Changing Collections Exhibit

Only a few more days left to see "A World in Wood...and more!" the latest installation in the Changing Collections Cabinet in Michael's Museum. Next up is "Alex's Attic," which premiers May 29. See you there!

Today at Michael's Museum

Today Chicago Children's Museum had at least 500 scheduled visitors from schools in the area. Close to 200 students and 90 chaperones visited Michael's Museum between 10:30 and 12:30 when Michael the Curator was in residence. Visitors viewed the collections, chatted with Michael, played the Coffee Table Treasure Hunt, and created their own collections with borrowed items on the open shelves and cabinets.

Also, we are pleased to announce that today Museum Mouse II has joined us, replacing the gently loved one who after working the exhibit for a year has been retired to live in Michael's office where it will be plied with cheese and crackers at his whim.

The Curator Is In

Overheard, yesterday during "The Curator Is In" Program at Michael's Museum:
1) Muchas Gracias para sus colecciones del arte de Mexico.
2) I was only 2 when you started collecting for Michael's Museum some 30 years ago.
3) I love it here!
4) We visit Michael's Museum at least once a week.
5) Happy Birthday and congratulations.

Thanks

 

Thanks everyone for your hugs, kisses, and well wishes on Michael's Museum's First Birthday as a permanent exhibit at Chicago Children's Museum. Now go to the Michael's Museum Facebook page and LIKE, LIKE, LIKE the page (not any one post but rather the PAGE.) Thanks for joining the celebration!

Tiny Treasures

Happy Birthday Michael's Museum: A Curious Collection of Tiny Treasures at Chicago Children's Museum on Navy Pier.

May 13, 2011 - May 13, 2012

Tiny Treasures

Staff get to visit Michael's Museum: A Curious Collection of Tiny Treasures on the day before it opens to the public. During May, Michael's Museum is celebrating its one year birthday as a permanent exhibit at Chicago Children's Museum. May 13, 2011 - May 13, 2012.

Tiny Treasures

Michael's Museum looked like this during construction in April 2011. During May, Michael's Museum is celebrating its one year birthday as a permanent exhibit at Chicago Children's Museum. May 13, 2011 - May 13, 2012.

Changing Collections Cabinet

CLICK HERE TO GO TO LEGO BIRD LINK

This was posted on Facebook and shared here at

Michael's Museum's BLOT site.

CLICK HERE TO GO TO LEGO BIRD LINK

Tiny Treasures

This is what the "tiny treasures" of Michael's Museum looked like sitting in the New Museum Offices before being unpacked and put into the cabinets as you see them today. During May, Michael's Museum is celebrating its one year birthday as a permanent exhibit at Chicago Children's Museum. May 13, 2011 - May 13, 2012.

Wish us a Happy Birthday

If you get a minute, go to Facebook, search for the Michael's Museum page and then CLICK "LIKE" to wish Michael's Museum: A Curious Collection of Tiny Treasures a Happy First Birthday as a permanent exhibit at Chicago Children's Museum on Navy Pier. It would be much appreciated.

Toddler's at CCM & MM

Note: Michael's Museum a featured place for Toddlers to visit.

Tiny Treasures

This was one of the "tiny treasures" given after Michael's Museum opened as a thank you to people who were part of the Michael's Museum Team. During May, Michael's Museum is celebrating its one year birthday as a permanent exhibit at Chicago Children's Museum. May 13, 2011 - May 13, 2012.

Tiny Treasures

This was one of the "tiny treasures" given to CCM staff who were part of the Michael's Museum Team during its design/development/installation phases October 2010 - May 2011. Michael's Museum is celebrating its one year birthday as a permanent exhibit at Chicago Children's Museum. May 13, 2011 - May 13, 2012.

Tiny Treasures

This was one of the gifts given to CCM Staff at a Lunch Time Brown Bag Update during Michael's Museum's design/development/installation phases October 2010 - May 2011. Michael's Museum is celebrating its one year birthday as a permanent exhibit at Chicago Children's Museum. May 13, 2011 - May 13, 2012.

Tiny Treasures

This was one of the "tiny treasures" given to CCM Staff who were part of the "walkthrough" of Michael's Museum the day before it opened to the public. Michael's Museum is celebrating its one year birthday as a permanent exhibit at Chicago Children's Museum. May 13, 2011 - May 13, 2012.

Wish Us A Happy Birthday!

If you get a minute, go to Facebook, search for the Michael's Museum page and then CLICK "LIKE" to wish Michael's Museum: A Curious Collection of Tiny Treasures a Happy First Birthday as a permanent exhibit at Chicago Children's Museum on Navy Pier. It would be much appreciated.

Tiny Treasures

These are some of the "tiny treasures" given to people who were part of CCM's Executive Committee during a brainstorming presentation on the potential of Michael's Museum as an exhibit at CCM. Michael's Museum is celebrating its one year birthday as a permanent exhibit at Chicago Children's Museum. May 13, 2011 - May 13, 2012.

