Author: Andrew McGivern, curator of exhibitions

Norman Rockwell, in the form of Indianapolis-based character actor Sam Harper, is in the middle of a week-long Woodson Art Museum residency. Harper’s resemblance to Rockwell is uncanny. As Mr. Rockwell, Sam not only has the demeanor of the great American artist, but also has mastered his idiosyncrasies. Thus far,... Read More

Monday morning I received a call alerting me that good friend and longtime Wausau-area arts supporter Carol Mularkey had died on Sunday. For more than fifty years, Carol taught art in central Wisconsin. I knew Carol for most of my twenty-nine years at the Woodson Art Museum. During this time,... Read More

In her blog last week, educator Jayna Hintz wrote about friendships forged during Birds in Art opening weekend events. She spoke about how old friendships are renewed and new ones develop. Despite the hustle and bustle of the Birds in Art opening, I was fortunate to spend quality time with... Read More

Many of us go through life planning for just a few days ahead or perhaps into the next week. Some folks may schedule appointments a few weeks or months out or may plan a vacation six to eight months in advance. As curator of exhibitions, I’m mostly planning two to... Read More

While working at the Art Museum, like most professional jobs, is demanding and time consuming, I do make time to get involved with other community events. A few years ago, I joined the board of Wausau’s ChalkFest as the Museum’s representative. Now in its sixth year, ChalkFest is held on... Read More

The Museum’s galleries are filled with Native American trade blankets from the collection of glass artist Dale Chihuly along with glass cylinders from his Blanket Series. The exhibition, Wrapped in Tradition, opened April 4 and visitors are streaming in to see the colorful and vibrantly patterned blankets and spectacular glassworks.... Read More

Last weekend I led a bus trip to Springfield, Illinois, to visit historic and contemporary sites associated with our 16th President, Abraham Lincoln. This year marks the bicentennial of Lincoln’s birth, and Springfield was all spiffed up to celebrate this auspicious occasion. On Friday evening we made our way to... Read More

Winters in Wisconsin are not for the faint of heart. Daylight grows shorter as we approach the winter solstice and temperatures have been known to dip below zero and stay there for days on end. At times even the heartiest seek shelter to wait out a cold snap in hope... Read More