A World of Wood ... and more!

Watch for a series of posts and photographs about "A World of Wood ... and more!"

Our Guest Collector for the April Changing Collections Cabinet in Michael’s Museum at Chicago Children’s Museum is Susan Engle, Associate Editor of Brilliant Star magazine and collector of small things. Brilliant Star is an award-winning magazine that invites children of all backgrounds and faiths to explore their roles as world citizens. It emphasizes concepts such as: the appreciation of cultural and racial diversity; peace among all religions and nations; the equality of women and men; the elimination of prejudices and poverty; and the sustainable development and protection of our fragile planet.

Susan Engle - April 2012 Guest Collector

Associate Editor, Brilliant Star magazine

Overheard...

Overheard in Michael's Museum today:

Father: "I remember having a truck that was filled with COKE bottles just like these."

While playing the Coffee Table Treasure Hunt, Adult: "Can you find the hot dog?" Child: "Does it have bread?"

On leaving the exhibit, a Teen: "This exhibit makes me feel so big!"

Michael's Museum: An April Fool Baby

On this day (April 1) in 2007, an article appeared in the "Q" Section of The Chicago Tribune about Michael's Museum written by Staff Reporter Barbara Mahany.  This article led to Michael's Museum: A Curious Collection of Tiny Treasures now being a permanent exhibit at Chicago Children's Museum.

Michael’s Museum: A Curious Collection of Tiny Treasures Changing Collections Cabinet presents Guest Collector Susan Engle’s A World in Wood ... and more! OPENS APRIL 5, 2012

Estoy en Mexico

Hola Amigos,
Estoy en Mexico. Ha sido en Puerto Vallarta desde el primero de Marzo y volveré en el trigésimo. Estarê en Michael's Museum a Chicago Children's Museum los Miercoles en Abril, Mayo, y Junio, de 10:30 a 12:30. !Visiteme!

Hi Friends,
I am in Mexico. I have been in Puerto Vallarta since the first of Marcha and will return on the thirtieth. I will be in Michael's Museum at Chicago Children's Museum on Wednesdays from 10:30 until 12:30 during April, May, and June. Come visit me!

Last days to visit "Artifacts" the current Changing Collections Cabinet in Michael's Museum on loan from Guest Collectors Jan Yourist and Jake Bloom. Closes March 31, 2012.

Navy Pier Design Concept

Exciting news about potential plans for Navy Pier, home of Chicago Children's Museum and Michael's Museum: A Curious Collection of Tiny Treasures.

CLICK HERE: Navy Pier Design Concept by James Corner Field Operations

Announcing...

Reporting from Puerto Vallarta, MX


... the next Changing Collections Exhibit at Michael's Museum. We are very pleased to have Susan Engle as our next Guest Collector. The Exhibit will open on Thursday, April 5, 2012,

A World in Wood


Our Guest Collector for the April Changing Collections Cabinet in Michael’s Museum at Chicago Children’s Museum will be Susan Engle, Associate Editor of the Brilliant Star Magazine and collector of small things. Brilliant Star is an award-winning magazine that invites children of all backgrounds and faiths to explore their roles as world citizens. It emphasizes concepts such as: the appreciation of cultural and racial diversity; peace among all religions and nations; the equality of women and men; the elimination of prejudices and poverty; and the sustainable development and protection of our fragile planet.

• • •

“When I was a little girl, our family had neighbors from Eastern Europe who displayed a glass cabinet filled with miniatures in their dining room. The miniatures fired my imagination, and I thought I could see a whole world of tiny people who loved and used them.


“I've collected tiny things that appeal to me over the years, and realized as I prepared for this exhibit that many of them are carved or constructed of wood. The group of miniatures you will see come from only five cultures, but they can attract the eye and imagination of anyone in the world who wishes they could shrink down and live among them. The cultures include Russian, German, Japanese, Hopi and American. Africa and Chile among others may also be represented but for now, just five.


“From tiny nesting dolls, to Kachina dolls, to a wedding of German figures, beautiful miniatures can be made of wood. A World of Wood will take you to a tiny imaginary place where your eyes will delight in creations carved and painted so beautifully that you may wish you were the right size to wander around among them.


Susan Engle - April 2012 Guest Collector Associate Editor, Brilliant Star Magazine


Some items in the collection will be:
18 pairs of animals, plus Noah and his wife
3 miniature scenes in small wooden boxes made in Germany
Nesting dolls that start at 2 1/2 inches and get smaller
2 matryoshkas that hold tiny nutcrackers 5/8 of an inch tall
A Kachina doll carrying twins on his back
An articulated teddy bear 5/8 of an inch high
A tiny wedding party that includes mother and father of the bride and groom, bridesmaids, flower girls, the bridal couple and a minister
A small Japanese doll with four interchangeable heads

A tiny porcelain doll in a wooden trunk with her personal belongings 

On Vacation

I am currently in Fort Worth TX with family, then Llano, TX with friends, then on to Puerto Vallarta Mexico for the month of March. I will try to post some "Museum Stories" for you while I am in Mexico.

Meanwhile, there have been fewer posts on this blog as I have not been spending time at the museum on a predictable basis after having been there every Monday during October, November, and December and other times as well.

I decided to take the winter off, have been in a few times, and am off to TX and MX at the end of February and for the Month of March. Will be back at MM @ CCM on a predictable schedule for the months of April, May, and June on Wednesdays from 10:30am - 12:30pm.

