Get out there and have fun

Visitors will hardly recognize the new layout and exhibits at the Ski Museum. If you haven't been there this season, now would be a good time to check it out.

"It's a whole new place," said Ruth Harrell, the development director of the Mammoth Lakes Foundation.

Under the new curatorship of Mammoth photographer and artist Kendra Knight, the museum has loaded the smallish space with a trove of material from the Mason Beekley International Ski Art and Literature Collection.

The walls are repainted in a delightful combination of colors, while outside the main space, the gift shop has been expanded. The gift shop this season features the 2008 Vintage Ski Poster 2008 Calendar, along with the recently-produced DVD, "Mammoth Dreams: The Story of Dave McCoy."

Down one aisle of the museum is a collection of photographs taken by the Mammoth Mountain Ski Area founder, from old, archival photos from his self-published photography books to some of his newest efforts.

The exhibits include an entire wall of Beekley's collection of New Yorker covers; there is a children's ski art wall; there is a delightful wall of ski pinup girls, including a magazine spread featuring Marilyn Monroe.

Many of the ski posters from Beekley's vast collection are on display, as well as sculptures, figurines and printed material.

Harrell also announced that the museum will stage a "Grand Re-opening Party" on Oct. 27 from 4-7 p.m., during which McCoy will present his photographs.

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