Hats off to Colleagues
Posted on March 04, 2015
My Woodson Art Museum colleagues and I wear many hats each day. Wearing stacks of hats isn’t necessarily a bad thing; after all, our days and lives are full and encompass many different aspects. As busy professionals, we rise early and stay up late to get things done.
“A Loveable Space”
Posted on February 25, 2015
Seeing Art Park day after day, I know what a valuable resource it is for children and their parents. Kids get to play, learn, and foster creativity in a fun, safe environment, all for free.
Elevator Speech Gives Museums a Lift
Posted on February 18, 2015
I’m practicing my elevator speech almost daily because I expect to give it a real workout next week. Are you wondering why?
My elevator speech focuses on the importance of museums and the many ways all museums – from A/art to Z/zoos – impact our lives and our communities.
Guitar Heroes
Posted on February 11, 2015
The Woodson Art Museum team has been gearing up for Medieval to Metal: The Art & Evolution of the Guitar for months.
Beginning in July, Museum staff worked with an impressive team of community partners whose insights, recommendations, and regional connections were valuable resources as program planning developed.
But February Made Me Shiver . . .
Posted on February 04, 2015
Each time I pick up an electric guitar, plug it into a Marshall amplifier and hit an open E chord, it’s like a big fish, first kiss, and base hit all rolled into one.
Needless to say, I was excited when the Woodson Art Museum scheduled the exhibition Medieval to Metal: The Art & Evolution of the Guitar. Featuring forty styles of guitars from the National Guitar Museum, the exhibition explores guitar design as an art form and how it influences the different types of music we love.
Portraits Carved in Snow
Posted on January 28, 2015
See photos, from starting block to finished marvel, of Team USA Snow Sculptors as they create "Mount Snowmore." Celebrating a 25-year partnership with the Woodson Art Museum, Mike Martino, Tom Queoff, and Mike Sponholtz carved their portraits in snow, Mount Rushmore style, last weekend.
Enjoy daytime views and gallery visits or drive by at night to see the snow sculpture illuminated. Take inspiration from 50 Greatest National Geographic Photographs; bring your camera to capture Mount Snowmore at sunset and post your photos on the Museum’s Facebook page.
Milestone Musings
Posted on January 21, 2015
As I welcome another year of life and learning, I’m reframing my definition of milestones from a focus on achievements and events to the journey between each phase of life.
A Winter Birding Excursion
Posted on January 14, 2015
Although the National Audubon Society’s first Christmas Bird Count was in 1900, my first foray was a few weeks ago when I joined Mary Backus and Sarah Sabatke, members of the Wausau Bird Club. Before this, most of my birding occurred in the spring, summer, and fall. Sure, we keep tabs on the birds coming to our backyard winter feeders, but the idea of going out to search for birds in the winter never really appealed to me – too cold and not a great variety of birds to see, or so I thought.
The Power of Pictures
Posted on January 07, 2015
Year-end brings a flood of pictorial recaps and remembrances: tributes to public figures who died and a veritable parade of the best-of-the-best images. Each tells a story in a powerful, profound, and personal way.
I was especially struck by The New York Times’ 2014 “Year in Pictures” and likely more so this year than previously because 50 Greatest National Geographic Photographs fills the Woodson Art Museum’s galleries through February 22, 2015.
Student Drawings Cap Off the Year
Posted on December 31, 2014
Part of what makes working at the Woodson Art Museum so rewarding is the diverse and dynamic environment. Moving quickly between various projects and programs, however, makes time for reflection scarce. The new year is a good time to reflect on a busy but memorable year, and one way to relive fond memories of quality art education experiences is through students' thoughtful and endearing thank-you notes and drawings that Museum staff and volunteers receive.
