Friday, June 8, 2012

Palmer Museum and Lion Shrine- Steph Duthie









This the artifact from our traveling day that stands out the most to me.  I had passed the Palmer Museum, where this paw and a similar one are located, countless times since my freshman year at Penn State.  I had noticed the paws before but had never taken the time to really observe them and notice them fully.  I learned that the paws have 5 “toes”, unlike one of the popular Penn State logos, which only has 4.  I also noticed that there is actually a claw and hair on each individual tow.  From a distance, I had never noticed this.  I also observed that the back of the paw was completely flat.  For some reason I imagined that the back would be more curved or round.  Another thing I found interesting was that the paws are hollow. 

This artifact acts as a great tool because the picture allows me to see some of the front of the paw and some of the back of the paw (the best of both worlds!).  It also gives a different perspective than what I am used to seeing when just simply passing by.  It can serve as a reminder that things are not always as they seem…especially from far away.  It is very helpful to get up close and personal and make real observations, as opposed to assuming that what you think you know is accurate.     

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