Woodson Wanderings

More Ways than One to Make Magic

noreply@blogger.com (Catie Anderson) — Wed, 12 Mar 2014 14:24:00 +0000

by Catie Anderson, curator of education

Last week the Woodson Art Museum hosted Wisconsin magician Lou Lepore as an artist-in-residence.* Lou brought to life theatrical themes of illusion, humor, and deception, which characterize the Museum’s current exhibitions: Mystery, Magic, and Mayhem: Wonders from the American Museum of Magic and From Houdini to Hugo: The Art of Brian Selznick.

Lepore offered engaging and fun performances for more than 300 area students, who enjoyed sleight-of-hand illusions, humor, audience participation, and stories about the great American magicians represented in historic posters featured in the galleries.

Lepore’s entertaining residency came to a close on Sunday, but opportunities for magical museum experiences remain plentiful. Magician Mike Von Schroeder of Oshkosh performs on Saturday, March 29 and Friday, April 4, and Lawrence University psychology professor and mentalist Bruce Hetzler offers a lecture and mentalism show on Saturday, April 5.

There is, of course, another way to create your own magic at the Woodson . . . wait for it . . . by volunteering as a Museum docent!

I will offer a new series of training classes Tuesday and Thursday mornings in May for those interested in joining the Woodson’s docent corps. Training involves discussions, presentations on the Museum’s history and collections, lessons in gallery engagement and visual analysis, art appreciation, and practice tours. If you’re interested in the arts, education, storytelling, and getting involved in the north central Wisconsin community, please consider the Woodson’s docent program.

Training to become a Woodson docent does require dedication, patience, moving past comfort zones (for some), and enthusiasm . . . but, the rewards are many! Consider these: connecting with a community of like-minded and engaged individuals, sharing passions for arts and culture with the next generation, and discovering new strengths within yourself by rising to the challenges presented by thoughtful volunteer service. In addition, lifelong learning through conversations and shared experiences with visitors, students, artists, staff, and fellow volunteers is a dynamic way to gain insights into new areas of study made possible by volunteering at the Woodson Art Museum.

Spring is the perfect time to reinvigorate and refresh a commitment to community and self. The snow is slowly melting and soon sun-drenched days will be here. Celebrate the seasonal change by making a positive change in your life. Connect with me at canderson@lywam.org to learn more or to sign up for the May training class.

*Lou Lepore's "Now You See It – Now You Don't" residency funding comes from a Community Arts Grant from the Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin, with funds from the Wisconsin Arts Board, Community Foundation, and the B.A. & Esther Greenheck Foundation.

I Hear That Hot Wax Hurts

noreply@blogger.com (Amy Beck) — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 22:07:00 +0000

by Matt Foss, project coordinator

I have an uncle with only nine and a half fingers. It’s not a congenital affliction. Nor is it (as he insists) the result of wrestling with a carnivorous animal. It was a circular saw that claimed half of his left index finger.

Since the incident, he uses his absent appendage as a gimmick. He gives nephews and nieces a “high 4 ½,” and one of his specialties is using the disfigured digit for parlor tricks. The old “disappearing finger act” has graced many Thanksgiving dinners. While able to complete tricks because of his excommunicated extremity, he lacks the skills of professional magicians who perform magic without the aid of a job-site accident.

Through Sunday, Lou Lepore, a professional magician from the Fox Valley, leads programs for all ages at the Woodson Art Museum. This week, Lepore is teaching area students introductory magic tricks and sleight-of-hand techniques during class visits to the Museum. On Saturday, he will preside over “Family Magic Day,” an intergenerational family program during which participants learn and perform magic together.

Magician-in-residence Lou Lepore

The Museum and Lepore believe in the power of magic to break down barriers. This week’s programs at the Woodson not only offer fun, safe, educational opportunities for families, but also opportunities to enhance social skills. For introverts, magic can make a bashful person gregarious. When perusing the history of magic, it’s common to find that some of the world’s most famous magicians grew up as shy children.

Magician Mike Von Schroeder entertains at the members preview.

Whether it’s a card trick, quarter behind the ear, or a rabbit out of a hat, the art of illusion fascinates us. Lou Lepore’s residency and the exhibition Mystery, Magic, and Mayhem prove that. Compared to what’s at the Woodson Art Museum this week, my uncle can’t hold a candle. Not an easy task for him anyway . . .

A Kaleidoscope of Color and Change

noreply@blogger.com (Jane Weinke) — Wed, 26 Feb 2014 16:20:00 +0000

by Jane Weinke, curator of collections

Each day Woodson Art Museum staff members push themselves to develop fresh ideas to keep exhibitions, events, and workshops – everything we do – new and exciting. “Changing things up,” not only keeps us on our toes, but also hopefully encourages our frequent visitors to return often and prompts others to drop by for the first time.

Perhaps, on the surface, presenting any exhibition for thirty-seven years might not seem to fit that ongoing challenge, but only the annual March opening and month-long presentation of the Student Art Exhibition remains the same.

Since its inception and through the years, the Student Art Exhibition model has been frequently updated to incorporate suggestions from the regional art specialists who submit their students’ artwork and ever-changing mediums and styles. These tweaks keep the exhibition fresh and exciting, not only for the teachers and students, but also for the parent and Museum visitors.

When you consider that thirty-one teachers entered the artwork of ninety-three north central Wisconsin students in grades 9-12, all created in the classroom from a plethora of themed assignments, you certainly will be as amazed as I am at the cohesiveness of the 2014 exhibition. The talent and dedication of the students and teachers are readily apparent.

Notable are the stunning portraits in varying mediums: oil, pencil, ink, and photography. All are striking for the adept use of materials; whether using vibrant color or black on white, the young artists present fresh takes on the single-subject theme.

“Pushing the boundaries” certainly describes the sculpture entries that include a ceramic totem, a wheel-thrown vessel with glass shards, and a wide variety of creatures from sea, land, and space.

It’s March. It’s Youth Art Month. The Woodson Art Museum joins the nation in honoring the creative efforts of teachers and students. Those are the only constants. Fresh, creative, and exciting artwork awaits you. The images are include here to pique your interest.

Please visit the Student Art Exhibition at the Woodson Art Museum, March 1 – 30; you will not be disappointed. If you’re reading this post from afar, I encourage you to check museums and art centers in your area for their student art exhibitions.

Congratulate and support north central Wisconsin artists at the Student Art Exhibition reception, Saturday, March 1, Noon – 2 pm.

