Winters in Wisconsin feel torturous at times. Below zero temperatures, snowstorms, blustering winds, and dark days turning into darker nights are enough to make anyone curl up into a ball under a warm blanket to hibernate.
I’ve ventured out into the frigid Wisconsin cold more times this year than I’d ordinarily like because my husband, Jake, and I adopted a rescue puppy at the end of December. Appropriately named Moose, he’s a 55 lb. Brazilian mastiff who made his way to Wisconsin from Kermit, Texas, and has earned our unconditional love. Moose doesn’t seem to love Wisconsin winters, however. His first moments out of the car included jumping into six inches of snow and sliding around on ice. He’s learning to adjust, as we all have.
As Jake and I are planning for a year full of new, challenging, and rewarding experiences with Moose, I’m also preparing for plenty of new experiences at the Woodson Art Museum. This month, I participated in my first workshop here on January 8 and 9 with artist S.V. (Sue) Medaris and learned how to design, carve, and print my own woodblock, while supporting participants with their progress. Working alongside Sue, other Museum staff members, and workshop participants was a wonderful way to begin the new year. Although I have some printmaking experience, this was the first time I explored the woodblock printing process.
I am excited to soak up additional rewarding experiences at the Museum. Our upcoming Student Art Exhibition – on view Saturday, February 26 through Sunday, April 10 – will feature artwork from student artists in grades 9-12 in central and north central Wisconsin. As a previous high school art educator, I can’t wait to see the work that area art educators submit. It will be added to the list of new experiences for me at the Woodson Art Museum, with plenty more to come.
