Navy Pier releases plans for improving top tourist attraction

Navy Pier releases plans for improving top tourist attraction

The Exhibit

Made Me Feel Special: Part 2

Some of you may know that I am also involved with The Lyric Opera of Chicago, on stage in costume and makeup in front of 3,600 people, as a Supernumerary (acting extra.) I have been doing this for some 20 years and have been in over 15 operas. My spirit soars when I am on stage in the middle of this glorious music and superb voices working with world renowned directors, fantastic back stage staff, and fellow Supers who have become a back stage family.


I received a post on facebook from Rachel, who is an Assistant Stage Manager at the Lyric and with whom I have worked in several operas. She said, "Your exhibit was a HIT with my two sons!! Thank you so much!!"

She included this photo of her sons plus another visitor in Michael's Museum. 

Collecting Teaches

What must Michael's Museum be teaching the thousands of children who visit Chicago Children's Museum?


CLICK HERE TO GO TO an article on the BABYCENTER website.

UPDATE: Team Reflections June 13, 2011

Today's meeting started with the Michael's Museum Team gathering for lunch downstairs at Kappy's. Non-stop, non-musuem chat and good food ensued. 


The reflections meeting included Michele sharing highlights of the survey feedback from team members regarding the team experience and suggestions for improving the process for the next exhibit. A majority of the team members felt that their experience rated 9 or higher on a scale of 0 - 10. It was felt that the interdepartmental teams worked well.


Observations of visitor experiences were shared and it was noted that the exhibit has been an instant success. Some manipulatives in the exhibit are working, others are not as successful, some are disappearing - which was expected. The Video Collection Frame is working well and more photos that have been e-mailed in will be added. 


The Visiting Collection Exhibit concept will be shared with staff so they or their children may join in. Presence in the Media was summarized. General comments included the strong graphic identity/presence, entrance design is great providing a more residential setting with visitors really engaged with the small door and Museum Mouse, and that the presence of Michael in the exhibit really informs and enhances the experience.


Possible additions and changes in MM for FY 12 were discussed. Future educational experiences for visitors is under consideration.

Made Me Feel Special

Received a great card from a great God Child: "I don't even know where to begin in congratulating you .... Michael's Museum embodies my childhood experience. I have so many fond memories of opening drawers and cabinets, looking at old favorites, and discovering new ones. The magic never disappeared even as I grew older. You created a fantastical world that we are all so lucky to have been a part of. All of the children (and adults) that will now get to experience Michael's Museum are so lucky .... Thank you for always showing me that growing older doen't mean you have to grow up and that there truly is magic in the little things. All my love, WG"

Come Visit

‎"The Curator is In" tomorrow at Michael's Museum from 10:30 - 12:00. Come visit. Say "Hello!" to Michael, see the collections, install a "Visitor Display," go on a "Museum Walk & Talk," play the "Coffee Table Game," find the "Museum Mouse," take a picture next to your favorite collection (or with Michael:•)

June 7, 2011: "The Curator is In"

Hi. This is Michael, Curator of Michael's Museum: A Curious Collection of Tiny Treasures at Chicago Children's Museum on Navy Pier.

We had fun today at Michael's Museum's THE CURATOR IS IN" Program which takes place on specially scheduled days from 10:30-12:30. We looked at all the collections, told stories, played the "Coffee Table Game," and arranged collections with CCM provided "Tiny Treasures" in the empty cabinets scattered throughout the exhibit.

One visitor showed me her favorite collection in one of the drawers and when I suggested that her mom take a picture of her next to the collection, they were very sad because Mom had forgotten the camera AND her cell phone in the hotel (they are visiting from San Francisco.)

I suggested that I take the picture with my cell phone and e-mail it to them, which I did. Here is the picture and I think I am safe posting it because they will remain nameless. But isn't she cute!

Photographs

I have moved all of the Michael's Museum photographs to a new site (as noted above) and invite you to visit them if you haven't already. I will be adding more over time so check back.

https://picasaweb.google.com/home

Wee Windy City Blog

Caitlin Giles really captures the essence of Michael's Museum at Chicago Children's Museum. Read more: Wee Windy City

Tiny People

Now and then a new website featuring "Miniatures" comes across my e-mail. Look at this one:
Tiny People's Wonderful World of Food

Mini-Model In A Bottle

This miniature model of Michael's Museum (next to a shiny new dime for scale) was created by Jenny Schrider, who created the life size Michael's Museum at Chicago Children's Museum. This tiny treat is a real treasure! Models are small reproductions anyway so you can imagine how SMALL this one is!

On the CCM website

It's the 1950's

Usually don't brag about what I cook for dinner but with the opening of Michael's Museum at Chicago Children's Museum, I have been feeling very 50's (when I was between 5 and 15 years old.) So decided to make Turkey Tetrazzini, which I have never done before, and probably haven't eaten since I was between 5 and 15! Simply Recipes: Turkey Tetrazinni

Seen today...

Seen in Michael's Museum today during "The Curator is In:" a little girl lying on her belly visiting with the Museum Mouse, a dad and daughter playing PEEK-A-BOO through the Game Piece PEEK-A-BOO cabinet, a mom crawling through the "smaller door" while her three year old son crawled through after her, kids sorting the multi-colored puff balls into the type tray on the wall, six visitors grouped around the Coffee Table playing the Coffee Table Can You Find It Game, a grandmother looking at the Antique Christmas items, and much much more...

Daily Candy for Kids

Michael's Museum is mentioned in "Daily Candy for Kids" online.

