Tacoma Art Museum Docents Blog TAM Docents Blog: 08/17/2008

TAM: Docent Needed: Sept. 6 or 7 from 4-8 pm

Can anyone do a docent shift on Saturday, September 6 and/or Sunday, September 7 from 4-8 pm?

On Saturday, September 6 and Sunday, September 7, Tacoma Art Museum will be open late until 8 pm on both days for the last weekend of The Saint John’s Bible.

Please reply only if you are available, and I will confirm whether or not you are needed.

Thanks for your time!

Heide Fernandez-Llamazares

Assistant Museum Educator and Docent Coordinator

hllamazares@TacomaArtMuseum.org

TACOMA ART MUSEUM

1701 Pacific Avenue

Tacoma, Washington 98402

T: 253.272.4258 x3018

F: 253.627.1898

www.TacomaArtMuseum.org

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TAM: about docent shifts

By now it is very clear that The Saint John’s Bible exhibition is always very busy!

I have been working hard to make sure that weekends and all private tours are fully covered by docents, and that there is always a docent every day. That said, most days are busy enough to easily use a second docent! If you would like to add an extra shift or two or three over the next three weeks, on whatever day works for your schedule, please let me know and I will sign you up!

Several of you have commented on being exhausted after your docent shift. It is perfectly acceptable and desirable for you to take a break during your shift – either to have a drink, or lunch, or spend some quiet time on your own (as long as it isn’t during a scheduled tour, of course). I know it’s difficult to do so when visitors are constantly finding you to ask questions but don’t be shy about telling visitors that you’ve been touring for 2 hours and that you are going to take a 15 or 30 minute break, and will be back in the galleries later.

The museum tracks all types of anecdotes about visitor experiences. If you have stories from your tours, please send them to us! I do look through the Docent Log binder every month, and we do use things you write in there, but if you email them to me directly, that is a little easier. For example, Terry Dew shared the following with us and this is the type of story that we can put to use in a grant or article:

I thought you would appreciate hearing: during 2 different small group tours, visitors remarked about how "they had traveled to Europe specifically to see "The Book of Kells" & were so disappointed & by comparison, they were thrilled with scope & magnitude of "The St. John's Bible Exhibition" which was beyond their greatest expectations!"

Thank you so much for all the time you are dedicating to this exhibition!

Heide Fernandez-Llamazares

Museum Educator and Docent Coordinator

hllamazares@TacomaArtMuseum.org

TACOMA ART MUSEUM

1701 Pacific Avenue, Tacoma, Washington 98402

T: 253.272.4258 x3018

F: 253.627.1898

www.TacomaArtMuseum.org

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Experience the Glass of Dale Chihuly

This Thursday = 08/21 = Third Thursday = Docent Coffee + Artwalk

Hello Fellow Docents and Interesting People,

It's the middle of August ... see some Art in the waning part of summer ...

TAM has Illuminating the Word // Janet Cardiff // Neddy // Telling Stories

http://www.tacomaartmuseum.org/

The Museum of Glass has : Lino Tagliapietra // Living Legacies //
Dante Marioni //Cappy Thompson

http://www.museumofglass.org/exhibitions/current/

William Travers hasn't updated for this month : (changing soon?)

Alex Gabriel Bernstein time exposed
Marsha Blaker-DeSomma introspection/expansion
Paul DeSomma introspection/expansion

http://www.travergallery.com/current_exhibitions.aspx

The Helm will have new exhibit: Fresh Salad : Curated by Joseph Peila

http://www.thehelmgallery.com/

***

A gentle reminder that this month's Docent Coffee / Third Thursday
coffee will be at Cutters Point Coffee, 5:00pm + with the same "No
Agenda" and same "No RSVP Required" policy as always!

Day: Third Thursday
Date : 08/21/2008
Place : ** Cutters Point Coffee **
Time: 5:00pm +

The museums will be open free and late; the galleries will be open; we
can take the train to the theater district. No agenda is good freedom.

No RSVP; Just show up!

***

Here are the 3rd Thursdays this year: 01/17 ; 02/21 ; 03/20 ; 04/17 ;
05/15 ; 06/19 ; 07/17 ; 08/21 ; 09/18 ; 10/16 ; 11/20 ; 12/18

You'll get one reminder message on the 3rd Mondays.

** As always: Too much email ?? Let me know if you want off this list. **

--
Regards,
Sanjeev

***
Sanjeev Narang
email: ask {*at*} eConsultant dot com
Find me on Facebook // LinkedIn // MySpace
<a href="http://www.eConsultant.com">www.eConsultant.com</a>

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TAM: Your help and cooperation is much appreciated...

Hello Everyone,

I am hoping to enlist your further support regarding our existing gallery guidelines as they pertain to Illuminating the Word:

Rather than having VS interrupt your tours to speak with visitors, I ask that, when necessary, you remind visitors in your group to refrain from touching the Plexiglas on the cases and leaning, tapping, etc on the vitrines.

As you know, Plexiglas scratches very easily, and dirt and fingerprints detract from the viewing experience.

If you are not comfortable addressing this issue with visitors for any reason, please feel free to ask any available VS representative to do so.

Please bear in mind that all of us, VS and docents alike, set the example for our visitors to follow. Should you have any questions about the guidelines, or the reasons we have them, please ask your nearest (or dearest) VS person. They are more than just pretty faces!

It has also come to my attention that there has been some concern on behalf of visitors regarding the lighting in the exhibit. I thought it might be helpful for you to know the procedure we follow when lights give up the ghost: Throughout the day, VS regularly makes note of these instances and at the earliest opportunity the offending bulbs are replaced. It is museum policy that preparatory work be completed during the hours when the museum is closed to the public. Much of this work also involves coordination with the security systems in the building. Unfortunately, the lights do not seem to know this policy - they continue to burn out at all hours! Visitors can rest assured that every effort is made to keep our exhibits properly lit.

Visitor Services greatly appreciates all of your hard work this (and every) quarter. A thousand thanks!

Ellen Ito

Visitor Services Curatorial Liaison

eito@TacomaArtMuseum.org

Heide Fernandez-Llamazares

Museum Educator and Docent Coordinator

hllamazares@TacomaArtMuseum.org

TACOMA ART MUSEUM

1701 Pacific Avenue, Tacoma, Washington 98402

T: 253.272.4258 x3018

F: 253.627.1898

www.TacomaArtMuseum.org