File puptcrit/puptcrit.0508, message 280


To: puptcrit-driftline.org-AT-lists.driftline.org,
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] MacNider Art Museum post Fest visit
Date: Mon, 15 Aug 2005 09:19:04 -0500 (CDT)
From: owlglass-AT-avalon.net
Cc: allelu-AT-attglobal.net


I've been following this thread with interest (and dismay), and now I must 
put my 2 cents worth in.  We (Eulenspiegel Puppet Theatre from West 
Liberty, Iowa) have had an ongoing relationship with MacNider for over 10 
years (bridging a complete turnover of staff).  Our immediated contact 
person has always been the education coordinator (a position now held 
by Linda Willeke).  We and any guest puppeteers we've brought there 
have always been treated with respect and hospitality.  They do excellent 
outreach to area schools and always fill school shows to capacity.  The 
weekday evening shows are almost always filled nearly to capacity with 
area families (how many of us can say that about our own theatres???).  
On the rare occasion that some overzealous teacher has objected to 
some content in a show, the museum has stood behind its guest 
puppeteers 100%.  The exhibits usually look great and are up to date, but 
after all, most museums don't close down to construct a new exhibit.  On 
the whole, I think this museum is of amazing scope and quality for a town 
of 25,000!   
Monica
Eulenspiegel Puppet Theatre
http://www.puppetspuppets.com




Quoting Alan Cook <alangregorycook-AT-msn.com>:

> The following was received Aug 9 from the Director of the Macnider Art
> Museum, Mason City Iowa, responding to my concerns about the 
incomplete
> exhibit of Baird puppets, the lack of Baird catalogs in their gift shop,
> the non-working visual/projection equipment  for a talk by Richard Leet,
> previous Director of MacNider, etc. There were 39 of us on a post 2005
> Festival pilgrimage, and I since learned that others made a trip
> individually before the Festival.
> 
> The response is long, but should be part of the record. Please beare
> with it:
> 
> From: Sheila Perry
> Subject: Visit to the MacNider Art Museum
> Date: Tue 9 Aug 2005 09:30 . 24-0700
> 
> Thank you for your email regarding your visit to the MacNider Art
> Museum. It is unfortunate that there appears to have been a lack of
> communication between the Festival's coordinator, the Museum and the
> Festival attendees.
> 
> Firstly, please be advised that the Festival's visit to the MacNider Art
> Museum was not a museum sponsored event. All organization of your 
day's
> activities were the sole responsibility of Marie Thompson. Marie advised
> the museum that a group would be coming during the weekend and that 
the
> Festival needed use of our event room for the afternoon. This was the
> extent of the arrangements made with the MacNider Art Museum. If Ms
> Thompson wanted a formal tour of the Baird collection, it could have
> been arranged for a nominal fee. This option was not chosen.
> 
> It should be noted that the MacNider has NOT lost the Baird videos. In
> fact, the videos are currently being converted to DVD in order to
> facilitate continuous playing of them in the new exhibit that is being
> constructed in the library. The exhibit of Bil's own puppets and the
> audio visual equipment is still being built, hence the sign that reads
> "exhibition in progress". The MacNider understands how vital it is to
> provide visitors with the opportunity to see Bil in action. This is why
> we are developing this partcular exhibit. It is unfortunate that this
> exhibit was not completed before the Fstival's visit, but due to the
> limited resources available (both financially and physically) this was
> not possible. Marie was informed that we would not have the Baird 
videos
> available, hence the Festival brought their own.
> 
> It was not until Friday afternoon that the museum was aware that Mr.
> Leet was scheduled to talk to the group. At that time, he was walked
> through the audiovisual equipment in the event room. He indicated that
> he was comfortable working the equipment. Unfortunately, something
> happened that resulted in his not being able to show the DVD. I am
> unsure as to what happened as I have since used the equipment and it
> works perfectly. 
> 
> Mr Leet and Mrs Thompson were aware that only part time staff would 
be
> working the weekend. Currently, the Museum's Curator position is 
vacant,
> and I was unable to attend due to a family commitment in Canada tht 
had
> been arranged for over a year. So I am afraid there was no one qualified
> to facilitate a "back room" tour. Again, Ms. Thompson, Mr Leet and Mavis
> Baird were aware that I would not be in Mason City that weekend.
> 
> As for having copies of the Baird catalog, I do believe that staff found
> additional copies that were made available to Festival goers.
> 
> I am sorry that you feel that the MacNider Art Museum is not vested in
> the Baird collection. However, I would like to point out that during my
> three years at the Macnider, numerous changes have been made to the
> puppet exhibits. New signages and didactive panels have been
> introduced.
> 
> New interactives have been developed for the upper gallery. And a 
puppet
> stage has been constructed and placed in the lower gallery to allow
> children of all ages to explore the joy of puppets. The library exhibit
> was developed and will be finished in FY 06. It shoud be noted that all
> ths has happened through volunteer help and without a budget. This
> summer the MacNider Art Museum hosted a puppetry camp for children 
5-12,
> which was well attended and we hope to continue this program next
> summer. In addition, the MacNider continues to sponsor and host two
> professional puppet performances each year. We are pleased to report
> that these performances are filled to capacity on a regular basis.    
> 
> So you can see, the MacNider Art Museum values and promotes the 
Baird
> puppets and puppetry in general. We are sorry that your day at the
> Museum did not run as smoothly as everyone would have liked, but we 
hope
> you will visit the MacNider Museum in the future for the puppets await
> you.
> 
> Sheila Perry
> Director
> MacNider Art Museum
> Mason City, Iowa
> 
> (End of her letter)
> 
> To the best of my knowledge, additional Baird catalogs had not been
> found and placed in the Gift Shop before our departure, since that is
> where I bought posters and postcards there immediately before our
> departure. Also, we still don't know who painted Bil's portrait on
> display and weekend staff did not know. It is unfortunate that for many
> of us, the Museum is located so far away, making frequent visits
> difficult, but we are glad to be reassured that the MacNider understands
> the importance to us of the Baird puppet collection.---ALAN COOK
> 
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re
http://www.puppetspuppets.com
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