Emily Wesenick, youth and family program manager
When Harry Met Sally is one of my favorite movies. It’s not just because I love any romantic comedy that Meg Ryan has ever done, or because Rob Reiner, Billy Crystal, and Meg Ryan together created a cinematic masterpiece destined to stand the test of time. It’s because When Harry Met Sally treats time as a conversation—one that’s revisited and gently examined as the years pass, and new perspectives come to light. As the film circles back to Harry and Sally at different moments in their lives, we see how small changes, details people often overlook, add up to something so meaningful it can take your breath away.
The new year always feels bittersweet to me. I could have done more, seen more places, pet more cats, created more things. But as the clock ticks down on 2025, I’m reminded that this year wasn’t defined by one singular event. Instead, it was shaped by a series of moments—exhibitions, members events, staff gatherings, and quiet afternoons in the galleries spent planning programs or dreaming up new adventures. Together, those moments weave together the story of this institution. In honor of my favorite movie, I wanted to share some of the big numbers made up of small moments and celebrate the dedication of the Woodson staff and the central Wisconsin community who made 2025 so incredible.
From tours with community partners like MOSAIC, The Landing, and the Wausau Bird Club to programs that have changed the fiber of my being, like SPARK!, our adult programming flourished this year, with more than fifty program days in the last twelve months. Although many of these programs had heavy hitting moments, I’d be remiss not to mention our December SPARK! program, where going all out for the holiday season turned into a program none of us will soon forget. I, Rachel Hausmann-Schall, and Andy Jacksack, transformed into elves and a beautifully decorated tree for a special day filled with holiday cheer and a visit from Mr. Claus himself. After a year of change within SPARK! it felt like the perfect way to close out the year.
Youth programming didn’t slow down either. With forty program days in 2025, the Museum was filled with the energy of small hands making big art. From Art Babies to Art Kids, the hustle and bustle brought so much laughter to our spaces. While it is bittersweet watching our youngest artists grow and learn so quickly, being part of their world, singing songs in the gallery, and sharing moments of discovery never fails to make me smile. Their excitement and conversations, and they wander through the galleries, are truly something to behold. If you haven’t seen it in action, I can’t recommend it enough.
One of my favorite small moments of the year came during the opening weekend of Birds in Art with Ready, Set, Draw. What began as a member’s experience turned out to be exactly what I needed to kick off a chilly weekend. Gathered under a small tent, heckling one another (all in the spirit of friendship of course), and rapidly sketching chaotic scenes for the next artist to interpret, I was reminded of the heart of everything we do at the Museum. We create spaces for people to gather and enjoy beautiful things—whether that’s internationally renowned artwork in the galleries or a collaborative drawing of a duck smoking a cigar on a dinosaur. This is a place for laughter, joy, community, and hopefully, many small moments still to come.
In the end, what makes a year memorable isn’t just what we accomplished, but who we shared it with. The small moments of connection—between staff, artists, visitors, and our community—are what gives this place its heart. If people saw all the incredible things I have been able to be a part of this past year, I’m confident they would say “I’ll have what she’s having.”
