Kayte Brannon

November 3, 2009

The treasures of Nubia have come to Charleston, West Virginia.

An ancient kingdom on the upper Nile in present-day Sudan, Nubia had no written language until late antiquity and was little known until recent times.

In 1905 Harvard's archaeologist George Reisner, funded in part by the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, directed a "salvage operation" in the 100 miles of the Nile Valley soon to be flooded by the first Aswan Dam. This was the homeland of the ancient kingdom of Nubia.

A part of Reisner's resultant collection is on loan today from the Boston Museum of Fine Arts to the Clay Center in Charleston.

"We're pooling all of our resources to tell this story." Kayte Brannon told Putnam Rotarians today.

"In our performance hall, we've already had an African storyteller. She talked to our school-age kids." Later there will be an African musician who will teach how to storytell through native music."

A "real-live" archaeologist is scheduled for a lecture, and visitors will even have an opportunity to make Nubian-style thin-walled pottery.

This type of show marks a"sea change" at the Clay. From it's early days as the Sunrise Museum for school children, the center has morphed into a community resource for entertainment, exploration and learning for all ages.

The performance side offers Broadway shows, dance troupes and other entertainment groups on tour, in addition to a concert series each season by the West Virginia Symphony Orchertra.

On the museum side, Brannon organizes science and art exhibits, and supervises the docents who serve as guides and interpreters for visitors.

A cadre of youth volunteers also also assists with center exhibits and programs.

The museum side at the Clay includes an art gallery and two floors of science exhibits.

"One gallery is especially for 'litle guys,' five or younger," said Brannon, who has served as "lead educator" for six years with the Center's Avampato Discovery Museum. "They have a special place just for themselves."

"Many people think the 'ElectricSky Theater' is an i-Max." she said. In fact, the viewer is surrounded. The 61-foot dome "puts you there -- in the action," said Brannon

"Right now, we're showing 'sea monsters.' Beginning Saturday we will show a film on ancient Egypt."

The ElectricSky also has planetarium shows, now produced in-house. "It's also an 'immersive experience' in our domed theater, in which you can view seasonal shows of the skys."

The Clay Center has developed many new programs of special appeal to an adult audience, she continued. These include a noon lecture series each Wednesday, a wine workshop, and workshops on such diverse topics as ceramics and astronomy.

"The Clay Center for the Arts & Sciences of West Virginia is for everyone!" said Brannon.

Kayte Brannon produced the award-winning display of club activities shown. Pictured with Brannon are (l to r) Mike Fitzwater (Aaron's Products), Rotarian Rev. Dr. Melissa Pratt, Brannon, and Rotary President-Elect Mike Herron.