Shell museum to host next lecture in series
The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium on Sanibel is continuing with its Season Lecture Series at The Community House, at 2173 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel. The next one will be:
– April 10 at 5:30 p.m.: “Precious Luster: On Pearls and Value” with Paul Callomon, collection manager at The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University
In this wide-ranging and entertaining talk, Callomon will explore the concept of value through one of its best-known historical emblems — pearls. Starting with their genesis within the shells of living oysters, we see how this one-time natural rarity and talisman of royal status was transformed into a mass-produced product that nevertheless retains its preciousness.
He is collection manager in malacology and general invertebrates at The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University in Philadelphia. Though originally a designer, Callomon’s lifelong engagement with shells led him further into collecting, research and publishing about them during a prolonged stay in Japan. His interests today focus on the social history of natural science, in the West and in Japan, and on the museum as a metropolitan and cosmopolitan forum. Callomon has advanced degrees in museum leadership and science, technology and society.
The cost is $10 per person or free for museum members; membership will be confirmed upon registration. It includes choice of wine, beer or non-alcoholic beverage and a light snack.
To register and for more information, visit ShellMuseum.org/in-person-lectures.
To reach BAILEY-MATTHEWS NATIONAL SHELL MUSEUM & AQUARIUM, please email