Click below, scroll down on left under: "What to do in Chicago: SEE."

http://www.dailycandy.com/kids/chicago/article/102925/Best-Birthday-Party-Ideas-Kids-Parties

Friday, May 20, 2011

Dear Family and Friends of Michael’s Museum,

Here is a brief summary of the opening of MM at Chicago Children’s Museum (CCM) on Navy Pier. If you were able to join us - it was wonderful sharing the magic and joy of the events with you. If you were unable to join us - we missed you and want to share the day with you in this brief summary. There is also a link to photographs of the events.

Having some 75 staff of CCM come through the two scheduled walk throughs on Thursday 5/12/11 was my first opportunity to witness the reaction of others than those involved with the exhibit and installation. Great fun to sit back and watch. The collections, miniature cup cakes, small glasses of milk, and party favors were enjoyed by all.

The Friday morning ribbon cutting ceremony was wonderful. It was attended by approximately 90 people. Being serenaded by the CCM Sometimes Band (Sometimes they are in tune, other times they are not.) was a first for me, the “Mouse Eye View of Michael's Museum” art piece commissioned for me by CCM to commemorate the day is hanging on my wall, and Jennifer Farrington's (CEO)  opening words were moving. 

I had the opportunity after the am ceremonies to spend several hours in Michael's Museum interacting with and observing the younger and older and even oldest visitors who arrived at CCM just to spend the day, not knowing it was opening day for MM. It was a joy for me to witness the magic that permeates the exhibit. 

At the risk of bragging, it seems to be an instant hit on so many levels, many of which I probably cannot even begin to perceive. I have enjoyed being a "big celebrity in a little room" and was asked many times to pose with children while the parents took a photograph.

The comments, thank you's, and pictures in the journal that lives on the curator's desk are touching and it is already half full. I have watched two and three year olds as well as seniors interact with the collections that are behind plexi as well as with the manipulatives which are strewn around the exhibit. Some people come and go, some return, others have lingered.

The "Coffee Table Seek and Find" has logged countless hours of involvement by young ones alone (magnifying glass in hand,) by adults, and by adults guiding their children through the activities. 

The Museum Mouse Entrance gets lots of attention with people of all ages lying on their belly to interact with the adorable rodent. 

The Smaller Entrance attracts people who can just walk in without ducking and those who have to crawl through (read adults.) I have seen some kids take knee dives and slide through the the Smaller Entrance into the exhibit (and out again.) 

Probably the most interesting phenomenon is that almost every time there have been visitors in the exhibit (which seems to be always) at least one little girl or boy has spent time with the feather duster cleaning the collections. Interesting that children so young even recognize what a feather duster is. More interesting is that they seem to be so involved in and thoroughly enjoying the cleaning opportunity.

At the celebration evening event on Friday over 300 people were in attendance and the "Joy and Magic Meter" needle was off the screen. The Great Hall was lit with a soft blue glow, conversation hummed musically, and the warm red-walled MIchael's Museum exhibit was crowded with excited, involved, amazed, amused, astounded visitors.

The following Tuesday I was back at MM as part of the Parent Program scheduling called “The Curator is In.” I just hung around to greet visitors and chat. In the two hours I was there, we clocked over 200 visitors who had just come to CCM for the day or on a school field trip.

Here is a link to an amazing analysis of the exhibit and the opening festivities that was written by a long time friend, educator, and artist Jan Yourist: Nothing small about that… | Nexus

Finally, here is a link to photographs of the events: Michael's Museum Photographs More photos will be added all the time so check back throughout June.

Thanks for being part of MM@CCM and thanks for being part of my life!

Fondly,

Michael, Curious Collector, Creator and Curator

Michael's Museum: A Curious Collection of Tiny Treasures

At Chicago Children's Museum on Navy Pier

P.S. Fun sharing all this with you.

PART TWO FOLLOW-UP - Photographs

"What People Saw at the Opening of Michael's Museum"

 THIS IS A REPOST OF MY PREVIOUS BLOG BUT IT INCLUDES MORE PHOTOS!

• • •

On Friday, May 13, 2011, Michael's Museum: A Curious Collection of Tiny Treasures opened at Chicago Children's Museum.

All the photographs linked in my previous BLOG are still there plus UPDATES including a final version of THE EXHIBIT as well as JAN's AM & PM Photo and Jenny's Mini Model.

Click here to go to: Michael's Museum Photographs More photos will be added all the time so check back throughout June.

What People Are Saying About the Opening of Michael's Museum at Chicago Children's Museum on Navy Pier

What a wonderful exhibit. My sister and I thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and will surely be back. A.N.T.

Beautiful exhibit, great collections. P.B.


Fabulous in every way! L.L.E.M.


It was AMAZING! Well worth the trip to Navy Pier just to see your wonderful collection. G.M.


Tonight was very special. J.K.


Absolutely marvelous!!! The feel of the room, the joy, excitement, color of the collections is a triumph in many ways. J.H.


A wonderful exhibition. The "feel" of Michael is at the heart of it. R.Z.


What an awesome exhibit you have created and (so generously!) shared! It was a great night. A.D.


It was truly a magical experience. C.A.


It is the most awesome contribution to our city's cultural heritage! J.Y.


People going through your museum are bound to become friends---there’s this compulsion to point things out to whomever is standing near you so you just start talking. J.S.


I believe in the magic you brought to my life!  L.M.


I don't yet have words for the pecularly, comforting regression evoked by your little objects, a pull to a more idelaized childhood than anyone really had. J.M.


What a wonderful exhibit for the children to get their minds whirling with ideas for their own collections ... you have found a great way to help educate kids and boost their creativity! J.H.M.

The Chicago Sun-Times

Well, as the activities and excitement surrounding the opening of Michael's Museum at Chicago Children's Museum mounted, this article appeared first in The South Town Star and then was repeated in the Sun-Times. Here is the link:

http://www.suntimes.com/photos/galleries/index.html?story=5296987