leonardo’s works, (and perhaps the most popular artwork of all time) Mona Lisa. A multimedia presentation provides an in-depth look at this painting and a forensic analysis that allows you to get a view of this painting that you would see nowhere else.

 “This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” said Marino. “It’s a compelling reason to plan a trip to New Mexico in 2018.”

Leonardo da Vinci is universally hailed as one of the world’s geniuses. What made this unique, gifted individual so revered throughout the years? Are there lessons in his multi-disciplinary approach, analytical observation, and his power to use these processes to create that could inform us today? Da Vinci-inspired programming has been developed that features what we can learn from the life and interests of da Vinci. Celebrated author Gelb outlines seven key processes that unleash the genius in everyone.

Instilling a love of learning and supporting the growth and development of creativity involves the use of all our capabilities. Leonardo da Vinci was a genius for whom whole person learning resulted in many famous inventions and remarkable, timeless art pieces. Original da Vinci drawings will be exhibited with other master drawings at the New Mexico Museum of Art with related programming.  

Da Vinci—The Genius exhibition is presented at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science. This 10,000-square foot, interactive exhibit includes life-size, interactive replicas of da Vinci’s inventions and covers topics a range of topics explored by the artist’s fertile and creative mind.

About the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science:  The New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science is a Division of the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs. The Department of Cultural Affairs is New Mexico’s cultural steward and is charged with preserving and showcasing the state’s cultural riches. With its eight museums, seven historic sites, arts, archaeology, historic preservation and library programs, the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs is the largest state cultural agency in the nation. Download the Department’s free Cultural Atlas app for information about historic cultural sites throughout New Mexico at http://atlas.newmexicoculture.org/.