Ramblin' RET: K of C Museum Exhibits

Sunday, February 11, 2018

K of C Museum Exhibits

Knights of Columbus Museum
New Haven, CT
(Note: Exhibit banners)

For a long time, an annual tradition has been to visit the Knights of Columbus Museum during the Christmas season to view their annual creche exhibit. Recently, I realized it was now February and we probably missed it this time. However, when I checked, I found that we still had an opportunity to see it because it was running to mid-February.

So, on Saturday (Feb. 3), my son, Richard, agreed to accompany me for a quick visit. We arrived at 4 p.m. (the museum closes at 5 p.m.). We found that this year, the creche exhibit was in the upstairs gallery space because the downstairs (revolving) exhibit space was occupied by a WWI exhibit.

The time limit worked in our favor as we moved speedily through the creche exhibit which left us a few moments to quickly browse through the WWI exhibit. Although there wasn't time to read all the signs, we had enough time to pause and comment on aspects we found attractive. We even had a few moments left at the end to breeze through the gift shop (almost an exhibit in itself).

I later found a nice video clip (3:45) of the creche exhibit at the Knights of Columbus Museum FB site for December 1, 2017.

Below is a selection of some of the creches we saw. Some are pictures we took while others I compiled from the FB site and other web sites.

This was probably our favorite one this year. It is from Louisiana. The angel is eating
watermelon; the 3 wise men are depicted by an Indian, Jazz singer, and French Chef;
instead of barn yard animals, there are alligators. armadillo, and a raccoon.

This was another of our favorites: from Poland,
made by a 13-year old boy using chewing gum foil and bits of paper.

This was another favorite of ours, largely because of the vibrant colors and extravagant detail.

This is from the museum's own collection: carved ivory.
Nativity at left, Last supper at right.

Detail from the Neapolitan style creche that is part of
the Museum's collection. It is actually huge and was
located downstairs on the main level of the museum.

Made entirely of paper (No Smoking!).

The WWI exhibit is time to run in conjunction with the 100th anniversary of the United States's etnry into the war and the Armistice of 11 November 1918.