By Cindy Brzeski
It‘s customary to send a note of thanks to the hostess after attending an event. In my case, the hostess of the 36th annual Birds in Art opening, Kathy Foley, sits across the hall from me. I’ve thought about how best to convey my appreciation, and settled on this, my open note of thanks for inviting me to step into the magic that is Birds in Art. I’m sure I speak for others who have enjoyed the gracious and thoughtful hospitality that is a hallmark of Museum director Kathy Foley and the Woodson Art Museum.
Thank you, Kathy, for being the effervescent hostess who invites artists, members, volunteers, media, staff, and the entire community at large to participate in a world-class art exhibition. Calling so many people together in a celebration of art brings peace to our corner of the world. Your warm and welcoming style is replicated many times over as your staff tries to emulate the role model you are to us.
Thank you for your fastidious attention to detail that makes everything run so smoothly. As carefully as the Birds in Art catalogue is edited and works are displayed, every element of the opening weekend is attentively planned, communicated, and executed. Schedules, menus, transportation, and staffing are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to planning at the Woodson Art Museum. I wonder if guests know, for example, that the orange parking cones were washed in preparation for this weekend, or that the dew was wiped from the outdoor chairs. It’s all in the details, my friends!
Thanks, too, for bringing out our “inner child” and encouraging us to have fun as we spent time together this weekend. We enjoyed seeing artists casually dressed, sharing their sense of humor, sporting candy lips, playfully competing to purchase one another’s donated postcards, having lunch on a bus, and playing croquet. It was great to see friends meeting and catching up and families coming together. Check out the smiles of young and old alike on our Facebook page and you’ll agree that opening weekend at the Woodson Art Museum is a joyful experience!
Thank you, most of all, for your boundless energy and passion in bringing art to the people of Wausau and beyond. Most of us are not gifted artists, but we can all experience and enjoy the wonder and the beauty on display each year at the Woodson Art Museum. I’m a fortunate “newbie” with the opportunity to drink it all in for the first time. It’s been a whirlwind of anticipation and delight, and I am truly grateful to have been invited to the ball! Editor’s note: Cindy Brzeski, business manager, joined the Woodson Art Museum staff in April and is a welcome addition to the lineup of staff bloggers.
