PROGRESS: May 4, 2011

I wasn't going to take any pictures today. Everyone worked very hard and honestly, I was exhausted. On my way out the door I gave in, got my camera, and took these.

Op Art? Modern Art? Mondrian? Nope! Marks by Jenny. Jenny has been marking the walls with blue tape according to her design drawings and plans so each cabinet goes into its proper place.

More Modern Art? Nope! More of Jenny's markings only this time on the floor. This is where the Tower Cabinet will go.

 As you can see, the exhibit is beginning to come together.

 And further together!

 And more together.

 You have visited this PEEK-A-BOO Cabinet before but now you are peeking at some of the cabinets inside the exhibit.

If you think this is exciting, it is still only the beginning. Make sure you drop by the Chicago Children's Museum on or after May 13th to spend some time in Michael's Museum.

Today's Tiny Treasure: Wood Tree

PROGRESS: May 3, 2011

Today, with the paint dry, installation of cabinets began. Jenny, Exhibit Designer, measured placement based on her design plans. Mark, Head Preparator, and Patrick and Rick, Preparators helped place cabinets and firmly attach them to the walls.

Left to right: Mark, Patrick, and Jenny begin measuring.

Left to right: Jenny, Rick, Mark 

 One wall almost installed.

 Mark and Patrick working on next "Top Shelf." Natalie, Director of Public Relations, does some photo documenting of the installation.

Rick, seen through the "Natures Treasures" PEEK-A-BOO window, touching up paint on the "Top Shelf"

Today's Tiny Treasure: White Metal Seashell

WELCOME TO MICHAEL'S MUSEUM

Hi. Today The Chicago Children's Museum officially links to the Michael's Museum Blog. Soon to be a permanent exhibit at CCM, Michael's Museum is a collection of over one hundred collections of small things, not necessarily miniatures, with hundreds of thousands of tiny treasures. MM opens at CCM on Friday, May 13, 2011.

This blog has been running since August of 2010 so feel free to visit through the past entries to see pictures, exhibit sketches, follow the planning of the exhibit, watch the construction process of the physical space, and to see "Today's Tiny Treasure" which is displayed next to a shiny penny for scale.

You may also want to visit the Michael's Museum Website to see pictures or take a video visit of the collection as it existed in its previous home, read about the history of MM, and stop in at the museum's Virtual Cafe. Click here to visit the site.

Feel free to comment, ask questions, share your experiences, etc on the Children's Museum Facebook page or on this blog. I'll try to reply when I get a few free moments for the hectic schedule leading up to the opening on May 13th.

Fondly,
Michael A. Horvich
Collector, Creator, and Curator
Michael's Museum: A Curious Collection of Tiny Treasures
The Chicago Children's Museum

PROGRESS: May 2, 2011

Today the painters were in Michael's Museum. These pictures will show you the beginning of the painting and continue to when the painters were almost finished.

Interior - Red. 

Exterior - Primer Coat

 

PEEK-A-BOO Cabinet from exterior into exhibit.

Exterior - Prime Coat.

PEEK-A-BOO Cabinet - Green

Exterior - Green

Interior - Red

Three men doing an amazing job of painting Michael's Museum

Today's Tiny Treasure: Plastic Seagull with movable legs

Today's Tiny Treasure: Basket of Fruit

Today's Tiny Treasure: Hershey's Kiss Trinket Box

Today's Tiny Treasure: Bubble Gum Machine Pea Charm

Brown Bag Meeting: April 28, 2011

Today a Brown Bag Lunch Meeting was held in the Crown Workshop to make available an update to interested CCM people with an overview and progress update on MIchael's Museum. Approximately 25 people attended. The meeting presenters included Katie, Project Developer; Michele, Project Manager, Natalie, Education Team Member; Brett, Opening Celebrations & Marketing, and Michael, Collector, Creator, and Curator of Michael's Museum.

