On my recent jaunts to the Museum of Natural History, I bypassed the animal taxidermy dioramas and instead explored the rooms I’ve long avoided. Eskimo Hall seemed to pull me towards it like a magnet. The ceremonial masks and totem poles are some of the loveliest works of art I’ve ever laid eyes on. This is the first of several drawings I did over a few days hanging out there. A small girl appeared a few inches from my face to ask what I was up to. She said she draws too. After a discussion, she wanted me to guess her age, even offering a clue. She pointed to her pigtails. I counted 5 and guessed that number. She was delighted. I asked what happens when she turns 16. She inferred that I already knew what was going to happen. Her mom hung for a long time because pigtails didn’t want to leave. Then she introduced me to her three-year-old sister. You guessed it, she also draws. These are my favorite museum encounters.