Mary Kluz: Unsung Woodson Art Museum Hero

noreply@blogger.com (Jayna Hintz) — Tue, 18 Feb 2014 22:45:00 +0000

by Jayna Hintz, curator of education

This is a shout out to educational assistant Mary Kluz who for more than 16 years has cut hundreds of shapes, from intricate dinosaurs to simple geometrics, every month for Toddler Tuesday at the Woodson Art Museum. I develop six themed-based patterns . . . it’s Mary who cuts 100 of each pattern – 600 shapes for art projects enjoyed by little ones, 18 months-4years each month. Mary also completes other art project preparation so swiftly that it pushes me to plan months in advance.

Ever efficient, Mary keeps wasted materials to a minimum. Often when cutting a shape from a piece of paper, she transforms leftover scraps into usable shapes. These carefully packaged pieces are then used for future projects. Got to love Mary’s resourcefulness.

Mary would never seek recognition and won’t be happy with me for bringing her center stage. Sometimes, though, when someone like Mary does a consistently remarkable job, we need to sing her praises!

Question 4: What Makes a Good Artist Residency?

noreply@blogger.com (Amy Beck) — Wed, 12 Feb 2014 16:27:00 +0000

by Matt Foss, project coordinator

On Wednesday nights, curator of education Catie Anderson and I play trivia at a local tavern. Before you judge this as a weekly convention of either nerds or drunkards, there is only a smattering of dweebs and the cohort knows how to handle libations.


Paul Rhymer hard at work at the Woodson

Previously, we were a team of four. After my daughter, Lucy, was born, my wife made the ultimate sacrifice, allowing me to continue going to trivia night. Additionally, Catie’s ex-boyfriend moved away to attend graduate school. Although we still manage to win occasionally, first prize $30 bar tabs are harder to come by.

Last October, sculptor Paul Rhymer was at the Woodson as an artist-in-residence. Given Paul’s background and diverse experiences, Catie and I knew he would be good at trivia. Conveniently, we enlisted to take him out to dinner on Wednesday night. Although Paul was apprehensive about participating, his competitive fire burned. As it got close to game time, we saw Paul eyeing the opposition. He was in. Question after question we were tested. Crispus Attucks, James Joyce, the 1975 Cincinnati Reds; one by one they came, and one by one we owned it.

Wendy leading a workshop

While the schedule of events for an artist residency typically is set in stone when the artist arrives, moments spontaneously happen that add to the quality of the experience. Wendy Brockman sharing “lunch time” with staff; Julie Bender meeting Jim Jasper, our architect and her biggest fan (who acted like a fawning schoolgirl around her); or staff members serenading Calvin Nicholls on his birthday all come to mind. Sometimes the most memorable moments of residencies are not planned.

Birthday card for Calvin

As Paul, Catie, and I sat with victory in hand, we agreed it was another successful artist residency at the Woodson Art Museum.

Jim Jasper telling his friends about meeting Julie Bender

Memories for a Lifetime

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Foley) — Wed, 05 Feb 2014 18:07:00 +0000

by Kathy Kelsey Foley, director

This isn’t the first time that my turn to write a blog post coincides with a family event of great importance. I love the serendipity and randomness that allow me – as well as other weekly Woodson Wanderings contributors – to write not only from a personal perspective, but also about my life outside the Woodson Art Museum.

When we launched Woodson Wanderings in September 2008, our goal was to create a “mixed voice” blog, one that would be both institutional and personal while revolving around our lives at the Museum. Over five and a half years, we haven’t missed a week and I believe we consistently have met – and exceeded – our goal. I hope readers agree.

My happy family news revolves around a BIG birthday celebration. My mom, whom we affectionately call “G” – marked her eighty-fifth birthday on Monday, February 3. To celebrate, my siblings, our spouses minus one, and most of our children, i.e., G’s beloved grandchildren, gathered in Miami Beach and made memories for a lifetime.

Admittedly, traveling to Miami Beach in late January when you live in north-central Wisconsin is not exactly a hardship. It was minus 19 degrees when we left and, alas, not a lot warmer when we returned. But a few days of warm sunshine, family, and lots of laughter sure do chase winter blues away.

G gatherings always involve excellent food and that was certainly true of the birthday celebration. A brunch at Yardbird, known for its southern cooking and hospitality – think fried chicken, biscuits, and waffles – brought the family together with G’s Miami Beach friends. A great time was had by all!

Poems have marked many of our family’s celebrations and for G’s milestone birthday, we outdid ourselves. From rhyming patterns based on “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas,” limericks, and couplets, every family member had heartfelt words for G. We laughed and we cried . . . tears of joy, to be sure.

No surprise, my visit with Mom wouldn’t be complete without a museum experience. I remained a few days after others returned home, so I had to check out the recently opened Pérez Art Museum Miami. Located in the new Museum Park in downtown Miami – PAMM will eventually be complemented by a science museum under construction – the dramatic building is the work of Herzog & deMeuron. Our time at PAMM included a tour of the galleries to gain a sense of the impressive spaces and a look at multiple exhibitions. Lunch was part of our plan and Verde served up delicious food and a spectacular view of Biscayne Bay.

Museum memories and family memories . . . what possibly could be better!

The Allure of Illusion

noreply@blogger.com (Catie Anderson) — Wed, 29 Jan 2014 14:36:00 +0000

by Catie Anderson, curator of education

Bullet catches, necromancy, water-cell escapes, and exotic realms fill the dramatic posters of Mystery, Magic, and Mayhem now on view at the Woodson Art Museum. The colorful exhibition features thirty-one prints depicting the acts of famous American and European magicians and designed with enticing graphics to sell tickets. Much like movie posters or album covers today, these highly stylized posters communicate to audiences the tone, appeal, and the unique angle of a performance.

Late-nineteenth-century marketing, as illustrated through these prints, gives us insight into the social cues and trends of Victorian culture. Distant lands held fascination for theatergoers; posters, props, and sets were designed to mimic the perceived luxuries of the East or cash in on current events like the 1922 discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb in the Valley of the Kings.

Charles Carter, Carter the Great – The Secrets of the Sphinx, 1926, hand-drawn, four-color lithograph

Spiritualism, the occult, and all things macabre also were equally appealing in this era, and magicians crafted deceptive illusions, which convinced many that communing with the deceased was possible. Mentalism, or mind-reading/manipulation, is a powerful psychological phenomenon that captivates today’s audiences just as it did those over a hundred years ago.

Trim tuxedos, beautiful assistants, and the ever-popular devilish imps perched upon the magician’s shoulder painted pictures of prestidigitators as clever, classic, and charming performers whose elegance and perceived worldliness filled theater seats and street corners. Magicians were billed as the sexy bad boys of the turn of the century – brave, dangerous, and confident – some even bordering on exhibitionists.

