The new exhibition Unearthed: Raw Beauty opens at the Natural History Museum filled with ancient stones from around the world
Canapes and wine glasses were being passed, the president of the museum was giving remarks and millions in precious gems were about to be unveiled in a grand hall filled with dinosaurs and dramatic lighting. This reporter was reminded of a line from 30 Rock. “You always know you’re at the right party when it feels like the Riddler is about to attack.”
Dr. Lori Bettison-Varga, President of the Natural History MuseumCredit: Photo by Chris Nichols
The glamorous gala was the opening of the new exhibition Unearthed: Raw Beauty at the Natural History Museum. “The specimens presented are truly magnificent in scale and rarity within the world of minerals,” says Dr. Lori Bettison-Varga, President of the museum. “Large-scale minerals in their uncut, raw state are rarely displayed.”
Goethite on calcite with amethystCredit: Photo by Chris Nichols
The fact that this incredible array of gems, minerals and crystals exist at all is a complete miracle. Nearly all of the specimens date back long before humans roamed the planet and in our lifetime, many beautiful examples have been ground down into more useful things. Beautiful chunks of fluorite are powdered into toothpaste, red garnet is made into sandpaper and halite becomes table salt.
Unearthed: Raw Beauty at the Natural History MuseumCredit: Photo by Chris Nichols
It’s a highly theatrical show. Visitors enter into a darkened hall that resembles a cave with a ceiling seemingly pierced by shafts of light. Bubbling lava is projected onto the wall above a spectacular piece of 80-million-year-old amethyst. The shell of an ancient sea creature that turned to Aragonite was brought back to life with a Pepper’s ghost effect. The gold and diamonds on display seem like poor cousins to these glorious rocks.
Curators at the Natural History Museum have identified more than 400 of the world’s 6000 known minerals and contributed greatly to not only the scientific record but even pharmaceutical innovations utilizing these precious gems.
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Ammonoid fossil covered in aragoniteCredit: Photo by Chris Nichols
Amongst all the natural wonders, a man-made one stood out. A magnificent black lava rock outcropping filled with glowing tourmaline gems turned out to be the dessert table. Visitors were given tiny shovels and hammers and hacked away at the edible sculpture created for the show by Spanish artist Joanna Cuervo of Kometa. The sweet little jewels were crafted from agar-agar and colored with blue spirulina. The crunchy space rocks were citrus olive oil cakes to be dipped in a mysterious “dark matter.” Cuervo, who previously worked with Michelin-starred chef Minh Phan, sells her edible works at Omo Mercado in Upland.
Food artist Joanna Cuervo of KometaCredit: Photo by Chris Nichols
An artist meandering through the crowd with a 10’ tall Ammonoid rod puppet seemed shocked at the spectators chewing away at the display. “Are you all eating rocks over here?!” It may have been my favorite art experience of the year.
Unearthed: Raw Beauty at the Natural History MuseumCredit: Photo by Chris Nichols
Unearthed: Raw Beauty continues through April 18, 2027
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
900 Exposition Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90007
nhm.org/unearthed-rare-mineral-exhibition.