[Paddlewise] Maligiaq and the museum kayak

When Maligiaq Padilla, the Greenland National Kayak Champion, was here
last week for a paddle to the Statue of Liberty, part of the itinerary
for him was a visit to the Amer. Museum of Natural History to see the
Inuit collection and THE kayak centerpiece.

I would like to claim that I thought of the idea but it was Donna
Nussenblatt's suggestion.  She had been on the Statue paddling trip the
previous afternoon and had come into town from New Jersey for some quick
sightseeing with the Greenlandic legendary teenager.  My first reaction
to myself was "What a dumb idea! He has seen and built those things.  It
would be like bringing coals to Newcastle, what ever that means (yes, I
do know its origins, so don't besiege me with its historical roots)" 
But I realized she was right.

Donna spoke of her own forays to see the kayak.  That sidehall of the
museum is often filled with kids on school outings to institutions of
learning such as this one.  Donna remembers lying down alongside the
showcase to look up at the hull of the boat and follow its fine lines
with her eyes, while school kids were practically stepping on this "New
York crazy" on the ground.

My own memory of it was also through the eyes of someone else, Doug
Simpson, principal owner of the Feathercraft company.  I had gone with
him to see it in March.  There he was with his nose pressed against the
glass alongside 10-year old Latino and African-American inner city kids
also with noses smearing glass.  They knowing next to nothing about
what they were looking at but fascinated by the display; Doug, knowing
next to everything about the subject matter, but equally fascinated as
they were by this relic stretched out before him.

Well, with great anticipation, we walked up to the museum from my
brownstone just a few blocks from the place.  We entered the large hall
leading to it, the one with all the realistic statues of animals in
their natural settings.  I grew more and more impatient as Cindy Cole
(Maligiaq's host in Delaware), Donna and Maligiaq lingered over every
blasted, silly animal display.  Finally we left that area and as we
weaved our way through the narrow passageway leading to the auditorium
whose entrance is right at the beginning of the Inuit display, my steps
quickened.

I raced ahead.  There it was before me...a grey painted large piece of
plywood at what should have been the portal to the display.  The exhibit
was closed!!!!  My heart fell as did Donna's when she and the rest
caught up to me.  Maligiaq, ever the inquisitive being that he is, did
not stop but continued straight ahead, moved the plywood aside and began
to walk into the bashed up, construction-site looking area. We cautioned
him back before a guard might catch him and likely throw us all out.

A helpful museum volunteer gave us a sketchy account of the whereabouts
of the display...it was off in storage, while construction was going on
for something or another.  Donna, not to be easily dissuaded and quite a
formidable lady, pushed and pushed for more information.  (Donna is one
of those female dynamos like Jackie Fenton, Debbie Reeves, Sandy Kramer,
Elaine Harmon...the list goes on...whose drive is doing so much for the
seakayaking community these days.)  She was directed to a phone, where
using all of her considerable persuasive skills talked to curators,
anthropogists, etc. hidden in the bowels of the building to get access
to the display...afterall we had the Greenland national kayak champion
with us and in town for only one day.

Alas, her efforts were to no avail.  The displays of kayak, artifacts,
Inuit clothing, tools, etc. are all in crates.  It is unclear what their
fate will be.  Will the exhibit be re-opened at some point?  Who knows.

Oh, Maligiaq?  Like any kid (and he is still a kid despite how quickly
they reportedly mature in Greenland), he was jumping up and down to go
see the dinosaurs display, a section in which the museum truly excels. 
And that really peaked his interest and made him happy.  But, boy, I
sure would have liked to have seen him and THAT kayak!

ralph diaz
-- 
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Ralph Diaz . . . Folding Kayaker newsletter
PO Box 0754, New York, NY 10024
Tel: 212-724-5069; E-mail: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com
"Where's your sea kayak?"----"It's in the bag."
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