Harry Bouton, Blackstone Oriental Nights, ca. 1930, hand-drawn, four-color lithograph

Harry Houdini, for example, performed his public escapes nearly nude to prove to onlookers he was not hiding any tools that would assist in his maneuvering out of cuffs, chains, straightjackets, or locked trunks. The other reason for Houdini’s minimal attire? The opportunity to showcase his lean, muscular build – Houdini was a sex symbol during the heyday of his career. His Hungarian mother and magician’s assistant wife, Bess, tolerated Houdini’s bravado and ruthless competitive spirit as he built a monumental career for himself in the Western hemisphere.

Despite many ghoulish and dark themes, the history of magic also is filled with comedy and playfulness. Take Eddie Diijon’s famous flea circus of miniature gilded chariots, carriages, and acrobatic apparatus. Sleight-of-hand wizard Cardini developed an onstage persona as a tipsy socialite whose sleeves produced endless cards and cigarettes. Harry Blackstone, Sr. – a dynamic illusionist – also offered a softer side to magic, engaging thousands of American children with his gentle humor and fluffy white rabbits produced for young participants.

Behind these larger-than-life personas are the stories of men and women whose dedication to their craft and showmanship was itself an art form. Learn more about magicians, Brian Selznick’s career as an author and illustrator, and how the art of illusion has stood the test of time by engaging with in-gallery materials during your visit. Equipped with an audio tour, activity guide, and video installations in the galleries, your Woodson visit is sure to be magical and memorable. Don’t miss the exciting new Art Park interactives – including a mini-theater where children and families can learn and perform basic tricks and more – in the Museum’s lower level.

Making Magic with Snowflakes

noreply@blogger.com (Amy Beck) — Wed, 22 Jan 2014 16:19:00 +0000

by Amy Beck, marketing and communications manager

Team USA Snow Sculptors return next week to work their winter magic for their 24th year at the Woodson Art Museum. To those of us who’ve bundled up and toiled away to create simple snowballs packed and stacked into rudimentary snowmen, these artists’ jaw-dropping creations are marvels.

Although they may seem to materialize from thin air and a sprinkling of pixie dust, these ephemeral wonders emerge because of the sculptors’ talents, experience, and efforts. Mike Martino, Tom Queoff, and Mike Sponholtz originally met while all were art students at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Queoff, who’s run a sculpture studio in Milwaukee since 1978, assembled the team a year after he was asked to judge the first U.S. National Snow Sculpting Competition in 1985. Since then, the team has created about 200 snow sculptures and competed in the 1998 Olympics.

Stop by the Museum on Friday and Saturday, January 31 and February 1, to witness Team USA at work wielding snow carving tools in lieu of magic wands. Decked out in parkas, snow pants, and fur-lined hats, the physical exertion of chiseling, climbing, and shaving snow will have them shedding winter gear in no time. Even so, the guys chat amiably with onlookers and manage to make it all look easy.

Perhaps it’s only fitting then that this year’s sculpture will be a rabbit emerging from a magician’s top hat, designed to complement artwork in Mystery, Magic, & Mayhem, two exhibitions opening on Saturday, January 25 – From Houdini to Hugo: The Art of Brian Selznick, complemented by colorful, historic lithographs created to promote performances by the masters of American magic.

Take a look at some of what these snow sculptors have pulled from their bag of tricks at the Woodson Art Museum throughout the years, and then plan to visit the Museum to see this year’s snow sculpture emerge. Team USA takes playing in the snow to a whole new level, truly working magic with snowflakes.

Five Thousand and Counting

noreply@blogger.com (Jane Weinke) — Wed, 15 Jan 2014 14:19:00 +0000

by Jane Weinke, curator of collections

5,450 . . . 5,451 . . . 5,452 . . . slowly, sheet-by-sheet, I am documenting a vast collection of pencil, colored pencil, charcoal, and ink drawings. The artist, Don Richard Eckelberry, considered this

resource his “Fort Knox.” * These sketches and composition drawings – many including color and field notes – were completed over several decades. They depict birds from California to New York and Trinidad and Tobago to Greenland including living, endangered, and extinct species. The volume of work is so extensive it filled three drawers in a metal file cabinet tucked in a corner of Don’s studio. Each drawing is organized by species and housed in manila folders – not ideal Woodson Art Museum storage conditions, so there

is urgency to get them properly housed.

Don believed direct in-the-field observation of birds provided a quality difficult to replicate in the studio. Even though fieldwork was fraught with difficulties –inclement weather, insects crawling through drying paint, and waning light – he firmly believed it the proper method to capture the essence of a bird. To Don, the drawing stage was critical and typically took the greatest time. It wasn’t unusual for him to sketch a dozen variations of the same bird position before considering it “just right.”

The sketches mostly are drawn on tracing paper, but some are on paper and illustration board. According to Don, “The point of working on paper rather than directly on the surface allows

changes in composition before putting paint down. This is especially important when preparing illustrations for bird guides where many figures must be arranged on a single plate. Simply, I cut a sheet of tracing paper into workable sizes approximately 4” x 6”. It’s then easy to move the individual drawings about until I get the best possible
arrangement.”

Since 2007, I’ve been diligently entering information about each drawing into a database. Among the many steps: assigning a number, measuring each sheet, writing a description including notes on the sheet, and finally completing a condition report. Each summer a dutiful intern scans the works so an image can be attached to each database entry.

I am not a birder. So when I look at these works, I see pencil lines on paper. Some of the drawings include bird names, on occasion even the publication for which they were created. But many, many, others offer no clues to species. I have lovingly labored for hours searching field guides and online birding websites, but many times I am unsuccessful. Don’s years of birding experience made written identification unnecessary. Since I lack his expertise, ultimately, there are dozens of “unknown bird” entries.

So, as time permits, I continue the task of recording drawings. They are an amazing resource that we’d like to offer online in the future. As for me, I hope to complete the documentation before I retire.

*The Woodson Art Museum holds a large collection of Don’s work, a 2009 bequest of his widow, Virginia.

Treasuring Memories

noreply@blogger.com (Jayna Hintz) — Wed, 08 Jan 2014 14:31:00 +0000

by Jayna Hintz, curator of education

Holidays often are difficult for anyone who’s experienced the death of a loved one. Sometimes people find holidays, anniversaries, and birthdays can cause a resurgence of grief or feelings of loss. These are the reasons the Treasuring Memories program was developed in 2008 in collaboration with Aspirus Comfort Care and Hospice Services. On Thursday, January 9, 4-6 pm, individuals and families gather at the Woodson Art Museum to create a personalized memory box.

The process of grief is unique to each individual. Creating a commemorative or memorial box is a way to keep alive and honor the memory of a loved one. Grief is not about forgetting the person who has died; it’s about finding ways to remember.

