Royal Ontario Museum Blog
Monthly Archive: December
#ThrowbackThursday: Hanging the Curtains
In September, 1971, the ROM opened the landmark exhibition Keep Me Warm One Night, a kaleidoscopic display of over 500 pieces of Canadian handweaving. It was the culmination of decades of pioneering research and collecting by the ROM curatorial powerhouse duo 'Burnham and Burnham’, aka Dorothy K. Burnham and Harold B. Burnham.
Who sings for blues? How Blue Whales became ingredients in everyday products
![Canadian Blue Whale Brand Fertilizer - made from blue whale products in the 1950s. Photo by Katherine Ing A photo of a canister of Canadian Blue Whale Brand Fertilizer - made from blue whale products in the 1950s. Photo by Katherine Ing](https://www.rom.on.ca/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/blog_post/thumbnail/canadian_blue_brand_fertilizer-header.jpg?itok=PNypCpGM)
Living in Ontario, the Blue Whale in the vast ocean may seem a distant thought from our daily lives. But our history with these animals is more intertwined than we realize - for example, would you ever use fertilizer in your garden made from blue whales? Canadians used to! Read this guest blog post by ROM Biodiversity / Blue Whale team member Katherine Ing to find out a bit more about the other ways whale products became a part of everyday life during the peak of industrial whaling, and what that means for modern global whale conservation.
Canada 150 - Prince Edward Island - red pottery
![Detail of ROM Accession: 987.40.1 by PEI Pottery detail of ceramic bowl](https://www.rom.on.ca/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/blog_post/thumbnail/987.40.1_2_rom2006_6897_2.jpg?itok=pVvT9EHV)
One of my favorite things to think about when studying craft objects is the way in which they can teach us about the place where they were made, in both sociocultural and environmental aspects. Most often craft objects are examined from the sociocultural perspective, but the environmental perspective is important. Crafts are objects made in places, with natural resources. The story of some craft objects can teach us a great deal about the natural world and how human beings use the products of the natural world.
#ThrowbackThursday: Mending Gauze
In September, 1971, the ROM opened the landmark exhibition Keep Me Warm One Night, a kaleidoscopic display of over 500 pieces of Canadian handweaving. It was the culmination of decades of pioneering research and collecting by the ROM curatorial powerhouse duo ‘Burnham and Burnham’, aka Dorothy K. Burnham and Harold B. Burnham.
Taking off Zuul’s jacket
Introducing the Zuul Preparation Blog Series: Robin Sissons is a technician at Research Casting International, as well as a scientist with an MSc from the University of Alberta on ankylosaurs. Robin will be working on preparing Zuul’s belly from its encasing rock over the next few years. Stay tuned for updates from Robin on her progress as she works on this 15 000 kg block of rock and fossil!
#ThrowbackThursday: Big Labels for Old Drafts
In September, 1971, the ROM opened the landmark exhibition Keep Me Warm One Night, a kaleidoscopic display of over 500 pieces of Canadian handweaving. It was the culmination of decades of pioneering research and collecting by the ROM curatorial powerhouse duo ‘Burnham and Burnham’, aka Dorothy K. Burnham and Harold B. Burnham.
Introducing Zuul, Destroyer of Shins, Generator of Science
![The exceptionally preserved skull of Zuul crurivastator (ROM 75860). Photo of a dinosaur skull](https://www.rom.on.ca/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/blog_post/thumbnail/zuul-skull-nolabels_1.jpg?itok=HLCQCJYp)
Today, the ROM unveiled a new species of armored dinosaur,
Adventures in the Great Bear Rainforest: from the Royal Ontario Museum to the wilds of British Columbia with Paul Nicklen
![A moss-covered, First People's-made wooden carving amidst lush-green undergrowth](https://www.rom.on.ca/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/blog_post/thumbnail/2016-08-16_-_0116_-_sealegacy.jpg?itok=0Pl0zSXR)
Guest blog by recent EVC grad Paul Esposti relating his adventures and insights from exploring the Great Bear Sea & Rainforest.
The Living Room: Creative Team & List of Works Cited
![Detail of The Living Room, 2017 (Photo: C. Barreto, 2017) installation view](https://www.rom.on.ca/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/blog_post/thumbnail/img_8182.jpg?itok=2GyacOyV)
CANADA 150 - Nova Scotia – Amos Pewter
![Bottom view of ROM Accession: 2010.33.2 print label of Amos Pewter](https://www.rom.on.ca/sites/default/files/styles/medium/public/blog_post/thumbnail/2010.33.3.1_3_2010cdstaff.jpg?itok=thkGmZB5)
Mahone Bay is a beautiful town just south of Halifax, on the eastern shore of Nova Scotia. I stopped there on a holiday with my family this summer, and was charmed by the sheltered harbour, the tall trees, and the lovely shops. It was a perfect place to stretch our legs and eat some ice cream. When we were there, I noticed that we drove by Amos Pewter, and smiled at the memory of a Christmas ornament made of pewter that I once received as a gift from a dear friend.