WAUSAU, WISCONSIN: Star gazing, NASA gadgets, space storms, and the Dream Flight USA “shuttle” star in programs for all ages that complement the NASA | ART exhibition, April 14 through June 17, at the Woodson Art Museum.
Space-based programs blast off Saturday and Sunday, April 14-15, during the opening weekend of NASA | ART: 50 Years of Exploration, which features a survey of space travel, as seen through the eyes of such diverse artists as Jamie Wyeth, Andy Warhol, Norman Rockwell, Annie Leibovitz, and William Wegman.
Opening weekend visitors tour the Dream Flight USA “shuttle” docked at the Museum and see artwork on view in the galleries, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, April 14-15. Dream Flight’s forty-five-foot-long converted motor coach features a payload of hands-on space- and science-related activities.
An in-the-gallery multimedia performance, Saturday, April 14, 7-8 p.m., features live jazz and animated film created by Mikel Patrick Avery and presented by his Trio+Film group, with Avery on drums, Aaron Shapiro on banjo, and Wausau native Nicholas Gajewski on bass. The trio will be artists in residence in mid-April at UW-Marathon County.
Earth Day Space View on Sunday, April 22, Noon-5 p.m., offers Museum visitors a perspective from outer space through artworks on view and an earth-friendly memento to take home.
On Star Gazing Family Day, Saturday, April 28, visitors view space through artistic images at the Museum, Noon-5 p.m., and see the night sky projected on the dome of the Wausau West High School’s planetarium in honor of National Astronomy Day. Choose one of three planetarium viewings: 11 a.m., Noon, or 1 p.m. The free, 55-minute planetarium presentation, The Current Night Sky and The Amazing Telescope, is for those 4 years and older.
See teens’ artistic take on space through SPACE: Art Exhibition for Teens, on view May 1 through June 3. Preview teens’ entries and vote for a “People’s Choice” teen artwork at www.lywam.org, April 10-20. A SPACE Party for SPACE teen artists, family, and friends and Teen Art Council members, Friday, May 11, 6-8 p.m., celebrates the creative efforts of central Wisconsin teens whose artwork is featured in the SPACE exhibition organized by the Museum’s Teen Art Council.
During the May Night Out @ the Woodson when the Museum stays open until 7:30 p.m. on the first Thursday of the month, Dream Flight USA founder Sharon Ryan presents NASA Gadgets, discussing how inventions created for space travel have been adapted for everyday use. This Art History 101 After Dark program is offered for adults, Thursday, May 3, 5:30-6:30 p.m. At Hands-on Art: Spiffy Space Junk the same evening, May 3, 5:30-7 p.m., all ages drop by to imagine and create space-inspired sculpture forms that could be prototypes for galaxy explorations. The Art History 101: NASA Gadget program will be repeated, Wednesday, May 16, 12:15-1 p.m., when Dream Flight USA’s Nick Ryan discusses technology produced for astronauts and modified for consumers.
In June, two Art History 101 programs focus on artists like those in the NASA Art Program who offer fresh perspectives on life’s momentous events and everyday activities. During Night Out @ the Woodson, Thursday, June 7, Museum director Kathy Foley presents Art History 101 After Dark: Events through Artists’ Eyes, 5:30-6:30 p.m., and offers a noon-hour version, Wednesday, June 20, 12:15-1 p.m. All ages drop by for Hands-on Art: Starry, Starry Night, Thursday, June 7, 5:30-7 p.m., to experiment with pastels to create dramatic night scenes.
River Flow Yoga classes are offered at the Woodson Art Museum on Thursday mornings, May 3, 10, 17, and 24, 10-11 a.m., and Thursday evening, June 7, in the Museum’s sculpture garden, 5-6 p.m. or 6:15-7:15 p.m. Inclement weather location: downtown Wausau’s Washington Square, third floor, room 305. $10 per River Flow Yoga class; four-class series, $32. Register at vandalfsens.heather@mac.com or www.riverflowyoga.net.