Memories and feelings associated with those we’ve lost stay alive inside us and we need to find ways to express them. Making a memory box is one way to do that and keep alive those memories. A simple box can be altered to become a place for special keepsakes and letters, and be a way to express thoughts and feelings connected to the person we knew and loved.

“When a loved one dies, the process of grieving is a completion that allows us to honor that person’s life and claim the wisdom we have gained through the relationship,” wrote Joan Borysenko, who stresses the importance of the mind-body connection in healing.

I’ve created a number of memory boxes over the years, mostly in memory of my father. He would have been eighty-three on January 9. It’s purely a coincidence that the Treasuring Memories program will be held on the date of his birth. One way I can honor the wisdom I have gained as his daughter and celebrate his life is through the creation of memory boxes.

The first memory box I created was near the time of my father’s death. I didn’t even know it was called a memory box; it was my way of containing and expressing my grief. I incorporated a poem from a sympathy card I had received, the date of his death, and a photo I had taken of his hands with my daughter’s hands.

A memory box I made a number of years after his death celebrated his love for nature and pride of his ancestry. On the outside of the box, I incorporated images of treetops. Inside the box, an image of a single, sturdy tree represents the quiet, solid strength and love my father shared.

The most recent memory box I created celebrates the ability my father had to attentively listen and communicate the wonder of our universe and the world. We spent many hours naming the constellations and pondering what might exist beyond the stars. We also discussed what once walked the earth where we live and how, at some level, we are all connected.

Creating a memory box could become part of a new tradition for you – something to treasure each year – and provide a time to remember, to express feelings, and to be enriched.

Please join us on January 9, 4-6 pm, at the Woodson Art Museum to treasure the memories of those we’ve loved and lost.

As Shakespeare wrote, “Praising what is lost makes the remembrance dear.”

A Year in Review

noreply@blogger.com (Andy McGivern) — Tue, 31 Dec 2013 19:38:00 +0000

by Andy McGivern, curator of exhibitions

In my role scheduling upcoming exhibitions at the Woodson Art Museum, I’m always looking ahead. It’s fun to look back, too, because 2013 was such a good year for the Museum. We had a terrific and varied lineup of exhibitions enlivened by dynamic artist residencies. Museum renovations brought improvements to the main entrance, visitor services area, and galleries, and some wonderful artworks were added to the collection including three new sculptures on the grounds.

Here are a few photos highlighting some of what was offered at the Museum in the past year.

Calvin Nicholls shares techniques he developed
to create his paper sculpture.

Jason Ramey discusses and demonstrates
wood bending using a steam box.

Ramey assists students (including me)
in a wood-bending workshop.

Sherrie York teaches students linocut printing before
they try designing and making a print of their own.

Students ink a woodblock during Sherrie York’s
residency, “Let the Good Times Steamroll.”

York and area students place fabric over a large, inked
woodblock that is about to be pressed with a large roller.

Nancy Laliberte and Gil Dellinger paint
en plein air near the Wisconsin River.

Jan Stommes paints in the courtyard of St. John's Episcopal Church during Paint the Town: A Plein-Air Paint Out
held on the opening weekend of Celebrating Summer: Plein-Air
Painters of America.

Paul Rhymer works with Dave Jones
during a Rhymer workshop.

Paul Rhymer pours molten bronze during one of
many school and public demonstrations
throughout his weeklong residency.

David Huchthausen leads one of two gallery walks
discussing the glass artwork in his 40-year retrospective.

If 2013 is an indication, the future looks bright for the Woodson Art Museum. We have a great lineup of exhibitions scheduled – Magic, Upcycled Style, Pop Art, and more – along with some amazing artist residencies. Visit often to experience all that we have planned to foster the visual arts in central Wisconsin and beyond.

Wanted: Two Left Shoes

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Foley) — Tue, 24 Dec 2013 17:09:00 +0000

By Kathy Kelsey Foley, director

Like Forrest Gump’s box of chocolates, when you combine a holiday potluck lunch, white-elephant gift exchange, and the Woodson Art Museum staff, you don’t know what you’ll get!

Our fun-loving and creative team came together over the noon hour on Monday, December 16, to celebrate the season . . . and have a little fun, too.

The buffet table was filled to overflowing with an array of yummy foods. There were vegetarian delights along with carnivore-pleasing dishes and all sorts of tempting treats that make for adventuresome eating.

In addition to enjoying one another’s company and conversations about holiday plans, the pièce de résistance is the white-elephant gift exchange.

Shari Schroeder, administrative manager, is the mastermind and the master of ceremonies. She orchestrates the mischief and the fun. You can steal another’s gift up to three times, and a lot of wheeling and dealing certainly took place. Pear wine, an impish gnome, and an exotic elephant were in hot demand.

Alas, two right shoes were not. But this gift gets the highest marks for creativity along with its accompanying slogan: “When you’re right, you’re right!” However, the recipient sure would like to find at least one matching left shoe!

On behalf of the entire Woodson Art Museum team, happy holiday wishes and good tidings to all.

Finding Spaces for Growing Up

noreply@blogger.com (Catie Anderson) — Wed, 18 Dec 2013 15:09:00 +0000

by Catie Anderson, curator of education

Elementary and middle-school years are tough – filled with identity confusion, hormones, and self-doubt. What are our skills? Interests? Priorities? These questions may take a lifetime to answer, but I found myself addressing them, at a young age, at museums.

Anyone who works with or knows me is well aware of how many times I refer to my experiences at various museums, whether as an intern, volunteer, or visitor. These memories are still fresh, and I rely on them to inform my life and work today. I learned so much about myself, my hometown, and the world through frequent explorations of great museums big, small, and everywhere in-between. Quaint Shaker villages, encyclopedic art museums, and tiny nature centers all left strong impressions.

As a child, going to a museum was always a special treat under the guidance and encouragement of my parents. Downtown Chicago still held some enchantment for me – fancy shops, theaters, and lunches in front of big windows affording views of busy city streets. While Mom guided me through the Art Institute imparting wisdom on a range of subjects – historic textiles, decorative arts, and painters – my Father would join me at the Science and Industry and Field Museum, where he would explain how the gears on a machine would run or how a piece of furniture was made. His uncanny ability to pull from his mind’s bookshelf a timely quote or poetic allusion baffles me – a skill he most prominently displayed at museums. Botanical gardens and historic house museums were family affairs, offering avenues for everyone’s interests to collide and compete.

