Open Tour Shifts

Dear Docents,

 

I have the following tours that I need some help with. Please let me know if you are available to docent any of the following tours.

 

Public Docent Tour on February 24^th, from 1 pm to 2 pm, on Mighty Tacoma

 

Tour Type:                  Rockwell Group Tour EVENING

Tour Contact:              Erin Orbitz 253-798-3345

Date & Time:               March 3^rd, 2011, from 6:20 pm to 7:20 pm

Guest Count:               10

 

Tour Type:                    Chihuly Walking Tour

Tour Contact:                Wendy Faucett 503-325-4802

Organization:                 N/A

Date & Time:                 Friday, April15, 2011, 11:30 am –12:30 pm

Guest Count:                2

 

Tour Type:                  Chihuly Walking Tour

Tour Contact:              Kellen Willis 360.486.8117

Organization:               PNACAC 

Date & Time:               Wednesday, May 18, 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Guest Count:               10-15    

 

Tour Type:                  Rockwell Group Tour DAYTIME

Tour Contact:              Jayla McGill 206-779-4218

Date & Time:               May 18th 2011 @ 10:30 AM

Guest Count:               24

 

Tour Type:                  Chihuly Walking Tour

Tour Contact:              Kellen Willis 360.486.8117

Organization:               PNACAC 

Date & Time:               Wednesday, May 20, 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Guest Count:               10-15    

 

I hope everyone has a great weekend!

 

Regards,

Megan

 

Megan Ristine | TACOMA ART MUSEUM

Education Assistant

 

T: 253.272.4258 x3026

1701 Pacific Avenue, Tacoma, Washington 98402

www.TacomaArtMuseum.org

 

 

American Chronicles: The Art of

NORMAN ROCKWELL

February 26 – May 30, 2011

 

courage – family – innocence – freedom – history

 

TAM Docents: Scarves and ties for Rockwell - Change of plan

Hello Docents-

As it turns out, I have now been informed that this is not going forward after all.  Awkward! Sorry if this brings disappointment. We will stick with the usual garb.

Thank you,

-Jana

 

Jana Wennstrom | TACOMA ART MUSEUM

Manager of Public and Volunteer Programs

& Interim Director of Education

T: 253.272.4258 x3030

 

 

American Chronicles: The Art of

NORMAN ROCKWELL

February 26 – May 30, 2011

 

courage – family – innocence – freedom – history

 

 

 

From: Jana Wennstrom
Sent: Thursday, February 10, 2011 1:56 PM
Subject: TAM Docents: Scarves and ties for Rockwell

 

Hello Docents -

I have been informed that, starting with the opening of Rockwell on February 26, we will have a temporary change in dress code to create more uniformity amongst the floor volunteers and staff. This is a “branding” concept for Rockwell. The museum is purchasing scarves and ties for all VS, Store and docents who will be working with the public.  All black attire with a yellow “Rockwell” scarf for women or white shirt/black pants and tie for men. Links below give a preview. This is not negotiable at this point and I wasn’t in on any of this so I apologize if it is not to your liking. I think it will be kind of fun for a few months though and I hope you will too.

 

The scarf of interest can be found here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0044ZAFFW/ref=ord_cart_shr?ie=UTF8&m=AL1O7R2UOPRJA

The black tie of interest can be found here: http://www.amazon.com/Skinny-Black-Necktie-Narrow-Width/dp/B001ZSMUXQ/ref=lh_ni_t_

 

Thank you for all that you do for Tacoma Art Museum!

-Jana

 

Jana Wennstrom | TACOMA ART MUSEUM

Manager of Public and Volunteer Programs

& Interim Director of Education

T: 253.272.4258 x3030

 

 

American Chronicles: The Art of

NORMAN ROCKWELL

February 26 – May 30, 2011

 

courage – family – innocence – freedom – history

 

 

TAM Docents: Scarves and ties for Rockwell

Hello Docents -

I have been informed that, starting with the opening of Rockwell on February 26, we will have a temporary change in dress code to create more uniformity amongst the floor volunteers and staff. This is a “branding” concept for Rockwell. The museum is purchasing scarves and ties for all VS, Store and docents who will be working with the public.  All black attire with a yellow “Rockwell” scarf for women or white shirt/black pants and tie for men. Links below give a preview. This is not negotiable at this point and I wasn’t in on any of this so I apologize if it is not to your liking. I think it will be kind of fun for a few months though and I hope you will too.

 

The scarf of interest can be found here: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0044ZAFFW/ref=ord_cart_shr?ie=UTF8&m=AL1O7R2UOPRJA

The black tie of interest can be found here: http://www.amazon.com/Skinny-Black-Necktie-Narrow-Width/dp/B001ZSMUXQ/ref=lh_ni_t_

 

Thank you for all that you do for Tacoma Art Museum!

