Walter Kitundu is an accomplished instrument builder, musician and artist who has been associated with the Exploratorium for many years. He’s a warmly familiar sight around the museum--often he can be found tinkering in our learning studio, talking with colleagues on the museum floor, or in the machine shop, ... More »

Walter Kitundu is an accomplished instrument builder, musician and artist who has been associated with the Exploratorium for many years. He’s a warmly familiar sight around the museum--often he can be found tinkering in our learning studio, talking with colleagues on the museum floor, or in the machine shop, making things. In addition to his well-known musical pursuits, Walter is a dedicated bird watcher and photographer, and it’s not uncommon to find him crouching in the bushes, tracking birds in the park outside the museum. I asked Walter if I could accompany him on one of his frequent outings, to learn more about birds, and more about him too. He agreed, which was lovely, since he’s been pretty busy ever since he got a Macarthur genius grant this past November. That means he’s one of only 25 people who were named Macarthur fellows of 2008. The Exploratorium is very proud. I hope this program will show a side of Walter that the mainstream press has not highlighted--just a man, in the bushes, with a camera. Less «