In addition to learning about my parents, museums were the sites for learning about myself, too. Early museum visits allowed me to sample a variety of different lifestyles, careers, and fantasies. In one gallery I may be an adventurous Egyptologist, in the next a biologist, in another a painter or poet. At the time, of course, I was dreaming of exotic careers and didn’t realize that I was, in fact, falling in love with museums and all of the chameleon-like opportunities they offered. Discovering what intrigues a young person is the first step on a long journey of trial and error. In my case, the way to ensure exposure to our world’s endless horizons was visiting museums.

Numerous visitor studies tell us that people are most likely to visit museums during two stages in their lives: as young people – students on field trips or with family – or as parents or grandparents repeating that cycle for the next generation. That leaves a lot of time in between visits. Getting started young is important, which is a well-supported fact. Much remains to be encountered and explored, though, at all stages of our lives. Speaking as a twenty-something in the midst of a foggy, quarter-life crisis, I know I can count on museum visits to realign me and offer some respite from aimless inner monologues. I think more people should allow themselves indulgent afternoons wandering through museums just because. Scholarship and background knowledge are not required, nor are lengthy visits. A visit is a visit and is a chance to reconnect with yourself or loved ones in a space that fosters those experiences.

Here’s hoping many will do just that at the Woodson Art Museum throughout the holiday season and beyond.

I am a fortunate person for many, many reasons – a healthy twenty-five year old from a loving family, a gainfully employed millennial working in a dynamic field – but one of the things I feel most lucky to have in my life is the gift of curiosity instilled in me by my parents.

Today is my Mother’s birthday and I get to reflect on all that she has done for me. Happy birthday, Mom, and thank you and Dad for all of the love, support, and opportunities for learning and growth you’ve made available to me.

I’m heading home in two short days and now I’m sure this sappy blog post will land me an extra present under the tree this year, right? Yes, typical only child.

The Final Edit

noreply@blogger.com (Shari Schroeder) — Wed, 11 Dec 2013 17:09:00 +0000

by Matt Foss, project coordinator

Woodson Art Museum Director Kathy Foley is an outstanding writer.
With great command of the English language and years of experience writing just about every document imaginable in the non-profit, corporate, and museum world, she knows how to write effectively for any audience. She’s the only person I know whose personal hero is Kate Turabian. There’s only one problem . . . she dreads a blank page.

I am the poor schlub who provides her with a first draft.
Knowing my work, no matter how incompetent or brilliant, will get sliced, diced, twisted, turned, reorganized, and repurposed is unnerving. As someone with strong writing credentials, I take pride in my prose. While I agree someone always should give your writing a “once over” – editing mistakes and offering a critique – it’s heartbreaking when only ten percent or so of the original text makes it into the finished product.

Although I found this annoying at first, I now embrace it.
Over time, I realized that while I write the first, second, third, and perhaps even fourth drafts, the edits Kathy makes during each step gradually turn it into a work of her own. This is appropriate, because her name is attached to the finished product. (Remember, I am just a schlub.) While a grant application or article might contain some of my ideas and words, it has to be in her voice and meet her standards when the Woodson Art Museum either submits or publishes the work. Now that I understand the process, I welcome the challenge and can’t wait to get started.

P.S. This blog was edited by Kathy :)

Tidbits from the Dream-Catcher File

noreply@blogger.com (Amy Beck) — Wed, 04 Dec 2013 15:31:00 +0000

by Amy Beck, marketing and communications manager

I have a “dream-catcher” journal on my bedside table to capture those fleeting thoughts that bubble up from the sleepy, subconscious realm and would otherwise be gone without a trace.

I ask Woodson Art Museum greeters to jot down visitors’ comments and anecdotes for a purpose much like that dream-catcher journal. These volunteers hear visitors’ stories – where they’re from and what brought them to the Museum – that might otherwise drift away unheard by staff members.

These snippets, just from the last couple of months, offer a window into who’s walking through the Museum doors.

Twenty visitors from an outdoor women’s group drove from Eagle River, Three Lakes, Hayward, and Minocqua.
A grandmother brought her 19-year-old grandson to see Birds in Art for his birthday – their first visit to the Woodson.
A couple of art students and an instructor drove from a Chicago arboretum to visit.
One group wanted to see the Huchthausen glass artworks –“Very impressive!”
Two day trippers from Minneapolis and four from Door County come to the Museum every year.

One group made a point of coming to the Museum while here from Alaska for a “short visit.”
A dozen visited from North Lakeland Discovery Center Bird Club.
A woman who’d visited the previous day brought her husband back the next.
Visitors from Antigo incorporated a Woodson Art Museum trip with tickets to see Blue Man Group at the Grand Theater.
A student returned after a class visit to write a report for school and brought the grandmother, too.
Five women interning at the Raptor Education Group, Inc. in Antigo visited.
On November 10, the final day of Birds in Art, visitors from the following locations traveled for Museum visits and overnight stays in the Wausau area: Alabama, Iowa, Minnesota, Minocqua, Chilton, Ringle, Two Rivers, and Ladysmith.
Here for the Huchthausen glass retrospective – here for every exhibition. (We love to hear that!)

The Museum’s Facebook page can serve “dream catcher” purposes, as well. Alongside a link to an NBC News story about programs bringing school children to the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas, a woman posted on her own Facebook page:

"The Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum of Wausau also has wonderful outreach programs. Not just for kids but for people with disabilities and anyone wishing to participate. We are so lucky to have it here.”

Shannon Pueschner, who works at the Visitor Services desk on weekends, relayed the story of one family’s first-time visit. A high school student, visiting to fulfill a class requirement, brought his mother and younger sister, and all initially didn’t appear happy to be here. Shannon suggested visiting Art Park, the Museum’s interactive family gallery, and three hours later . . .

“Upon their return to the main level, they all had smiles on their faces. They had returned to Visitor Services to show me the lovely drawing the younger child had done, and to ask some questions about the works on view. . . She (the mother) was amazed at how both of her children took such a liking, her son was enthralled and became independent of her, and her daughter was reading every label aloud and would not allow them to move on until she had visited every last painting, and read every last word.”

What’s your story? What brought you to the Museum recently – or for a virtual visit to the Museum’s Facebook, Twitter, or blog pages – and what do you have to share? I’d love to add it to my Museum “dream-catcher file.”

Visit often; the artwork will feed your dreams, too.

Make a Gift a Mother Is Sure to Love

noreply@blogger.com (Jayna Hintz) — Wed, 27 Nov 2013 20:24:00 +0000

by Jayna Hintz, curator of education

Recently, during the opening of Huchthausen: A Glass Retrospective at the Woodson Art Museum, artist David Huchthausen gave a talk about how he “stumbled upon” and began exploring the glass art form during his first college days in Wausau. He attributed his discovery to his mother, because she encouraged him to investigate the University of Wisconsin-Marathon County with the hope of keeping him near his Wisconsin Rapids home. The love of a mother started a journey that has turned out quite well for Mr. Huchthausen.