Michael's presentation included a brief: "All That I Have Been" presentation detailing his past and current roles, education, job experiences, and talents. It is hard to make a presentation like this and not brag so Michael presented it in this interesting fashion:

ALL I HAVE BEEN: (approximately in this order)

• A Child

Son

Brother

Grandson

Great Grandson

Nephew

Great Nephew

• An Adult

Young Man

Older Gentleman

Uncle

Great Uncle

Friend

Partner

and Gregory’s Life Mate of over 35 years.

• A Student

Undergraduate  Student

Fraternity Brother

Fraternity President

Graduate Student

Post Graduate Student

Advanced Certificate Degree Student

Camp Director

Substitute Teacher

Elementary School Teacher

Fifth Grade Team Leader

Gifted Ed Program Director

Mentor

Advisor

Consultant

College Instructor

Workshop Presenter

and a Life Long Educator.

•A Renter

Home Owner

Land Lord

Condo Owner

Neighbor

& Community Organizer.

•A Baby Sitter

Handyman

Factory Worker

Short Order Cook

Waiter

House Keeper

Hotel Room Clerk

Sales Person

Grocery Store Bagger

Grocery Store Cashier

Executive Assistant

Office Manger

IT Person

Book Keeper

Interior Designer Assistant  

Architect Assistant

•A Book Binder

Mime Clown

Actor

Supernumerary

Assemblage Artist

Photographer

Writer

Chorister

Jewlery Artist

Collector

and

The Curator of Michael’s Museum

JUST TO NAME A FEW!

PROGRESS: April 28, 2011

Entries and PEEK-A-BOO windows completed. Tomorrow prime coat of paint. Monday paint. Tuesday cabinet layout and then installation begins in ernest!

View of Michael's Museum from the Great Hall.

Museum Mouse Entrance discussions.

 Left: Larger Entrance. Right: Smaller Entrance

PEEK-A-BOO window. Will contain the "Tiny Book Collection." You will be able to look at the collection and PEEK through to the exhibit from the Great Hall and vice versa.

PEEK-A-BOO window for the "Nature's History Collection."

 PEEK-A-Boo window for the "Game Mover Pieces Collection."

Today's Tiny Treasure: Santa Christmas Tree Ornament

PROGRESS: April 27, 2011

These progress reports have been coming fast and furiously but that is how things have been around the Santa's Workshop that is Michael's Museum getting ready for its debut at The Chicago Children's Museum. These pictures show the larger entrance, the smaller entrance, Peek-A-Boo Cabinet, and Museum Mouse's Entrance as they have been wall boarded, taped, mudded, sanded, and plastered. Also pictured is our friend Roger who has been out several times to help with the preparation for installation.

Today's Tiny Treasure: Bubble Gum Machine Teeth Charm

PROGRESS: April 26,2011

Compare to yesterday's pictures. The walls are drywalled and the main entrance is opened. My friend Dominic helped out with installing tiny treasures today.

Today's Tiny Treasure: Plastic Bowling Pin & Ball

PROGRESS April 25, 2011

Today the previous exhibit in the future Michael's Museum space was scheduled for demolition and the new construction begun. Here are some pictures for you of what seems like amazing progress, quickly accomplished.

Michael (himself) posing in front of the "Coming Soon" sign.

This is the 400 square foot space just off the Great Hall will become Michael's Museum.

 Demolition complete, construction begun.

Contractors study plan detail.

Smaller entrance framed, probably for children, will be adorned with red velvet drapes. Not pictured to the left: larger entrance, probably for adults, will be adorned with red velvet drapes.

"Michael's Museum Mouse" entrance, probably for the Museum Mouse, will be adorned with red velvet drapes.

Above: Two "Peek-A-Boo Window Cabinets" are framed. They will contain the "Game Mover Pieces" and "Natural History" collections. Visitors will be able to see the collections as well as PEEK into Michael's Museum from the Great Hall or into the Great Hall from Michael's Museum.

Today's Tiny Treasure: Bubble Gum Machine Whistle Charm

Today's Tiny Treasure: Bubble Gum Machine 4 Leaf Clover Charm