Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Inside Story at @MKEPublicMuseum

Hey folks, long time no blogging, right?

Wrong. I've been blogging over here as my life has been consumed with training and fundraising for a half marathon I'm completing in July to benefit the Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America. Head over there and read why and stay up to date.

For now, I'd like to talk about what I'm doing this evening and why I'm so excited for it.

Milwaukee Public Museum's Inside Story
From the MPM website:
The Inside Story is a series of three evening events designed to give insight into the creation of the Museum’s most beloved exhibits. Exhibit artists and curators will peel away your surface perceptions to let you in on some behind-the-scenes secrets of the museum world, as well as share some of the inevitable snafus that occur in creating a total-habitat diorama.

Seriously. Seriously??? Seriously.

How awesome. You know what a glutton I am for anything learning-related, and this is totally a feather in that tam. Get it? Though, I don't think tams have any place to stick a feather.

Tonight's gluttonous activities center around the museum's Rainforest Exhibit, otherwise known as, the section where we enjoyed cocktails at Maggie and Randy's wedding.

Again, from the museum's website:
The year is 1983, and the Museum is starting plans to build a new biology hall. Fast forward five years, and the completed hall is like none ever seen. Learn how and why the Museum decided to build a two-story, total habitat rain forest – complete with a waterfall and an elevated walkway through the canopy -- and the monumental effort it took to make it happen. From working within the parameters of collecting under the then-new concept of environmental sensitivity, to dealing with frogs under the toilet seat of a Costa Rican outhouse, you’ll hear “the Inside Story” of the creation of MPM’s Rain Forest from those who made it happen. Speakers and presenters include Jim Kelly, Director of Exhibits & Graphics; Susan Borkin, Director, Puelicher Butterfly Garden and Curator of Insects; and Craig Yanek, Biological Sculptor and Exhibit Fabrication Artist.

Su-weet. I was barely even born with this exhibit came to life and now I get to hear all the gory dirty details. And eat cupcakes. Mustn't forget the cupcakes.