Today's the Day

Today is one of those days! It is the 12th Art in Bloom, my tenth, and I am blown away by the creativity of the designers! The whole museum is full of staff and the florists making beautiful and inventive arrangements. Since the art in the Richard Bell: Uz vs.Them show is somewhat confrontational, so are the arrangements, which include artifacts such as a sword and barbed wire! Here's some of the activity from the morning:

Our Link to the Community and Teachers

We are so proud of our Teacher Outreach Coordinator, Sonja Brooks, honored as a Partner for Youth program leader for its 2011 Grassroots Program.

Sonja started our teacher outreach program over five years ago. She has reached out to teachers in 19 neighboring counties, and offers workshops on a regular basis. I am always impressed when I read the evaluations- the teachers really treasure the experience, the information they get, the special experiences that Sonja plans for and provides. And each teacher can reach up to 600 students with the information!

Sonja also works each spring with several neighboring schools to produce a show for Youth Art Month. This year , the theme is one for eco-arts -- "It's Easy Beading Green," focused on beads made from recycled materials. I've had fun making the beads myself from magazine pages, yogurt tops, and even made some with my grandchild. Old chocolate wrappers (the gold ones) make amazing beads!

We are so fortunate to have someone as creative, energetic and personable as Sonja running our outreach program. Beads will be accepted until February 28 - see the website for more details!

As Amy Stockpiles Prizes......

There is a lot going on behind the scenes in preparation for Art in Bloom. Hubert is framing a special print that will be a surprise gift at the Gala. Measure twice, cut once......

All Lined Up

Amy Nelson has the signature image for each Art in Bloom framed and lined up in her office. Right now, it's also filled with gift baskets of candy, bourbon, and many other offerings for the silent auction on Saturday night of Art in Bloom!

Growing Nearer

Dale Fischer, Janie Welker and nationally acclaimed garden designer John Carloftis met to hatch a plot that will be planted this spring. Announcement of the plan will be on Friday, February 24, at the Art in Bloom gala!

It's Not a Job, It's a Pleasure

That's how Ann Tauchert decribes her work at the
Art Museum, where she has volunteered as a docent for over 30 years.

She moved to Lexington with her husband Ted, an engineer, in 1970. She had been a docent before at the Princeton Art Museum. The art museum was just a pipe dream until 1976, but Ann has been involved since the beginning. She says "I have thoroughly enjoyed it. You meet nice people, it's always changing, and it was wonderful escape from doing 5th grade math with one of my five children." She really enjoys teaching a group of younger students, especially fro out of the city. "It's amazing how country kids get more excited and don't take it for granted. Younger children just eat it up!"

We are so glad to have Ann as part of our art museum family!