Mixin' it up

The beginning of classes here at The College is fast approaching, but even before that is Freshmen Orientation. Here at W&M, we don't just do a quick weekend introduction. Instead orientation is an intense (but fun and exciting) week-long affair. As someone who has experienced orientation first hand, I can say that mixers with other freshmen halls was a fun break from all the scary, official parts filled with paperwork.

Here in the DEN we want to introduce freshmen to the Muscarelle early, and educate them all about the museum. That's why we've designed several mixers for OA's (thats Orientation Aides) to choose from. Hopefully, starting the 22nd, we'll have freshmen in here doing arts and crafts and completing scavenger hunts, all the while socializing and mixing with their fellow students. Maybe they will love the museum so much after the mixers that we'll have dozens new interns! That's a stretch, but maybe we can get them to come to future Muscarelle events and exhibitions?

Here's hoping
Caitlin

Back From DC

Well,   

We are all back from our trip to Washington, DC. Well, we actually got back last Saturday but it has been so hectic around here I have just now been able to post. We had quite the fun filled weekend in our nation's capitol. We visited the National Portrait Gallery (and talked to their Director of Education), the International Spy Museum, the Newseum, as well as other cultural institutions. Those museum visits we did as a group and then we broke off and explored on our own. Personally, I went to the Holocaust Museum, the Hirshhorn, and spent much time enjoying the weather. 

Native American Museum

The Capitol

Section of the Berlin Wall at the Newseum

Amy, Ansley, Megan, and myself also took a trip to Peake DeLancey Printers in Dayton, MD to watch them print our new letterhead and business cards. We met up with Jeff Walters from CDG Interactive (our design agency for the re-branding) and Steve Johnson from Peake DeLancey. We were able to tour their HUGE facility and watch as our new materials came off the presses. Below are some interesting photos.

Here is the plate for our new letterhead being prepped for press

Our Business cards fresh off the press

Steve (middle) and Jeff (right) looking at the business cards

So here's an interesting article I read the other day about a Van Gogh piece: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25934213/?GT1=43001

and if you go ahead and read that, you'll discover that researchers utilized some uber fancy technolgy to help out some art historian discover what exactly did Van Gogh hide underneath one of his paintings. Turns out underneath some grass lurked a portrait of a mystery woman!

What I find the most intriguing is how science helped art: according to the article, "The reconstruction enables art historians to understand the evolution of Van Gogh’s work better, the researchers said in a statement. And the new technique is expected to pave the way for research into many other concealed paintings"

But less publicized is how art helps science, which serves as one of the main themes of Beyond the Edge of the Sea. Scientists can better understand what exists in the depths of the ocean by looking at Karen Jacobsen's fantastic watercolor illustrations, and how cool is that?

I'm constantly on the lookout for more information on how the arts and sciences collaborate. One good example: the amazing bottle-cap magnets we made with some of our art camp kids. OK, so the science wasn' t that comclicated, and neither was the creative process. But with a small magnet, a bottle cap, magazine cut outs, and a lot of glue, I now have a beautiful and functional way to hold up both documents and watercolors on my refridgerator.

-Caitlin

From the Desk of Dr. Gorman

Of course I need no introductions, but just for those not yet in the know, this is Amy, Curator of Education and New Media at the Muscarelle, and current warden of the DENmates. This summer has been a whirlwind of projects on exhibitions, education, research, marketing and development, all gearing up for our Extreme Exploration exhibitions including Beyond the Edge of the Sea: Diversity of Life, Celestial Images, and Underwater Photography by Dennis Libberson.
As we come to a close of the summer, I have to say thank you for the incredible work everyone has contributed to the DEN this season; Kathryn, Rusty, Paula, Megan, Sara G, Sarah W, Caitlin, Ansley, Jen, Christina, and Dave.

Amy

A Brief introduction...

Hello world.
Master of the Blog has commanded I introduce myself, so as a newbie to this whole blogging 'thing', I will give it a shot.....
My name is Kathryn and I am the School Programs and Artreach coordinator here at the Museum.... aka, the graduate assistant. I am a grad student here at William and Mary, studying school psychology. Having received my masters in May, I am now working on my Education Specialist degree.... oh yes, I'll be a master and a specialist. Now, how did a school psychology student end up in a museum?? I think its a grand ol' thing called fate. I have enjoyed tackling this new challenge and field, and learning about art, art history, and the ins-and-outs of a museum, which a year ago seemed like a whole other world to me.
As the school programs coordinator, I help to connect schools to the museum and exhibitions housed here via lesson plans and such. Artreach is a new program we are piloting and testing out, which involves bringing museum resources to the classrooms and schools, eliminating the red-tape and logistics nightmares, on the part of the teachers, of getting field trips here.
This summer, I have been working with the other fabulous ladies, Miss Caitlin and Miss Ansley, during a two-week gifted and talented art camp, as a part of William and Mary's Summer Enrichment Program for gifted students, grades K-10. With a week of The Artistic Word and a week of Looking to Listen, we connected art to the written word and to music with a cross-disciplinary approach to expression. Then, following the two weeks of GT classes, we have been hosting our own youth arts camp for kids with Miss Jen and have just been having fun.
I will admit now that I am neither sly nor witty, but will attempt to be somewhat entertaining, if not informative.
So stop on by, come see what we have here. Trust me, you will learn something new.

A Note on Bananas....

"I love bananas so much that I work at one!"





I was mocked mercilessly (but lovingly) by my fellow interns for this statement. I feel we have a pretty good comraderie here in the DEN, which hopefully shows in the work we do. There is no "I" in "DEN" of course. Kathryn and I have been double-teaming on a Beyond the Edge of the Sea education packet, and I might even have to ask someone's thoughts and opinions on this blog before I post it. We look out for each other, and thats just one of the many benefits of working at the Muscarelle.

p.s. I really do actually work at a Banana... Republic that is.
-Caitlin

Greetings DEN!

Greetings, fellow Den-dwellers!
I am Sarah and have only recently started working in the
Muscarelle
(this summer!)
But of course I will continue throughout the coming year!
I am a Junior--art major
which is why I work mainly on creative projects here at the museum:
illustrations!!!! (fun!) for various things like
Beyond the Edge and coloring books and pamphlets and of course anythingelsethatneedstobedone...
I am excited about this Blog, though, and Hope it will
be a great place to exchange ideas
and keep in touch
and up to date on everything going on at the museum!