David Huchthausen, Implosion Sequence, 1995

A mother’s love is something we’re often thankful for, especially during this holiday season. As I sit down for our family’s Thanksgiving Day dinner tomorrow, I’ll give thanks for the love I receive from my mother. Sometimes it takes a reminder from someone else to be thankful for those important people in our lives. I wonder how many of David Huchthausen’s early glasswork attempts became centerpieces prominently displayed with pride by his mother. Mothers so often help us build pride in our accomplishments and offer encouragement to keep trying.

Linda Kindler Priest, From Egg to Water

As a mother of two young adults, I display with pride many artworks my children made. Now that they are older, I miss those gifts made with their own two hands. I plan to hint heavily about someone making a piece of jewelry I can wear with pride.

Jewelry-making classes are being offered at my favorite museum this holiday season :).

Kay Rashka, silver earrings

What have you made for your mother recently? A gift infused with creativity and love beats any store-purchased gift. The Woodson Art Museum offers a range of upcoming programs, including glass fusion and jewelry making – fused-glass pendants and silver fabricated earrings. Both complement the exhibitions on view now through January 19, 2014: Huchthausen: A Glass Retrospective and Transformation 8: Contemporary Works in Small Metals. Check out lywam.org or call 715.845.7010 for more details and to register for classes.

Sarah Birschbach, glass pendant

Last year I made my mother a small oak table during a class at the Woodson Art Museum. Maybe she’ll get a gift from the heart this year, too.

Sarah Birschbach, glass pendant

Jewelry Artist Turned Curator Admires Exhibition

noreply@blogger.com (Andy McGivern) — Wed, 20 Nov 2013 21:30:00 +0000

by Andy McGivern, curator of exhibitions

Years ago, as a student at the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point, I developed an appreciation for lapidary - cutting and polishing stones. After working with stones in the art metals department, I decided to take a few jewelry classes so that I could mount the stones in silver.

In the art metals class we were taught how to solder metals together, a process known as fabrication. We also learned how to cast metal using the University’s centrifugal casting machine. I remember how exciting it was the first time I cast a ring. The roar of the oxyacetylene torch used to heat the silver and the spinning of the casting machine were a real thrill.

I enjoyed learning the techniques of metal fabrication and casting and continue to admire artists who combine technical skills and their imagination to create works of art in metal. This combination of skill and creativity is evident throughout the artwork in Transformation 8: Contemporary Works in Small Metals, on view at the Woodson Art Museum through January 19, 2014.

A fine example of metal fabrication is a geometric bracelet by David Choi. Its complex series of planes are made from flat sheets of sterling silver and soldered together to create a hollow bracelet with two faceted, aquamarine stones set at one end. On his website, David describes his artwork; “My work is a world of geometry in which new codes of beauty are being investigated.”

David Choi, Untitled, 2010

Vickie Sedman’s necklace, Transfigure, offers a fine example of traditional casting in a rather non-traditional necklace. She combines cast sterling silver forms with magnets and an unexpected use of rubber to create an elegant modern necklace.

Vickie Sedman, Transfigure, 2011

One of the more unusual pieces in the exhibition is a brooch by Robert Ebendorf, King of the Road. It combines a crushed Coca-Cola can as the support for a miniature skull with clear, faceted stones in the eye sockets and eighteen faceted red ruby or garnet stones mounted in traditional four-pronged settings. Is the artist warning us about the dangers of the road? Is this a modern day memento mori? In any case, it’s intriguing.

Robert Ebendorf, King of the Road, 2011

I invite you to check out the dozens of contemporary designs in small metals. While you are here, be sure to see the amazing glass by Seattle artist David Huchthausen and five other exhibitions drawn from the Museum’s collection. Who knows what new memories and inspiration these artworks will provide.

Lin Stanionis, in illo tempore, 2012

Serendipity, Again

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Foley) — Wed, 13 Nov 2013 17:24:00 +0000

By Kathy Kelsey Foley, director

Visiting glass artist David Huchthausen’s loft was among the highlights of last April’s Museum members trip to Seattle.

David describes himself as the consummate accumulator . . . and for those of us who had the privilege of taking in the almost overwhelming density of his collections, “consummate accumulator” could be an understatement.

From extraordinary art deco glass to martini shakers of various designs and from oodles of humorous salt-and-pepper shakers to a remarkable array of Bakelite baubles (my favorites!), David’s loft was a feast for the eyes.

David’s glasswork was present, too, and therein lies the serendipity, providing a “teaser” months ahead of this Saturday’s opening of Huchthausen: A Glass Retrospective at the Woodson Art Museum.

Talk about visual treats!

Huchthausen: A Glass Retrospective brings together thirty glassworks spanning the artist’s forty-year career. That career started here in Wausau at the University of Wisconsin-Marathon County and includes David’s work with the Woodson Art Museum as curator of three Americans in Glass exhibitions in 1978, 1981, and 1984.

Over the years, the Museum has been the happy recipient of gifts of David’s glass, and his work frequently has been included in exhibitions at the Woodson drawn from our collection.

The retrospective remains on view through January 19, providing ample time this holiday season and into the New Year to visit the Woodson Art Museum. You’ll be dazzled by David Huchthausen’s glass artistry!

Volunteerism and Cultural Engagement

noreply@blogger.com (Catie Anderson) — Wed, 06 Nov 2013 18:23:00 +0000

by Catie Anderson, curator of education

Ask any Woodson Art Museum staff member and they will sing the praises of volunteers – their dedication, knowledge, and kindness make them ideal ambassadors for the Museum in our community.

Greeters, gardeners, docents, and SPARK! friends engage visitors, beautify grounds, brighten our entrance, and support the Museum’s mission to enhance lives through art. In addition to facilitating art appreciation, volunteers are vital in assisting the Museum’s lean staff during busy days.

Museum volunteers are committed lifelong learners and cultural advocates. Docents and greeters know the true value of a positive museum experience and they witness the excitement that grows in visitors who’ve discovered a new favorite artist, artwork, or place in their community. As much as volunteers nourish moments of discovery in visitors, they too benefit from the educational and aesthetic atmosphere of their surroundings here. Docents and greeters receive training from staff about each new exhibition and gain exposure to the bounty of lectures, artist residencies, and travel opportunities the Woodson offers. Call these perks or, as I do, consider them the advantages of being a culturally engaged community member.