Tiny Treasures

This was the "tiny treasure" gift given to people who attended the opening night celebrations of Michael's Museum on May 13, 2011. Michael's Museum is celebrating its one year birthday as a permanent exhibit at Chicago Children's Museum. May 13, 2011 - May 13, 2012.

Tiny Treasures

This was one of the "tiny treasures" given to CCM people who were part of the Michael's Museum Team during its design/development/installation phases October 2010 - May 2011. Michael's Museum is celebrating its one year birthday as a permanent exhibit at Chicago Children's Museum. May 13, 2011 - May 13, 2012.

Cinco de Mayo

Cinco de Mayo—or the fifth of May—commemorates the Mexican army's 1862 victory over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War (1861-1867). A relatively minor holiday in Mexico, in the United States Cinco de Mayo has evolved into a celebration of Mexican culture and heritage, particularly in areas with large Mexican-American populations. Cinco de Mayo traditions include parades, mariachi music performances and street festivals in cities and towns across Mexico and the United States. Michael's Museum has a HUGE collection of TINY TREASURES from Mexico. Drop by for a visit!

Today in Michael's Museum: Wednesday, April 25, 2012

"Today in Michael's Museum" is dedicated to Isabel who came to CCM and MM to celebrate her third birthday. Isabel and her family are visiting from San Jose, California for a wedding but couldn't think of a better way to spend her birthday than by looking at tiny treasures. Besides a "MM Mini-Pencil" birthday gift, Isabel was presented with a miniature Lunch Box Pencil Sharpener (not a choking hazard!)

Michael's Museum had among its over 200 visitors today, a family from Singapore and a caregiver originally from Guatemala and her charge who said good naturally that we need to have a few more things from South America.

There was also a woman who was very interested in the miniature nested Russian Dolls (Matryoshkas) that are part off Susan Engel's "A World in Wood ... and more!" which is part of the Changing Collections Cabinet for April and May.

The first Russian nested doll set was carved in 1890 by Vasily Zvyozdochkin from a design by Sergey Malyutin, who was a folk crafts painter in the Abramtsevo estate of the Russian industrialist and patron of arts Savva Mamontov. The doll set was painted by Malyutin. Malyutin's doll set consisted of eight dolls—the outermost was a girl in a traditional dress holding a rooster. The inner dolls were girls and a boy, and the innermost a baby.

Mini-Pencil

Drop by Michael's Museum on Wednesday for "The Curator Is In" from 10:30-12:30 and tell Michael, "I am looking for my mini-pencil." He might just give you one!

Inspired by CIRCUS ZIRKUS

This was a gift from Michael's Nephew. Notice the shiny new penny for scale. Can you imagine trying to juggle with these at Chicago Children's Museum's CIRCUS ZIRKUS?

"Michael Sent Me"

When you drop by Michael's Museum be sure to let Michael know that you: 1) Saw this blog, 2) Saw MM on Facebook, 3) Saw CCM's Facebook, or 4) All of the above. As a thank you, Michael will give you a little gift!

Easy Collection Display for Kids

"The Curator Is In" at Michael's Museum on Wednesday April 18th from 10:30 am until 12:30 pm. He will be demonstrating "Easy Collection Display for Kids." Drop by and see what Michael has to offer.

A World in Wood ... and more!

Let this be a summary statement of how wonderful the exhibit "A World of Wood ... and more!" is! I am holding in my hand the smallest person from this Matryoshka Doll set! Come see the exhibit now through the beginning of June, 1012.

A World of Wood ... and more!

Some items in the collection are: 18 pairs of animals, plus Noah and his wife, 2 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, and a tiny porcelain doll in a wooden trunk with her personal belongings.

Susan Engle - April 2012 Guest Collector

Associate Editor, Brilliant Star magazine

Today in Michael's Museum

Starting Wednesday, Michael will be at Michael's Museum from 10:30-12:30, as part of the "Curator is in..." program. Tell a story, share an experience, ask a question! He will be "In" every Wednesday during April, May, & June. Mention you saw this and get a free "Tiny Treasure."

A World of Wood ... and more!

“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. I have also included some of my favorites that are not wooden. The group of miniatures you will see come from only eleven cultures, but they can attract the eye and imagination of anyone in the world who feels wonder that such small replicas of bits of our big world can be made so beautifully. The cultures represented are Chile, China, Denmark, Germany, the Hopi people, Japan, the Netherlands, Russia, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Susan Engle - April 2012 Guest Collector

Associate Editor, Brilliant Star magazine

A World of Wood ... and more!

“From tiny nesting dolls, to Kachina dolls, to a wedding of German figures, beautiful miniatures can be made of wood. ‘A World of Wood ... and more!’ 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

Happy Passover

Happy Easter

A World of Wood ... and more!

“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. 

Susan Engle - April 2012 Guest Collector

Associate Editor, Brilliant Star magazine