-Jana

 

Jana Wennstrom | TACOMA ART MUSEUM

Manager of Public and Volunteer Programs

& Interim Director of Education

T: 253.272.4258 x3030

 

 

American Chronicles: The Art of

NORMAN ROCKWELL

February 26 – May 30, 2011

 

courage – family – innocence – freedom – history

 

 

TAM Docents: Questions from a tour #2

Hello Docents-

I am again sharing information sent to Rose that I thought could benefit everyone.

Thanks!

-Jana

 

Jana Wennstrom | TACOMA ART MUSEUM

Manager of Public and Volunteer Programs

& Interim Director of Education

T: 253.272.4258 x3030

 

 

American Chronicles: The Art of

NORMAN ROCKWELL

February 26 – May 30, 2011

 

courage – family – innocence – freedom – history

 

 

 

Dear Rose,

I am glad if the information is helpful!

 

I am attaching to this email the description of Jo and Uba (listed under “Rake and Broom”) that I mentioned below. It is taken from: Merrily Baird, Symbols of Japan (New York: Rizzoli International Publications, 2001), pp.266-267. I truly adore this book. It is an incredible reference. And it is interesting that in the attached description Baird mentions that Jo and Uba are traditionally depicted with a crane and tortoise as those animals are pictured (in a stylized manner) in the wallpaper behind the tableaux of the elderly couple. I’m attaching a quick digital of that panel of the triptych. Such a rich image!

 

Also, I wanted to mention that for those interested in shunga there are many publications. But there is one that deals in particular with censorship (and so of course touches on shunga) and I would sincerely recommend it as fascinating reading. It is: Thompson, Sarah E., and H.D. Harootuninan, Undercurrents in the Floating World: Censorship and Japanese Prints (New York: The Asia Society Galleries, 1991).

 

Really interesting to hear of the Korean connection to the train station. And thank you for your kind words about the show. I certainly appreciate your efforts to help make it come alive for the visitors through education.

 

Best,

Zoe

 

 

TAM Docents: Questions from a tour

Hello Docents-
Rose gave a tour last week and came back with some very good questions
that I asked Zoe to lend a hand with them and she has graciously replied
below. The information was just too good to keep to ourselves.
-Jana

Jana Wennstrom | TACOMA ART MUSEUM
Manager of Public and Volunteer Programs
& Interim Director of Education
T: 253.272.4258 x3030

Here are the questions:
1. Is there a reason that the prints that we see in the Meiji period
that are in a triptych form
(for example the battle depiction of the Russo-Japanese war) are
printed on three individual pieces of paper. Since paper can be made to
any size why not create a the image on a single paper? They thought
that perhaps the block itself was the determining factor due to warping
or difficulty printing etc. I was not sure and didn't see it in my
notes. Do you know?
THE SIZE OF THE BLOCK WAS DEFINITELY A CONSIDERATION. BUT I THINK THAT
AS A GENERAL RULE IT CAN BE SAID THAT THE PRINTERS LIKED TO FOLLOW
STANDARDIZED SIZES. THE PAPER WAS HANDMADE AND IT WAS USUALLY MADE TO A
STANDARD SIZE. EACH OF THE THREE SHEETS IN THAT TRIPTYCH REFERENCED
ABOVE ARE CALLED "OBAN" AND ARE ROUGHLY 15X10 INCHES. OTHER FAVORITE
FORMATS WERE ONE-HALF AND ALSO ONE-THIRD OF THAT OBAN SIZE. THIS KIND OF
STANDARDIZATION APPEARS IN OTHER ASPECTS OF JAPANESE LIFE--FOR EXAMPLE
THE WIDTH OF THE FABRIC PANEL IN KIMONO IS THE SAME WHETHER IT IS THE
SLEEVE, THE FRONT RIGHT PANEL, THE FRONT LEFT PANEL, OR THE BACK (WHICH
IS TWO PANELS SEWN TOGETHER).

2. They were curious about Shunga (the erotic prints). They were
wondering if we had any in our collection and what the curatorial
prospective would be on showing them. I told them that our collection
was large and that I didn't know if we had any but that i would ask.
TO MY KNOWLEDGE WE DO NOT HAVE ANY TRUE, EXPLICIT SHUNGA IN THE
COLLECTION. THERE WAS ONE PRINT IN THE FIRST ROTATION THAT SHOWED SOME
AMOROUSNESS BUT IT WAS SOMEWHAT VEILED. IT IS INTERESTING BECAUSE DURING
THE EDO PERIOD SHUNGA WERE PROHIBITED SO ARTISTS WERE CAREFUL AND DEFT
AT PRODUCING IMAGES THAT MIGHT BE TITILATING BUT REMAINED WITHIN THE
RESTRICTIONS. I HAVE NOT HAD TO FACE THE QUESTION OF EXHIBITING THEM BUT
IT IS ONE THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO WEIGH CAREFULLY--ESPECIALLY SOME OF THE
MORE EXPLICIT WORKS (IF WE HAD THEM IN THE COLLECTION).