OK. Stepping off the soapbox…

Today, the Woodson Art Museum welcomed thirty-four United Way RSVP members for a meeting, guided tour of Birds in Art, and to learn more about ways to engage with the Museum. The group was filled with questions about the benefits of volunteering at the Woodson and the logistics of their potential service. Here’s a breakdown of some basic information:

* What are some benefits to serving as a Woodson Art Museum volunteer?

Connecting socially with a group of like-minded individuals in the docent or greeter corps
Reaping the benefits of exposure to new artists, artworks, and art forms through exhibition-specific trainings
Meeting and learning from artists in residence
Sharing your enthusiasm for arts and culture with the next generation of engaged community members

* How many hours do I need to commit to be an active volunteer?

Docents and greeters are responsible for their own levels of volunteer commitment at the Woodson. Greeters should aim to serve four hours per month or two shifts. Docents have a “goal” number of tours for each exhibition to ensure all groups are appropriately covered. Docents on average may offer 1 to 5 tours per month, depending on an exhibition’s popularity and docent availability.

* Do I need an art background to be a volunteer?

A formal art background is not necessary. Volunteer training provides all of the information you need to be successful in your role as a greeter or docent. All we require is enthusiasm and a willingness to learn.

I’ll be offering a new docent training class for interested participants this winter. If you’d like to learn more, connect with me at canderson@lywam.org or call the Museum and ask for Catie at 715.845.7010.

Winding Roads & Stuffed Gorillas

noreply@blogger.com (Amy Beck) — Wed, 30 Oct 2013 14:12:00 +0000

by Amy Beck, marketing and communications manager

If you want to get fifth-graders' attention, a big stick that shoots fire certainly helps.

Paul Rhymer, looming large still clad in his mask and leather gloves after blasting flames and pouring molten metal into molds, was holding court.

"You don't always know where different experiences will take you," the bronze sculptor told students during class visits to the Woodson Art Museum during his artist residency last week.

Paul explained that he drew and painted his way through his childhood, thinking he'd become an artist. Because he'd also acquired taxidermy skills, he was equipped to step into a job at the Smithsonian that led to a twenty-five-year career as a taxidermist and model maker there.

That experience skinning and mounting animals coupled with his observations of birds and animals while hunting and during two years in Africa gave him detailed knowledge of anatomy, movement, and behavior.

That knowledge helped immensely as he experimented with bronze sculpting on the side. Varied experiences, layered with lots of practice prepared him to pursue sculpting full time when the opportunity arose to take early retirement from the Smithsonian.

All of those experiences led him along a winding road from his home in Maryland to the artist residency tent in the Museum's sculpture garden. His drive, with his two dogs along for the ride, included a detour to Oklahoma to drop off a gorilla he'd mounted and packed into a U-haul trailer for transport to a museum there.

Who knows what creative sparks might be ignited in the students who witnessed Paul's fire-breathing, bronze-casting demonstrations and where their winding roads may lead?

PS. Paul Rhymer’s residency, “Casting Call,” was supported in part by a Community Arts Grant with funds from the Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin, the Wisconsin Arts Board, and the B.A. & Esther Greenheck Foundation, and a Wisconsin Art Education Association (WAEA) Potawatomi Grant.

Birds, Birds, Everywhere Birds!

noreply@blogger.com (Jane Weinke) — Wed, 23 Oct 2013 19:50:00 +0000

by Jane Weinke, curator of collections

Have you noticed bird imagery is everywhere? Just today I received an email featuring bird-themed bags designed by Kate Spade. In fact, an entire line of bags, belts, mittens, earmuffs, and jewelry, features owls.

http://www.katespade.com/geek-chic/ks-gifts-geek%20chic,en_US,sc.html

That email reminded me how often I encounter images of birds. Certainly, I am surrounded by birds in many forms here at the Woodson Art Museum, but take notice when you are out and about.

I have compiled just few examples of how bird imagery serves to enhance our lives.

http://www.seventhavenue.com/Cardinal-Sweater.pro

http://us.topshop.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?
beginIndex=0&viewAllFlag=&catalogId=33060&storeId=13052&productId=9153378&langId=-1&categoryId=&searchTerm=23X18DMUL&resultCount=1&geoip=hom

Bird-themed shoes

http://jezebel.com/581000/omg-bird-shoes

Tops at Old Navy

http://oldnavy.gap.com/browse/category.do?cid=20408

http://jane.com/deal/3187/bird-themed-iphone--samsung-s3-phone-cases#

http://www.cafepress.com/+bib,592826319

And not to be forgotten . . . food!

http://www.seriouseats.com/2012/05/bread-baking-birdie-bread-tweet-tweet.html

http://www.thekitchn.com/spring-sweets-very-pretty-spri-80553

http://honestcooking.com/easter-baking-bird-shaped-bread-rolls/

Avian themes also adorn items in kitchen cupboards.

www.etsy.com/listing/76647226/2-vintage-bird-themed-drinking-glasses

http://www.pier1.com/Gallo-Collection/STL189,default,pd.html

Body decoration.

There are blogs about birds
https://www.networkedblogs.com/topic/birds

Parties themed around birds.

http://blog.tinyprints.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/birdbabyshower.jpg

Certainly not to be forgotten is bird-themed art, the best of which can be seen in Birds in Art 2013 through November 10 at the Woodson Art Museum.

Museum Program Highlights Blindness Awareness Month

noreply@blogger.com (Jayna Hintz) — Wed, 16 Oct 2013 14:18:00 +0000

By Jayna Hintz, Curator of Education

How can individuals with low or no vision more fully experience the visual arts? How can those with sight respectfully support the independence of those without sight? Explore these questions and more during a multisensory event this Saturday afternoon at the Woodson Art Museum.

“A Taste of Life Without Sight,” 1-3pm, Saturday, October 19, is part of a worldwide educational campaign during Blindness Awareness Month. The Woodson Art Museum has offered Art Beyond Sight programs since 2006 and in recent years expanded its offerings to better serve participants. An Art Beyond Sight program is offered for individuals with low or no vision during each of the Museum’s changing exhibitions. Various activities are designed to encourage experiencing the visual arts with other senses and often include verbal descriptions of artworks, sounds, music, movement, scents, tactile drawings, objects to touch, experts on related subjects, and hands-on art-making experiences.

The Art Beyond Sight program has provided Museum educators planning the programs opportunities to meet and connect with community members. Joan Wagner has been an invaluable collaborator in the Art Beyond Sight program since its inception. Joan is a partner at Blind and Visually Impaired Services LLC and works to provide assessment and training for individuals with blindness and visual impairments in north-central Wisconsin. Joan helps identify, connect, and transport program participants and brings her enthusiasm and expertise to the Museum’s programs.

