Tag Archives: Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum
Hot Diggity
Posted on January 29, 2020
A recent trip to New York City with curator of collections Jane Weinke had us uptown, downtown, and all around the city.
We started at the expanded and recently re-opened Museum of Modern Art and we wrapped up at the New York Historical Society. In between, we took in The Metropolitan, Museum of Arts and Design, Jewish Museum, and the AKC Museum of the Dog. There’s a museum devoted to dogs, you ask. That question is answered with a resounding “yes, indeed.”
Making Fleeting Magic
Posted on January 15, 2020
This weekend, January 18-19, the Woodson Art Museum hosts origami artist Jiangmei Wu and snow sculptors as they work wonders with paper and snow. These artists’ transformations are magical. Whether you visit to marvel at their results or satisfy your curiosity about the artists’ tools and techniques, inspiration and insights are in store.
A New Decade
Posted on January 08, 2020
Turning the calendar to January always lifts my spirits. It’s not only a new year, but also a new decade. While I look forward to what’s ahead, sharing our 2019 collection accomplishments seems most appropriate for this week’s Woodson Wanderings blog post.
Acuity
Posted on January 01, 2020
Today the world ushers in the year 2020, in the Gregorian calendar. It’s the beginning of the ‘20s, end of the teens, and a Leap Year . . . and for like minds who enjoy wordplay, it’s 20/20.
Eye of the Beholder
Posted on November 20, 2019
I like art; most often, it’s a visceral connection. I enjoy being with art and experiencing it. I relish casual and informal “conversations” with artworks. I then imagine why a particular work “speaks” to me. Being curious by nature, though, I often also research works – learning to better appreciate the art. Research may include internet searches, tapping the collective wisdom of fellow curators, asking others in a gallery why they like the artwork, or asking an artist friend’s opinion. What results is a breezy, personal comment on art, reflecting the “eye of the beholder.”
This Spud’s for You
Posted on November 06, 2019
Prepping for student art projects doesn’t usually require bushels and boxes of potatoes. This week’s artist residency, though, is shaping up to be extraordinary.
Artist Tom Hill’s residency, “Produced in Produce & Worked with Wire,” November 5-10, focuses on wire sculpture, incorporating root vegetables into the mix.
Who knew that potatoes, coupled with a bit of creativity, could pack such a punch of personality? Tom Hill, as it turns out, knows quite well that adding a bit of twisted wire can transform a spud from a dud into a memorable character filled with flair.
Flexibility & Seasonal Changes
Posted on October 30, 2019
When planning for the Woodson Art Museum’s members travel adventure to Denver, which wraps up today, we knew weather could be a factor. Did we fully appreciate the potential for temperature extremes or precipitation?
Hats off to the good-natured attitudes of my fellow travelers and to our docents and artist-hosts throughout our Denver stay. It’s been an exceptional trip, yielding lasting friendships and memories of amazing Colorado sun and blue skies as well as a taste of winter to come.
Extending & Expanding Hospitality
Posted on October 23, 2019
I see parallels between hosting guests and website redesign. When, prepping for company – whether a houseguest or Woodson Art Museum website visitor – we try to visualize ourselves in their roles, making them feel welcome, anticipating needs, ensuring it’s safe and easy to navigate, and sprinkling bits of delight along the way.
In the months since a major redesign of the Woodson Art Museum website, we’ve made tweaks, as needed, and pointed out a few upgrades incrementally, in separate blog posts and social media highlights. Now, I’m taking the opportunity to offer a “whole-house” website renovation tour, highlighting amenities of which we’re particularly proud.
Birds & Words: A Fun Family Quest
Posted on October 09, 2019
Literature and art are natural companions; children’s illustrated literature is an early introduction to both.
Kevin Henkes’ Birds is a favorite book to share – with babies through second-grade students – while leading Woodson Art Museum programs during Birds in Art 2019, on view through December 1.
The Power of Positive Reviews
Posted on December 04, 2019