3. One person asked if the artists drew from real life models and
landscapes. I showed him Hokasui's magna and explained that people were
drawing from life but also depended on previous images and books like
the magna. I know that in renaissance in both printing and painting
there were modeling books that artists and crafts people used to create
images. I assumed it would be similar but I didn't know for sure which i
let him know. I hope i wasn't being presumptuous but if i was wrong i
would like to send the correct answer.
THIS IS A COMPLETELY FASCINATING QUESTION AND I DON'T KNOW WHY I HAVEN'T
CONSIDERED IT MYSELF BEFORE! I DO NOT KNOW FOR CERTAIN TO BE HONEST, BUT
MY SENSE IS THAT THE ARTISTS DID NOT WORK FROM MODELS. THE HOKUSAI MANGA
IS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF A STUDY BOOK FOR ARTISTS (AND STUDENTS) TO
REFERENCE. REGARDING LANDSCAPE, MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT YES, ARTISTS
DID WORK AND SKETCH FROM OUT OF DOORS AND THAT THE DEPICTION OF A
RECOGNIZABLE LOCALE WAS A PARTICULAR TRAIT OF MID-19TH CENTURY JAPANESE
PRINT LANDSCAPES (PARTICULARLY AS TRAVEL WAS MADE MORE AVAILABLE).

4. In the print of the Meiji emperor's betrothal on a mantle/ alter are
two small older characters with brooms. Who are they?
WHAT KEEN ART LOOKERS THEY ARE! I LOVE HOW RICH IN REFERENCES THAT
TRIPTYCH IS! THE PAIR IS A MYTHOLOGICAL COUPLE KNOWN AS "JO AND UBA" WHO
ARE OFTEN DEPICTED AS AN OLDER COUPLE WITH BROOMS AND REPRESENT MARITAL
HARMONY AND LONGEVITY. I HAVE A GREAT BOOK AT WORK THAT DESCRIBES THEM
WELL--I'LL SEND A COPY TOMORROW OF THOSE PAGES.

PLEASE HELP!!!

Hello Docents,

So now I am really begging you! I really need of a docent for the following ESL (English as a Second Language) tours. One of the tours is tomorrow morning! We really need your help.  

February 10th (Thurs.) 10am-12pm; Museum Visit – Tour from 10:00 am to 10:30 am
February 17th (Thurs.) 6pm-8pm; Museum Visit – Tour from 6:00 pm to 6:30 pm

 There will be a translator present, you will just need to speak slowly and simply for about half an hour on the Mighty Tacoma exhibition. You will be working with Josh who will be doing other activities tied to the timeframe. We will need your participation for the first half hour of the times listed below.

Please let me know if you are available to help with one of these tours. They are very simple and short tours.

Regards,

Megan

 

 

Megan Ristine | TACOMA ART MUSEUM

Education Assistant

 

T: 253.272.4258 x3026

1701 Pacific Avenue, Tacoma, Washington 98402

www.TacomaArtMuseum.org

 

 

American Chronicles: The Art of

NORMAN ROCKWELL

February 26 – May 30, 2011

 

courage – family – innocence – freedom – history

 

TAM Docents: Your participation needed

Hello Docents-

Stephanie has made a request of the docents and, I feel, it is an excellent idea (and hope you will too!) To give reasons to return to Rockwell again and again, Stephanie suggested that we might have some specialized Rockwell tours offered. We could market them too!  Below are some suggested topics:

 

Norman Rockwell and Social Change

Norman Rockwell and Children

Norman Rockwell and Small Town America

Norman Rockwell and the Saturday Evening Post

 

Other approaches are also encouraged. What I am hoping is that you will each choose one of the topic headings provided, or create one of your own, and do research to create a “specialized” tour, in addition to the general sort of tour we always offer. I think that at least 2 of you can work on any given topic, sharing information with one another and developing it together, if you so choose. Solo acts are also fine, they will just be a bit more work. Please let me know what you think, as well, what topic you want to tackle. I will make sure that you get paired up, based on others’ interests and keep the variety by letting you know if there are too many for any given topic. SAM did something similar with Picasso and it was very successful. Stephanie said she went back several times to catch tours with different themes.

 

Links from Elizabeth you might enjoy:

BBC article about Norman Rockwell:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-12222628

Just happened upon this article while looking at News in Britain.

Thought our docents might find it of interest!

Elizabeth

 

Found this bio about Ginny. Even though it's dated, it does sum up what an amazing woman she is. Also mentioned her show at TAM.

http://www.artguidenw.com/Ruffner.html

Elizabeth

P.S. Sorry for those who missed the great film and inspirational Q&A.

I loved the film and big THANKS go out to whoever arranged for the viewing!!

 

Thank you for all that you do for Tacoma Art Museum!

-Jana

 

Jana Wennstrom | TACOMA ART MUSEUM

Manager of Public and Volunteer Programs

& Interim Director of Education

 

T: 253.272.4258 x3030

1701 Pacific Avenue, Tacoma, Washington 98402

www.TacomaArtMuseum.org

 

 

American Chronicles: The Art of

NORMAN ROCKWELL

February 26 – May 30, 2011

 

courage – family – innocence – freedom – history