During Space Storms, WAOW-TV9 meteorologist Justin Loew demystifies weather patterns in space and explains how they affect NASA launches, landings, and exploration, Saturday, May 12, 1-2 p.m.
Learn low-light photography techniques to capture brilliant sunsets, night scenes, fireworks, and city skylines during Stills in the Night, Thursday, May 31, 7-9 p.m. Photographer Richard Wunsch discusses bracketing, timed exposures, movement, and using a camera’s night scene mode, flash, and ISO settings. Bring a digital camera and tripod; $10 fee for Museum members; $15 for non-members. Call 715-845-7010 to register.
All ages drop in for Art Park Open Studio to create three-dimensional spaceship prototypes with provided materials, Saturday, May 5, 1-3 p.m. In June, starlit nights and constellations provide inspiration to create pastel artworks that reflect the beauty of nighttime skies, Saturday, June 2, 1-3 p.m.
Carnival of the Animals, an exhibition of Mary GrandPré’s colorful mixed media illustrations on view through June 17, continues the Museum’s partnership with Wausau Dance Theatre’s Storybook Weekend, which includes a circus party and two performances of “Carnival of the Animals,” Saturday, May 5, at Wausau’s Grand Theater.
Teens get a backstage tour of “Carnival of the Animals” at the Grand Theater during Teens Go Behind the Scenes, Saturday, May 5, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Teens are invited to meet with technical staff to see how sets and costumes come to life. If interested, teens can purchase a $10 ticket for the 1:30 p.m. performance by calling the Central Wisconsin School of Ballet at 715-842-4447.
Toddlers, 18 months-4 years, gather for Toddler Tuesday: Wacky Critters, April 17, Toddler Tuesday: Night Lights, May 15, and Toddler Tuesday: Celebrate Summer, June 19, 10:30 a.m.-Noon each month.
Littlest ones embarks on their first space adventures and sample multisensory play in Space Park (a.k.a. Art Park) during Art Babies (birth-1 year), on Fridays, April 27 and June 29, 10:30-11:15 a.m., and during Art Time for Tots (1-4 years), on Thursday, April 26 and June 28, 9:30-10:30 a.m. Call 715-845-7010 to register for these free programs.
Children have a blast seeing the NASA | ART exhibition and drawing night scenes in Little Masters: Fly Me to the Moon (5-7 years), Tuesday, April 24, 4:30-6 p.m., and Young Artists: To Infinity and Beyond, (8-12 years), Thursday, April 26, 4:30-6 p.m. Children depict the universe in three dimensions in Little Masters: Imagination Station (5-7 years), Tuesday, May 22, 4:30-6 p.m., and Young Artists: Space Flight of Fancy (8-12 years), Thursday, May 24, 4:30-6 p.m. Call 715-845-7010 to register for each program.
Individuals with memory loss and their care partners use the NASA | ART exhibition to reflect on and discuss astronauts, shuttle launches, and star-gazing evenings on Sundays, April 15, May 20, and June 17, 1-2:30 p.m., and engage in a hands-on art project during SPARK! Call 715-845-7010 to register for these free, monthly programs.
Individuals with vision impairments or blindness experience the NASA | ART exhibition through a touch tour and detailed verbal descriptions and engage in a hands-on art project during Art Beyond Sight, Saturday, May 19, 10:30 a.m.-Noon. Call 715-845-7010 or email jhintz@lywam.org to register for this free program.
NASA | ART: 50 Years of Exploration has been organized by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration in cooperation with the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Generous support from UMR enables the exhibition to be presented at the Woodson. The Smithsonian Community Grant Program, funded by MetLife Foundation, is a proud sponsor of the Woodson Art Museum’s public programs.
Woodson Art Museum
Hours: Tuesday – Friday 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
First Thursday of each month 9:00 am – 7:30 pm
Saturday – Sunday Noon – 5:00 pm
Closed Monday and holidays
Admission: Always Free Admission
Phone: 715.845.7010
Fax: 715.845.7103
Email: museum@lywam.org
Location: Franklin and 12th Streets, Wausau, Wisconsin 54403-5007
(700 N. 12th Street)
Online: www.lywam.org
