Author: Andrew McGivern, curator of exhibitions
On the Level: My Last Blog
Posted on December 19, 2018
After nearly four decades, I’ve decided to hang up my hammer and level, set aside my tape measure, and experience this thing called retirement.
I’m proud of what we have accomplished during my tenure and I’m happy to let others carry the Woodson Art Museum banner into the future.
Harry Potter & Creatures That Go Bump in the Night
Posted on October 31, 2018
Having my turn to blog fall on Halloween is a real treat!
What’s better than spending Halloween evening handing out candy to neighborhood kids all dressed up in festive costumes? Tonight, my wife and I will experience our first Halloween with our grandsons who moved back to Wisconsin last spring.
Fall Migration Musings
Posted on September 19, 2018
Fall tends to be a bittersweet time for birdwatchers. Sadly, many summer avian visitors are moving out of the area, heading south for the winter. Yet, on the bright side, autumn does feature new Woodson Art Museum avian-themed exhibitions.
Living Willow Dreams
Posted on August 08, 2018
Check out Living Willow Dreams in the sculpture garden now and throughout the months ahead to watch its seasonal changes.
As the Willow Grows
Posted on June 27, 2018
This week visiting artist and landscape architect Bonnie Gale and her assistant, Jonna Evans, began working on a willow sculpture in the Woodson Art Museum’s Margaret Woodson Fischer Sculpture Garden. The seven-foot-tall domed structure uses ten-foot-long willow rods harvested in New York and transported to Wausau.
Nocturnal Swamp Symphony
Posted on May 16, 2018
Spring is my favorite time of the year. The weather warms up, leaves begin to bud and, best of all, a variety of new birds makes their way back to our area. As an avid birder, I always look forward to the spring migration count which took place on Saturday, May 12.
Adventurous Inspirations
Posted on April 04, 2018
The Woodson Art Museum’s current exhibition, Rarely Seen: Photographs of the Extraordinary offers large photographs of unusual and exotic scenes from around the world. I enjoy walking through the galleries, seeing visitors leaning in to study the details within the photographs or intently reading labels to learn more about the location or subject. I wonder how many of our visitors are adventurers, seeking out rare and exotic locations during their travels. Are they studying the photographs hoping to find inspiration for their next trip?
Catch Birdwatching Fever
Posted on February 21, 2018
Emerging from what seems like a long winter, I’m always happy to get back into nature to pursue my favorite pastime – birdwatching. The Great Backyard Bird Count was last weekend, and I’m happy to report that our winter bird population is vibrant and healthy. In fact, we’ve seen a robust return of common redpolls and pine siskins, whose numbers were very low last year.
Mid-Winter Warm Up
Posted on January 10, 2018
During the winter holiday break, my wife Jeana and I visited our son, Justin, and family in Dubai, located on the Arabian Gulf in the United Arab Emirates. Leaving the bitter cold of Wisconsin and spending a week in warm weather was a good reason for the trip. An even better reason was spending time with our family, including two grandsons.
One Good Turn Deserves Another
Posted on December 20, 2017
I have fond memories of turning my first wooden bowl during shop class at John Muir Middle School. The bowl became a Christmas present for my parents, who used it for serving holiday treats. Years later, I was surprised to learn there was a woodturning club in the area.
