The British Are Coming

Posted on August 28, 2019

The British are coming to galleries near you, and I for one can’t wait to see and hear them. Who doesn’t love a good accent? Like most Americans, I can’t help but succumb to an endearing English accent; just ask my BritBox, Acorn TV, and BBC America queues.

My work editing Birds in Art audio tour app videos affords me the opportunity of listening to exhibition artists tell the stories behind their artwork.

I endeavor to make sure the audio is clear, the content accessible, and the imagery complementary to the artists’ words. The app videos are made all the more memorable by the range of voices creating them and, this year, visitors can look forward to English accents courtesy of Alan Woollett and Kerry Miller.

Rolling Out the Welcome, Matt

Posted on August 21, 2019

Two months ago, via this blog, I explained the numerous reasons the Woodson Art Museum was refurbishing its main parking lot. Two months later, I can safely say that all of those problems have been corrected.

Add Glenstone to Your Must-visit List

Posted on August 14, 2019

If your travels take you to the Washington, D.C. area, make time for a Glenstone visit. If you’ve always intended to visit a museum in your own hometown or nearby, but never seem to find the time, don’t delay; treat yourself to a cultural experience. If you’ve not yet visited the Woodson Art Museum or haven’t visited recently, now is a perfect time to do so. The summer focus on “botanicals” includes multiple exhibitions on view through Sunday, August 25, and gardens abloom.
Birds in Art, the Woodson’s flagship exhibition, launches its all-new 44th edition on Saturday, September 7, and remains on view through Sunday, December 1.

Seeking Green

Posted on August 07, 2019

I smelled green – clean, crisp, refreshing. I heard green – snap, crunch. Then, I uttered my perennial regret, “I wish I’d planted a vegetable garden.” My co-worker, Becca, was feasting on the fruits of her labor . . . a fresh, succulent, cucumber.

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.

Summer Intern Julia Neufeld Reflects

Posted on July 24, 2019

Interning at the Woodson Art Museum this summer has been an amazing experience. It’s exactly what I hoped for, as I try to decide what career path to pursue. I’ve had opportunities to do a little bit of everything at the Museum, working on various tasks, and experiencing what it is like to work at an established art museum.

Stretching to New Heights

Posted on July 17, 2019

Much folding, bending, and shaping occurs at the Woodson Art Museum, I realized during a recent origami project.

Rising Cranes – the newest addition to the sculpture garden – celebrates the paper-folding art of origami.

Inspired by Rising Cranes, many Museum members folded paper cranes during the summer’s exhibition preview reception. It was a lively time for those who participated.

Not a Fish Tale

Posted on July 10, 2019

An old expression claims that a bad day of fishing is still better than a good day of work. In most cases, that rings true. However, at the Woodson Art Museum, usually the opposite is the case.

Telling Our Stories

Posted on July 03, 2019

I never tire of telling the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum’s stories. Perhaps that’s an occupational hazard. I prefer to think it’s one of the pleasures of my role as the Museum’s advocate-in-chief. Last month, I welcomed Marathon County department heads, County administrator Brad Karger, and County Board chair Kurt Gibbs to the Museum for their monthly meeting. To quote Brad, “We are taking a ‘field trip.’ This is going to be fun!”

Weaving Willow Encourages Growth

Posted on June 26, 2019

Last week, artist Bonnie Gale returned to the Woodson Art Museum for an artist residency and to pay a visit to Living Willow Dreams, one year after she and assistant Jonna Evans installed the living willow structure in the Museum’s sculpture garden. Living Willow Dreams offers a lush, green garden-retreat where visitors can take a moment to sit and observe the busy, although often overlooked, activities of summertime garden inhabitants.