Transportation is an issue for many community members with low vision or blindness. Kathy Zoern, a regular Art Beyond Sight participant, is a strong advocate for public transportation. She recently flew to California and spoke to 800 people at a conference about the importance of public transportation. She also volunteered to lead a station at the Museum’s “Taste of Life Without Sight” event discussing why the visual arts are important to her and others with vision loss.

Join other Art Beyond Sight participants and Museum educators Saturday afternoon, October 19, to dispel misconceptions and engage with the visual arts from the perspective of community members with low vision and blindness.

The Joy of Birding – One Click at a Time

noreply@blogger.com (Andy McGivern) — Wed, 09 Oct 2013 18:32:00 +0000

by Andy McGivern, curator of exhibitions

Each fall, the Woodson Art Museum presents its Birds in Art exhibition. The Museum’s galleries are filled with over 120 paintings, sculptures, and works on paper – the country’s best indoor bird watching.

Cat Bird

Over the years, I’ve developed quite an appreciation for our fine-feathered friends and have decided to compile a life list to document the avian species I encounter. My life list is different from those of other birders. I’ve chosen to only include birds that I can identify in photographs I’ve taken. Thanks to the precision and convenience of digital photography, this goal is much easier than it would’ve been with film photography.

Cape May Warbler

Black-and-White Warbler

Yellow Warbler

Although I’ve always enjoyed watching and photographing birds, a couple of events this year sparked a greater interest. In the fall of 2012, I led a group of Museum travelers on a ten-day trip to Cuba that combined cultural interaction and bird-watching outings. On the trip, I took photographs of some of the most beautiful birds I’d seen in the wild. It was fun maintaining the list of birds that we identified.

Magnolia Warbler

This spring, I photographed a number of warblers in the Wausau area when a snowstorm slowed their migration and they waited for the weather to break. I had no idea how beautiful and diverse the spring migrants were.

Common Yellowthroat

Even with a digital camera, photographing many bird species can be a challenge. Warblers, for example, instinctually hide behind branches and leaves and may make an appearance for only a second or two before moving back into hiding. It takes great patience and an understanding of the various species to know how and when to get their picture.

Wilson's Warbler

Palm Warbler

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Cormorants on Lake Wausau

Horned Grebe on Lake Wausau

If you’d like to see more photographs from my visual life list, I’ll be leading Art History 101: The Birding Connection, Wednesday, October 16, 12:15 – 1 pm. I may even throw in a few surprises; join me on this virtual birding excursion!

Unplugging . . . Temporarily

noreply@blogger.com (Amy Beck) — Wed, 02 Oct 2013 16:02:00 +0000

by Kathy Kelsey Foley, director

Make no mistake, I have fully embraced the digital age.

Like a dog that has learned new tricks, I have “mastered” – well, acquired adequate skills – email, internet searches, social media posts, blogging, and texting.

I love being connected to our daughters via texts. At times, their witty messages make me laugh out loud. I especially relish the spontaneity of a quick text; it can be almost like a long-distance hug.

The benefits of digital connectivity for the Woodson Art Museum are multifold and provide the motivation for me to continually improve my skills. Using Facebook, for example, to share news of upcoming events or photos following programs is like a dream come true.

Just think, it wasn’t long ago that we were processing film, making duplicate prints, and mailing or hand-delivering them to the media. FedEx streamlined delivery back then. Today, the inability to immediately email a file or an image to a waiting reporter sends you into a tailspin.

While these few examples are the upside of digital connectivity for me, I’ve recently experienced a “tethered” feeling, even though working wirelessly is the new norm. I took this as a sign. It was time to take a break. Unplug, temporarily.

I’ve unsubscribed from dozens of lists, newsletters, commercial sites, and communiqués I don’t even recall subscribing to. It feels good, uncluttered, like cleaning out a dresser drawer.

I don’t want to hear the “ping” of incoming messages or feel the urgency to respond. I’m looking forward to the quiet and to not being quite so accessible. I think it will be a healthy change of pace.

And in the spirit of this honest post, I’ll be ready to plug back in when the time is right.

Early Birds' Reward

noreply@blogger.com (Catie Anderson) — Wed, 25 Sep 2013 16:19:00 +0000

by Catie Anderson, curator of education

Although Birds in Art opening weekend festivities are behind us, Museum staff are still relishing the final email exchanges with artists and guests who, like us, are returning to daily routines. Last year, around this time, I joked I had completed my official hazing at the Museum – having made it through Birds in Art planning and the long hours associated with the opening weekend and subsequent volunteer trainings. This time around I felt better prepared, less intimidated, and able to enjoy the company of artists and guests more fully.

One of my personal highlights was a Sunday morning birding trip to the George W. Mead Wildlife Area with a group of twenty artists, curator of exhibitions Andy McGivern, and his wife, Jeana. Accompanying the group were our gracious hosts and local birding experts: Doug Aziz, Dan Belter, and Susan Ford-Hoffert. These three made quite the team – offering our gang of early risers homemade scones, coffee, and a great introduction to the Mead upon our 6 am arrival, not to mention assistance spotting and identifying numerous bird species during our tour.

Last year, I relied on Swedish artist Peter Elfman to confirm my list of birds. This year, I sat back and let first-time Birds in Art artist George Bumann compile our list of thirty-eight species. Thanks, George! Our list includes:

mourning dove
sandhill cranes

red-winged blackbird
Canada goose
American goldfinch
wood duck
cedar waxwing
mallard
pied-billed grebe
marsh wren
blue-winged teal
double-crested cormorant
American crow
northern harrier

The northern harrier was my favorite bird to observe that morning.

pileated woodpecker
common snipe
bald eagle
common grackle
green heron
white-breasted nuthatch
downey woodpecker
belted kingfisher
sora rail * The same species spotted on last year’s trip inspired Elfman’s 2013 exhibition submission.

Peter Elfman, Balance, 2012 (sora rail)

warbling vireo
hairy woodpecker
black-capped chickadee
great blue Heron
barn swallow
rose-breasted grosbeak
common yellow throat
blue jay
black-throated green warbler
Nashville warbler
wild turkey
turkey vulture
osprey
European starling
red-tailed hawk

Paul Rhymer, Meep Meep, 2011 (greater roadrunner)

While the trip to the Mead was a great opportunity for me to bond with incredibly talented Birds in Art artists, I still have one major bonding session on the horizon with sculptor and taxidermist Paul Rhymer, who will be in residence at the Museum from Monday, October 21, through Sunday, October 27. There’s still time to sign up for Rhymer’s fantastic programs and workshops; for more information call the Museum to register or speak to an educator at 715.845.7010.

P.S. Thanks to Jenny Hyde-Johnson and Andy McGivern for sharing their Mead images for this blog.