We will have all kinds of new activities that will be part of "The Curator is In" so come visit with me then. In April we will feature the next "Changing Collections Cabinet" show from Guest Collector Susan Engle. Also in May we will be celebrating the one year anniversary of Michael's Museum at Chicago Children's Museum. Join the festivities.

Miniature Worlds in Books

Came across this site in which Brian Dettmer, using knives, tweezers and surgical tools, carves one page at a time. Nothing inside the out-of-date encyclopedias, medical journals, illustration books, or dictionaries is relocated or implanted, only removed.

Dettmer manipulates the pages and spines to form the shape of his sculptures. He also folds, bends, rolls, and stacks multiple books to create completely original sculptural forms. 

CLICK HERE to go to his site.

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day to my BLOG readers:

Circus Zirkus

Six months ago it was Michael's Museum, now it's Circus Zirkus. The Chicago Children's Museum has got to be the greatest place in the world for children to play and learn (adults too:-)
CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE CIRCUS

Sebatical

There have been fewer posts on this blog as I have not been spending time at the museum on a predictable basis after having been there every Monday during October, November, and December and then other times as well. I decided to take the winter off, have been in a few times, and am off to Mexico for the Month of March. Will be back at MM @ CCM on a predictable schedule for the months of April, May, and June on Wednesdays from 10:30am - 12:30pm. Come visit with me then.

Happy Halloween

Never to late to say, "Trick or Treat, Tiny Treasures or Eats!" This was just received from Lucretia, teacher of these charming children.

Today's Visitor

Today, while at CCM for the Staff Walk Through of a new wonderful exhibit (Circus Zircus,) I chatted with a younger (maybe early 30's) alone adult visitor from Korea. She was by enjoying herself in Michael's Museum as she carefully studied each collection.

When I introduced myself she was quite pleased and commented, "So this museum is kind of like the history of your life!" I couldn't have said it more articulately.

Like everyone, in some fashion or another, she is a collector. She collects antique rings and bracelets and sure enough the one she was wearing is also featured in one of the Michael's Museum Drawers.

We said our goodbyes and she exited, crouching down through the smaller door.

Circus Zircus

So very excited about Circus Zircus coming to Chicago Children's Museum. It opens February 3. Ladies, Gentlemen, and Children Of All Ages ... Step right up ... join the circus!

P.S. I found this photograph of me taken when I was a muscle man at the circus in 1919.

Coming Soon: Circus Zircus CLICK HERE FOR MORE

Navy Pier Snow Sculpture

On the way home from a meeting at Michael's Museum, I stopped to watch these artists make snow sculptures.

Today, while at Michael's Museum, I had occasion to chat with Donna and Dennis visiting from the Wonderlab in Bloomington, IN. She is a volunteer and he is in the Exhibit Department. They often come to Chicago and decided to spend some time at CCM even though their children and grand-children were back in Indiana. They were all "rave reviews" about the many exhibits at CCM and asked a few questions about MM. They promised to return with their family next time. I asked if I couldn't mention them on the CCM blog.


http://www.wonderlab.org/

1932 Duesenberg

A miniature functioning replica 1932 Duesenberg by Louis Chenot. It actually works!

Match Stick Vessels

79-year-old Phil Warren from the UK spent 62 years to build an incredible fleet of 432 ships. All vessels are built entirely of matchsticks and boxes of wooden matches. The collection includes nearly 370 American and 60 British ships.

He began creating his first boat in 1948, when he was only 17. He uses a razor blade, tweezers and sandpaper to carve the pieces and boxes, then sticks them together with balsa wood glue. In total more than 650,000 used matchsticks to create an amazing collection of 1:300 scale models. Even 1,200 aircraft made ​​even more realistic appearance to dress the decks of aircraft carriers.

After a hard day's work ...

Busy day at Chicago Children's Museum and Michael's Museum. Arrived by 8:00 to work with Mark, Preparator, on resetting some of the collection cabinets. Straightened my desk and sorted some collection items. Met with Louise over lunch. Talked with Katie about some upcoming projects. Sat with Michelle as we signed the papers which officially turned my collections over to CCM (actually done in December, 2011.) Passed this information kiosk on the way back to my car, took a photo, and sent it to my e-mail. You can take one of these free pictures too when you visit MM@CCM@Navy Pier!

Tiny Treasure Books

The Miniature, Small, Little, Tiny Treasure Books at Michael's Museum may not be as talented as those at TYPE Bookstore but come visit Chicago Children's Museum anyway after watching this video.


CLICK here to view video.

MMMMMM

Michael's Museum is Majorly Minuscule and Magnificently Magical: Come Visit!

"Artifacts" at Chicago Children's Museum

Today saw the installation of "Artifacts" at Chicago Children's Museum in Michael's Museum's Changing Collections Cabinet. Friends and Guest Collectors Jake Bloom and Jan Yourist gathered miniature, diminutive, little, small, and tiny items from around their collection filled home and created a magical, mysterious, evocative exhibit that will be on loan through February 23, 2012. Come visit and experience for yourself!

Read Jan's Blog about the experience: http://connectere.wordpress.com/2012/01/02/artifacts-at-the-chicago-childrens-museum/

Visit Chicago Children's Museum's site:
http://www.chicagochildrensmuseum.org/

 Jan & Jake unpacking.

Jan discussing the installation with Jake.

Jake discussing the installation with Jan.

Jake and Jan installing on the seven shelves of the Changing Collections Cabinet.

Jake photographing the installation.

 Jan and Jake photographing the installation.

The installation before closing and securing the cabinet.

Jan and Jake

 Michael, Jan, and Jake.

 Michael, Jake, and Jan.

Jan, Jake, and Michael.