Pelé

A MICHAEL'S MUSEUM MOMENT: During the installation of the MINIFIG MADNESS Changing Collection in Michael's Museum, a family of 4 visiting from Brazil had the chance to interact with Michael and Amethel (MINIFIG Master) and discover one of the LEGO minifigures she created as part of her "FAMOUS FIGS" collection was "Pelé," from Brazil who is possibly the greatest soccer player.

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MINIFIG MADNESS

Michael's Museum at Chicago Children's Museum on Navy Pier features a "Changing Collections Cabinet" periodically featuring collections from guest collectors.

The current collection, on loan from Amethel Parel-Sewel, presents MINIFIG MADNESS with over 130 little LEGO people purchased and/or created by the collector.

It is open through January 1, 2012. It includes: 1) Around the World Minifigs, 2) Monochromatic MInifigs, 3) Frightful Minifigs for Halloween, and 4) Important People Minifigs including a miniature Michael's Museum.

In November we will be adding Minifigs for: Fall, Thanksgiving, Winter, Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa, and more.  

MINIFIGS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

AROUND THE WORLD: Left

 AROUND THE WORLD: Center

AROUND THE WORLD: Right

 AROUND THE WORLD: (Left to Right)

Amethel, Paz, Kai, Ken, Gregory, Michael.

Two people bottom right - unidentified.

MONOFIGS

 MONOFIGS: Left

 MONOFIGS: Right

FRIGHTFUL FIGS

FRIGHTFUL FIGS: Left

FRIGHTFUL FIGS: Center

FRIGHTFUL FIGS: Right

 FRIGHTFUL FIGS: Balcony

FAMOUS FIGS

FAMOUS FIGS: Left

FAMOUS FIGS: Center

FAMOUS FIGS: Right

Replica of Michael's Museum: Front

 Replica of Michael's Museum: Left

Replica of Michael's Museum: Right

 Replica of Michael's Museum: Back

 Amethel Parel-Sewell, Minifig Master

Kai Parel- Sewell, Assistant

Minifig Magness

Tuesday, September 20th: A new Changing Collections Cabinet Exhibit in Michael's Museum called: "Mini-Fig Madness" consisting of a multitude of Lego Minifigures (some purchased and some created) covering the categories of: Halloween, Important People, Multi-Cultural, and Monochromatic.

and many more!

Exciting Stuff at CCM

So many exciting things happening at CCM:

Friday, September 16: Create the ultimate indoor, physical adventure in Move! Chicago Children’s Museum’s exhibit that will get your heart—and imagination—racing is back again. Sponsored by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, this experience is sure to challenge your mind and body!

Tuesday, September 20: A New Skid Steer Loader in the Skyline Exhibit on Tuesday September 20th. Case Construction Equipment has generously donated a REAL Skid Steer Loader to CCM. Kids can climb inside the cab, sit in the driver’s seat and imagine what it would be like to be the skid steer operator on a real job site—yippee! 

Tuesday, September 20: A new Changing Collections Cabinet Exhibit called: "Mini-Fig Madness" consisting of a multitude of Lego Minifigures (some purchased and some created) covering the categories of: Halloween, Important People, Multi-Cultural, and Monochromatic.

Tidy, More Tidy, Most Tidy

Every now and then a web post comes across my e-mail that amuses me and is close to the heart of Michael's Museum. This one made me laugh a lot!

Here is such a post:
CLICK HERE for Tidy, More Tidy, Most Tidy

Fan Club Presidents Announced

Michael's Museum is pleased to announce that Patricia Anderson, of Wilmette has taken on the role World Wide, International, and United States Fan Club President. Her duties and responsibilities include those which she chooses to accept (and/or create.) Congratulations Pat!

Michael's Museum is pleased to announce that John Dunn, of Decatur and formerly a member of the Illinois House of Representatives has taken on the role of Macon County Fan Club President. His duties and responsibilities include those which he chooses to accept (and/or create.) Congratulations John!

This and More or Less

The other night, as I drifted off to sleep, I relived the opening of Michael's Museum, Friday, May 13, 2011.

The morning ceremonies were attended by over 90 people including museum staff, museum board members, dignitaries, news media, family, and friends. The evening celebration was a grand event attended by over 300 family, friends, acquaintances, and museum staff.

May 13th celebrated not only the opening of MM@CCM but in many ways celebrated what I had been able to accomplish over the last thirty years of my life in the form of a little museum in a big museum, celebrated the hundreds of thousands of visitors who would experience the joy and feel the magic of Michael's Museum, and also I must admit (with no humility) celebrated me.

It was a big evening and I was careful to study it, watch it, absorb it and remember it ... to be revisited when needed to. Like a bride at her wedding, I didn't want to have to say, "It was all a blur." I have been quoted as saying, "While I love to collect little things, I love to live my life BIG." That day and evening were BIG.

As I was drifting and remembering and re-experienceing, several thoughts passed my mind that asked, "Will there ever be anything as BIG again for me? What might the next BIG thing in my life be? How can I deal with looking forward only to the LITTLE things of daily life again?"

In the next set of thoughts, I realized that all I have to do is go to Navy Pier, to the Chicago Children's Museum, and sit on the sofa in Michael's Museum watching the visitors as they involve themselves with the collection of collections. Each person's experience will sometimes be obvious and most often be private and unique to each individual.

As I sit there and observe, I will know that what I have accomplished, with the help of the Chicago Children's Museum's Team, will have had an influence on those toddlers, children, young people, teens, young adults, adults, parents, grand parents, and more. I will have shared the magic and joy and I will feel big.

Mini-Fig Madness

OPENING SEPTEMBER 20, 2011 @ The Changing Collection Exhibit @ Michael's Museum @ Chicago Children's Museum @ Navy Pier: "Mini-Fig Madness" including Lego Minifigures and more featuring Halloween, Famous People, Multi Cultural, and Monochromatic. This exhibit is on loan from the collection of Amethel-Parel Sewell.

A Toast

Pat, a good friend and volunteer at Michael's Museum as well as the World Wide President of Michael's Museum's Fan Club, prepared this toast in case such an occasion arose at the opening celebrations on Friday, May 13, 2011. The occasion never presented itself but she wanted to share her words with me. I am sharing them here with you. Thank you Pat!

"When I first met Michael, I immediately described him as generous. While volunteering at Michael's Museum before it opened, I saw him handle at least a million details without losing his focus, good humor, or patience with his volunteer helpers and the museum support staff.


He has a sense of wonder still, about all the fuss over him. We are here because Michael has enriched all of our lives and now his influence spreads to the city of Chicago and beyond. Here's to you Michael - You did it!