Author: Amy Beck, marketing and communications manager

Masterful Motivation for Parents

Posted on February 26, 2020
For a cabin-fever-busting family outing, visit Art Park this week. Origami is a fun thing to do at home, too, if snowy weather requires hunkering down indoors. Upcoming exhibitions feature a flair for France and delightful children’s book illustrations. Colorful French posters and illustrations by award-winning author and artist Melissa Sweet will grace the galleries, beginning March 7, and will offer spring-fever remedies galore.

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.

The Power of Positive Reviews

Posted on December 04, 2019
‘Tis the season for checking online reviews before making holiday gift purchases, booking lodging, or planning itineraries of must-do activities. Checking Woodson Art Museum reviews on TripAdvisor and social media makes perfect sense. “What people say about you is 12.85 times more important in driving your reputation than things that you pay to say about yourself,” writes Colleen Dilenschneider, chief market engagement officer at IMPACTS Research & Development, in her blog designed to provide data for cultural executives. “Which do you trust more?” Although Colleen’s comments may not be surprising, they are encouraging because of the bounty of stellar comments visitors are posting in the wake of Woodson Art Museum visits.

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.

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.

Unexpected Visitors Moo-ve Us All

Posted on September 11, 2019
Well, I can’t resist. In my staff role, I continually encourage all to visit the Woodson Art Museum often to discover what surprises await in the galleries and sculpture garden. Those who were here on a recent Friday afternoon, August 30, witnessed a few bonuses. Cows munching hostas near the Twelfth Street entrance. I kid you not.

A Wedding Tale: Pollen Hazards & Pluck

Posted on July 31, 2019
Less than an hour before our daughter’s recent wedding ceremony, her bridesmaids and I huddled – soda water and stain remover in hand – hastily trying to eliminate the bright orange pollen stain on the bodice of her white dress. I’ll never look at lilies the same way. Like many visitors strolling through this summer’s botanical art exhibitions at the Woodson Art Museum who likely have a favorite flower, I'll keep an eye out for lilies – not because of form or color, but rather the associated backstory.

Cultivating Connections through Botanical Art

Posted on June 12, 2019
How many times have colorful blooms caught your eye and caused you to wonder “what is that flower?” During a recent trip to southwest Wisconsin, conspicuous purple flowers clustered along roadsides and woodland edges garnered attention and conversation. Visit the Museum often with friends and family to discover the many ways botanical art fosters connections between people and plants and deepens appreciation for beauty, creativity, and each other.

The Art of Deconstruction

Posted on May 08, 2019
We have a new puppy in our household – Hawkeye, a 3-month-old Brittany. Although he hasn’t begun teething in earnest, it won’t be long. A puppy, deconstructing paper and more, has one thing in common with the artists whose meticulously cut artworks are featured in the Cut Up/Cut Out exhibition, on view at the Woodson Art Museum through June 2. Surprising materials. Hawkeye chews acorn caps, wood chips, and rocks. In addition to vintage maps, books, and leaves, Cut Up/Cut Out artists intricately cut a saw blade, tire, and an oil barrel – transforming these items into lacey, intriguing wonders infused with thought-provoking themes.

Carve Out Cut-Above Spring Breaks at the Museum

Posted on March 27, 2019
School calendars and cold temperatures don’t need to define or confine springtime excursions to one spring-break week. By scheduling multiple micro-vacations, you can be a tourist in your own hometown and invite friends and family to Wausau for weekend getaways. Plan multiple getaways to the Woodson Art Museum for cut-above visits.