Tag Archives: Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum
Springing Ahead
Posted on May 28, 2014
I love springtime. After the long, snowy, cold winter, I want to relish every minute, feel the warm sun, smell the fresh air, and enjoy the vibrant flowers and verdant grass.
As curator of collections, spring signals planning time for me, and the realization that each of the five exhibition spaces used for Museum collections will be reinstalled before September 1.
That might seem daunting; sometimes it is. But mostly for me, it’s thrilling. To work with our beautiful and varied collection is exciting. I love hearing visitors comment as they encounter an artwork they haven’t seen for a while or even gasp when seeing a recent acquisition.
What Prompts Museum Visits?
Posted on May 21, 2014
I’m always curious and fascinated to learn what brings Woodson Art Museum visitors through the doors. Volunteer greeters provide crucial insights when they jot down comments from their casual conversations with visitors.
In addition to cities from throughout Wisconsin and the Midwest, it’s exciting to see far-flung locations listed on these informal greeter surveys. Since last fall, visitors have hailed from Poland, Russia, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Latvia, Greece, Norway, and — during repeat visits — England and Scotland.
Wear Your Words
Posted on May 14, 2014
Wear Your Words on view at the Woodson Art Museum features teens’ social-action statements – upcycled garments from recycled materials. Through this and a recent Art Speaks exhibition of teen artwork created from repurposed furniture, the Museum continues to keep the voices and vision of young area artists in the public eye.
Beyond the Recycled Runway
Posted on May 08, 2014
The Woodson Art Museum’s exhibition schedule is developed to provide visitors with rich visual arts experiences. As curator of exhibitions, I look for variety in building a diverse schedule to appeal to the broadest spectrum of visitors.
A couple of years ago, an exhibition of artist-designed clothes made of recycled materials caught my attention. Through research, I discovered a TED talk by the artist – and environmental advocate – Nancy Judd. In it, Nancy wore a yellow dress that she’d made from strips of plastic caution tape. She explained how her fashionable clothing made from trash was the perfect way to encourage people to recycle. After seeing the talk, I knew it would be a special exhibition.
Slow Art Wins the Day
Posted on April 16, 2014
Like the tortoise over the hare, a slow-but-sure pace is winning the race – well, a heat or two, at least. Increasingly, it seems, slow is trendy. Slow food. Slow fashion. Slow art. Saturday, April 12, marked the 4th annual international Slow Art Day, and the Woodson Art Museum was one of 238 venues participating.
Expanding Horizons
Posted on April 09, 2014
I tend to be boring. I prefer Bert over Ernie, my favorite color is beige, and my idea of spontaneity is asking for butter flavoring on popcorn at a movie theater. As a child, my favorite night of television was Sunday on CBS, because you could watch 60 Minutes then Murder She Wrote.
Needless to say, I was taken aback when the Woodson Art Museum undertook plans to host a site-specific installation by artist and UW-Madison professor Jennifer Angus, who creates elaborate Victorian patterns with deceased insects.
Birders Flock to Bird City Summit
Posted on March 26, 2014
Throughout the past year, I’ve developed more than a passing interest in birds and bird watching. My interest was piqued last spring when poor weather stalled a variety of migrating birds that happened to end up in my mother-in-law’s backyard, right here in Wausau.
O Spring, Where ART Thou?!
Posted on March 19, 2014
When the groundhog sees its shadow and Mother Nature delivers winter storm after storm, your hopes for an early spring are quickly dashed.
Unlike winter 2012 when the Woodson Art Museum undertook an ambitious, tight-timeframe building project, this winter has been one for the record books.
I Hear That Hot Wax Hurts
Posted on March 05, 2014
I have an uncle with only nine and a half fingers. It’s not a congenital affliction. Nor is it (as he insists) the result of wrestling with a carnivorous animal. It was a circular saw that claimed half of his left index finger.
A Kaleidoscope of Color and Change
Posted on February 26, 2014
Each day Woodson Art Museum staff members push themselves to develop fresh ideas to keep exhibitions, events, and workshops – everything we do – new and exciting.
