Today's Tiny Treasure: Plastic Coca Cola Bottle

Today's Tiny Treasure: Plastic Bible Viewer W/ Lord's Prayer

Today's Tiny Treasure: Ceramic Hear, See, Speak No Evil

UPDATE: 02/23/11 Meeting CCM Parent Programming Team

Met with the Parent Programming Team today. Everyone is excited about eagerly awaiting the arrival of Michael's Museum on May 13th. The Team has declared May to be "Magnificent Magnifying Month." The team has come up with some very exciting activities for museum visitors.

I will do some thinking on what might be done relating to MM for the first part of the month before the official opening. One idea I suggested is a reverse approach to using magnifying glasses - using photographs of items so greatly magnified that the item's identity was not instantly obvious. I sent some samples that I have on file.

We also discussed what type of costume (an apron or maybe a hat) I could wear while spending time in MM for "The Curator is In" activities. Posting a characteristic sign in the reception area and outside MM's exhibit would also alert people that "The Curator is In."

For now, I will commit to being at the museum from 11:30 - 2:00 on Tuesday May 17 and Thursday May 19 and on Saturday and Sunday May 28 & 29.

Today's Tiny Treasure: Wood Cup & Saucer

Today's Tiny Treasure: Ceramic Asian Figure

Today's Tiny Treasure: Plastic Whistle

Today's Tiny Treasure: Tin Topped, Handmade Clay People Nativity Scene

Today's Tiny Treasure: Plastic Bowling Pins & Ball

Today's Tiny Treasure: Bronze Asian Figure/God

Every day a photograph of one tiny item from the Michael's Museum Collection, next to a shinny new penny for scale, will be posted for your enjoyment. We look forward to your comments.

Today's Tiny Treasure: Plastic Robot with Movable Arms

Every day a photograph of one tiny item from the Michael's Museum Collection, next to a shinny new penny for scale, will be posted for your enjoyment. We look forward to your comments.

Today's Tiny Treasure: Bronze Statue of Liberty

Today we begin a new series for this BLOG. Every day a photograph of one tiny item from the Michael's Museum Collection, next to a shinny new penny for scale, will be posted for your enjoyment. We look forward to your comments.

UPDATE: 02/15/11 Meeting Michael's Museum Core Team

Today the Core Team got to re-visit the exhibit sketches, plans, and elevations as well as the color, furniture, fabric, and frame selections that Jenny, exhibit designer, has proposed. We reviewed information about the graphics and sign components of the exhibit, the contents of the Curator's Desk, and talked about some of the unique needs of several collections. Work on developing some of the activity prototyping will take place during the first few weeks that the exhibit is open when everything is in place. Here is a photograph of Jenny's presentation.

UPDATE: 02/15/11 Meeting Michael's Museum Design Development Team

Michele updated the spreadsheet reflecting current detail of the Design Development sketches. Jenny and Mark have begun coordinating the paint cabinet colors, cabinet refurbishing, and other details. Michael is working on finalizing placement of collections as set up by Jenny for their new home. If there are over one hundred collections in the Michael's Museum exhibit, with hundreds of thousands maybe even millions of items, then it seems like there are at least that many puzzle pieces still up in the air as Michael's Museum comes together for its opening at The Chicago Children's Museum on Navy Pier on May 13, 2011.

UPDATE: 02/08/11 Meeting Michael's Museum Design Development Team

This meeting was spent fine tuning timelines, tasks, details. Jenny & Mark talked about movement with Design Development and developing cabinet schedules etc. Just a few more things need to be done before the completed Schematic Design report is issued by Michelle. As we move further into DD more and more details must be finalized. Contracting and looks at beginning fabrication has begun. Work will begin ahead of time on some preparation of items like cabinets, selecting colors, etc.

UPDATE: 02/08/11 Meeting Design Development Team

Jenny talked us through a new model of the MM Exhibit with many more details of item placement. The model is a true marvel and if you get real low and peek through the doors and "Peek-A-Boo" wall through collection cases you can really get an exciting understanding of  how it is going to feel to walk through the exhibit. The Michael's Museum Corner in the CCM gift shop was discussed. Graphics parameters were addressed including the MM Logo, the mini-framed prompts, and a case numbering system. The Michael's Museum Corner in the CCM gift shop was discussed. Michael presented a prototype "History" that will be included in the exhibit in book form. Interactive displays and activities were discussed with Katie and Natalie, Visitor Collection Case placement and availability was addressed. As usual the meeting was amazingly productive and much was covered.

SNOW DAY

Last couple of meetings for the Michael's Museum Team have been cancelled due to the wonderful snow storm we had earlier this week. Can you imagine NAVY PIER CLOSED! I wish I could see what it looked like!

Dot

You might want to watch this wonderful miniature animation feature.

A miniature animation feature: "Dot"
And The Making of "Dot."