On Vacation

I am currently in Fort Worth TX with family, then Llano, TX with friends, then on to Puerto Vallarta Mexico for the month of March. I will try to post some "Museum Stories" for you while I am in Mexico.

Meanwhile, there have been fewer posts on this blog as I have not been spending time at the museum on a predictable basis after having been there every Monday during October, November, and December and other times as well.

I decided to take the winter off, have been in a few times, and am off to TX and MX at the end of February and for the Month of March. Will be back at MM @ CCM on a predictable schedule for the months of April, May, and June on Wednesdays from 10:30am - 12:30pm.

We will have all kinds of new activities that will be part of "The Curator is In" so come visit with me then. In April we will feature the next "Changing Collections Cabinet" show from Guest Collector Susan Engle. Also in May we will be celebrating the one year anniversary of Michael's Museum at Chicago Children's Museum. Join the festivities.

Miniature Worlds in Books

Came across this site in which Brian Dettmer, using knives, tweezers and surgical tools, carves one page at a time. Nothing inside the out-of-date encyclopedias, medical journals, illustration books, or dictionaries is relocated or implanted, only removed.

Dettmer manipulates the pages and spines to form the shape of his sculptures. He also folds, bends, rolls, and stacks multiple books to create completely original sculptural forms. 

CLICK HERE to go to his site.

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day to my BLOG readers:

Circus Zirkus

Six months ago it was Michael's Museum, now it's Circus Zirkus. The Chicago Children's Museum has got to be the greatest place in the world for children to play and learn (adults too:-)
CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE CIRCUS

Sebatical

There have been fewer posts on this blog as I have not been spending time at the museum on a predictable basis after having been there every Monday during October, November, and December and then other times as well. I decided to take the winter off, have been in a few times, and am off to Mexico for the Month of March. Will be back at MM @ CCM on a predictable schedule for the months of April, May, and June on Wednesdays from 10:30am - 12:30pm. Come visit with me then.

Happy Halloween

Never to late to say, "Trick or Treat, Tiny Treasures or Eats!" This was just received from Lucretia, teacher of these charming children.

Today's Visitor

Today, while at CCM for the Staff Walk Through of a new wonderful exhibit (Circus Zircus,) I chatted with a younger (maybe early 30's) alone adult visitor from Korea. She was by enjoying herself in Michael's Museum as she carefully studied each collection.

When I introduced myself she was quite pleased and commented, "So this museum is kind of like the history of your life!" I couldn't have said it more articulately.

Like everyone, in some fashion or another, she is a collector. She collects antique rings and bracelets and sure enough the one she was wearing is also featured in one of the Michael's Museum Drawers.

We said our goodbyes and she exited, crouching down through the smaller door.

Circus Zircus

So very excited about Circus Zircus coming to Chicago Children's Museum. It opens February 3. Ladies, Gentlemen, and Children Of All Ages ... Step right up ... join the circus!

P.S. I found this photograph of me taken when I was a muscle man at the circus in 1919.

Coming Soon: Circus Zircus CLICK HERE FOR MORE

Navy Pier Snow Sculpture

On the way home from a meeting at Michael's Museum, I stopped to watch these artists make snow sculptures.

Today, while at Michael's Museum, I had occasion to chat with Donna and Dennis visiting from the Wonderlab in Bloomington, IN. She is a volunteer and he is in the Exhibit Department. They often come to Chicago and decided to spend some time at CCM even though their children and grand-children were back in Indiana. They were all "rave reviews" about the many exhibits at CCM and asked a few questions about MM. They promised to return with their family next time. I asked if I couldn't mention them on the CCM blog.


http://www.wonderlab.org/

1932 Duesenberg

A miniature functioning replica 1932 Duesenberg by Louis Chenot. It actually works!

Match Stick Vessels

79-year-old Phil Warren from the UK spent 62 years to build an incredible fleet of 432 ships. All vessels are built entirely of matchsticks and boxes of wooden matches. The collection includes nearly 370 American and 60 British ships.

He began creating his first boat in 1948, when he was only 17. He uses a razor blade, tweezers and sandpaper to carve the pieces and boxes, then sticks them together with balsa wood glue. In total more than 650,000 used matchsticks to create an amazing collection of 1:300 scale models. Even 1,200 aircraft made ​​even more realistic appearance to dress the decks of aircraft carriers.

After a hard day's work ...

Busy day at Chicago Children's Museum and Michael's Museum. Arrived by 8:00 to work with Mark, Preparator, on resetting some of the collection cabinets. Straightened my desk and sorted some collection items. Met with Louise over lunch. Talked with Katie about some upcoming projects. Sat with Michelle as we signed the papers which officially turned my collections over to CCM (actually done in December, 2011.) Passed this information kiosk on the way back to my car, took a photo, and sent it to my e-mail. You can take one of these free pictures too when you visit MM@CCM@Navy Pier!

Tiny Treasure Books

The Miniature, Small, Little, Tiny Treasure Books at Michael's Museum may not be as talented as those at TYPE Bookstore but come visit Chicago Children's Museum anyway after watching this video.


CLICK here to view video.

MMMMMM

Michael's Museum is Majorly Minuscule and Magnificently Magical: Come Visit!

"Artifacts" at Chicago Children's Museum

Today saw the installation of "Artifacts" at Chicago Children's Museum in Michael's Museum's Changing Collections Cabinet. Friends and Guest Collectors Jake Bloom and Jan Yourist gathered miniature, diminutive, little, small, and tiny items from around their collection filled home and created a magical, mysterious, evocative exhibit that will be on loan through February 23, 2012. Come visit and experience for yourself!

Read Jan's Blog about the experience: http://connectere.wordpress.com/2012/01/02/artifacts-at-the-chicago-childrens-museum/

Visit Chicago Children's Museum's site:
http://www.chicagochildrensmuseum.org/

 Jan & Jake unpacking.

Jan discussing the installation with Jake.

Jake discussing the installation with Jan.

Jake and Jan installing on the seven shelves of the Changing Collections Cabinet.

Jake photographing the installation.

 Jan and Jake photographing the installation.

The installation before closing and securing the cabinet.

Jan and Jake

 Michael, Jan, and Jake.

 Michael, Jake, and Jan.

Jan, Jake, and Michael.

2012

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

ARTIFACTS

Just an advanced announcement that Jake Bloom & Jan Yourist, artists & collectors, will be the featured guest collectors in the Changing Collections Cabinet in Michael's Museum beginning January 2, 2012 with their exhibit: "ARTIFACTS." Items have been selected from all over their house including this "Collection Wall." Come visit!

Society Pages

Michael's Museum, along with Chicago Children's Museum, made the Chicago Tribune Society Pages in Candace Jordan's column about the second annual SNOWBALL.

Merry Christmas

We will be quite busy this evening making sure everyone gets their gifts, so wanted to take this occasion to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas! HoHoHo