Today in Michael's Museum

OVERHEARD DURING THE "CURATOR IS IN" PROGRAM:

     • Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy!
     • Two year old making animal noises to correspond with the wooden animals on an open shelf.
     • Screams, giggles, cries of amazement when discovering the Museum Mouse (who continues to surprise visitors even after 13 months!)
     • Can we go now?
     • We come to CCM at least twice a week and he always wants to come to MM (we stay for half an hour sometimes!)

SEEN FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MICHAEL'S MUSEUM:

     • Without any instruction, one child went from plexiglass fronted storage drawer to the next, all around the room, finding the loose things to manipulate in the open Visitor Display Cabinets.
     • Using Visitor Display Shelves #2 & #6, a child made a block tower that started on the floor, met the first shelf, continued up to the second shelf, and went up even further.
     • Without any instruction, a 16 month old began sorting buttons by color. The caregiver was surprised and pleased.
     • Mom was more excited about being in Michael's Museum than her four year old. "Honey, if you let mommy stay a little longer we can go play next wherever you want!"
     • Google Eyes!

Alex's Attic

 

Alex's Attic

Alex's Attic, a collection of objects that Alex played with when she was 5 through 9 years old, was found some twenty years later in her dad's attic and is now on display in Michael's Museum's Changing Collection Cabinet through July, 2012. Alex was born in 1985. Here is a photo of Alex when she was 8 and now at 27. Thanks Alex for sharing your collection with Chicago Children's Museum Visitors!

A World in Wood

Last Tuesday Susan Engle joined Michael as they took down her Changing Collection Cabinet Exhibit "A World in Wood ... and more!"

As a thank you gift, Susan presented Michael with a miniature hand crafted German scene (in wood) of a family run, Christmas tree ornament studio and tiny iPad!

As a thank you back, Michael gave Susan a copy of "The Story of Michael's Museum," a photograph of her exhibit, a tiny wooden kitchen spoon, and dinner on Navy Pier. A good time was had by all!

The Other Day in Michael's Museum

Lot of activity in Michael's Museum (as usual.) Yesterday, during the installation of "Alex's Attic," Michael visited with a family from Kuwait. Dad is currently studying for his PhD in Iowa so the entire family is in the U.S.

Mom collects lady bugs. She has over 100 of them and writes the name of the person who gave the bug to her or the place she purchased it. Dad, Boys 12, 9, and 7 and Girl 5 all collect as well.

One of the boys noticed that in the Cola Bottle Collection there is a Coca Cola bottle written in Arabic. Many questions were asked and Michael got to tell a lot of stories. The family in turn got asked lots of questions and got to tell their stories.

They loved CCM and came back three times on their stay in Chicago making sure they visited Michael's Museum each time. As a thank you Mom gave Michael a tiny Koran and Dad gave Michael a golden coin from Kuwait.

Alex's Attic

Today we took down "World of Wood ... and more!" the Changing Collections Exhibit of Guest Collector Susan Engle and installed "Alex's Attic." The items in "Alex's Attic" belonged to Alex Love, our Guest Collector for May and June, when she was between 5 and 9 years old. The items were found in her father's attic some twenty years later. Here are two "clips" from Chicago Children's Museum Facebook and some pictures of the collection taken by Chad Mertz, CCM Director of Public Relations.

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.