Regular Meeting of the Board of Trustees, Muscatine Art Center
March 15, 2007
Present:
Loren Backhaus, Eric Knoernschild, Mike Knott, Mary Wildermuth and
Marilyn Wick
Absent:
Mark Huddleston, David Meloy, Scott Natvig and Janet Sichterman
Staff:
Barb Christensen, Director
Visitors Speak:
No visitors in attendance
Minutes:
It was moved by Eric Knoernschild and seconded by Loren Backhaus
that the minutes of the February 15, 2007 Board Meeting be approved. Motion
carried.
Bills:
It was moved by Mike Knott and seconded by Eric Knoernschild to approve
the monthly bills totaling $5,824.69 for payment. Motion carried.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Collections:
Mike Knott presented several items recommended for deaccession
by Virginia Cooper. They included the never-used electric range in the kitchen;
an accumulation of primarily civil war reunion medals and ribbons from Iowa
towns other than Muscatine; and a single page from an old book or portfolio
depicting The Boston Massacre. It was moved by Eric Knoernschild and
seconded by Marilyn Wick that these items be deaccessioned. Motion carried.
Barb received a “Deed of Gift”, signed by the executor, for the John Conner glass
collection. The collection will be packed by MAC staff and several volunteers
and temporarily stored in the Muscatine Transfer Station where climate controlled
storage space is available. It was moved by Eric Knoernschild and seconded by
Loren Backhaus, that this gift be accepted and a formal thank you note be sent to
the family. Motion carried.
Building & Grounds:
There will be a free audio tour demonstration by
“Guideport” on March 28
th
. Board members are encouraged to attend this
demonstration.
Finance & Budget:
The various funds and foundation balances, along with the
expenditures were reviewed and approved. It was moved by Eric Knoernschild
and seconded by Marilyn Wick that the report be approved. Motion carried.
Long-Range Planning:
A request for concept design proposals for the “Pearl
Pavilion” was sent to four (4) firms. Two positive responses and one negative
response were received. No response has been received from a St. Louis firm.
Personnel:
Barb Christensen and Mary Wildermuth attended a seminar on
“Building Relationships” today (March 15
th
).
Barb has found a summer intern to help at the MAC. She is an Art History major
at the University of Iowa.
Program/Publicity:
Virginia will begin working one less hour per week to satisfy
a policy on health care coverage for herself and her husband.
Barb, Sheila Chadoin (Musser Library) and Melanie Alexander (History and
Industry Center) wrote a polite and tactful article for the Muscatine Journal in
response to an article in the Journal by one Roy Yeater on the need for a
repository for Muscatine History memorabilia.
There are two (2) more lectures scheduled on the Eisle’s Hill exhibition.
The Ice Cream Social is scheduled for July 1
st
.
Education Coordinator’s Report:
Report was received for review.
Director’s Report:
Report was received for review.
Unfinished Business:
Nothing to report.
New Business:
Nothing new to report.
Adjourn:
A motion was made by Loren Backhaus and seconded by Eric
Knoernschild to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried.
Respectfully submitted,
Michael J. Knott for
Janet R. Sichterman, Secretary
DIRECTOR’S REPORT
For the month of February 2007
March 15, 2007
Total number of visitors for February 2007
1258
Total number of visitors for February 2006
1777
Total number of visitors Year-to-Date 2006
1838
Total number of visitors Year-to-Date 2005
2510
All figures include outreach program participants
EXHIBITIONS (in the month of February)
January 14, 2007 – April 1, 2007
DIG IT! Eisele Hill Archaeological Excavation
EXHIBITIONS (currently on view – March)
January 14, 2007 – April 1, 2007
DIG IT! Eisele Hill Archaeological Excavation
SPECIAL EVENTS
February 11
American Gothic in Your Face with John Duggleby
CLASSES
February 1
Red Barn Studio: Gourd Sculptures & Painting
– taught by Vada Baker
February 2, 9 & 16
Music For Tots
– 2 sessions taught by Julie Lear
February 3
Poetry, Posters & Pastries: The Art of Sister Corita
- taught by Duffy
DeFrance
February 7
Art for Tots: Winter Surprises
– 2 sessions taught by Julie Herold
February 8
Red Barn Studio: Iris Fold Valentine Cards
– taught by Vada Baker
February 14
Art for Tots: Love Bugs
– 2 sessions taught by Julie Herold
February 10
Sailor’s Valentine
- taught by Julie Lear
February 15 & 22
Red Barn Studio: Scrapbook Boxes
– taught by Vada Baker
February 17
Chinese New Year – Year of the Pig
- taught by Julie Lear
February 21
Art for Tots: Red, White & Blue –
2 sessions taught by Julie Herold
February 23
Family Days: Winter Wonderland
– 2 sessions taught by Julie Lear
February 24
The Art of Aaron Douglas
- taught by Vada Baker
February 28
Art for Tots: Puppet Pals
– 2 sessions taught by Julie Herold
TOURS
February 8
Homeschool students
February 20
Lutheran Homes residents
February 22
Muscatine County Genealogy Group
February 26
Franklin/Garfield School Teachers
OTHER
February 1, 5 & 23
Lear presented outreach programs at the Y
February 1 & 8
Homeschool Enrichment Programs held in the Stanley Gallery Studio
February 6, 13, 20 l& 27
Adventures in Art class held in the Stanley Gallery Studio
February 22
Art Center Staff participated in Junior Achievement program
February 25
Music room rented for recital
February 26
Lear presented outreach program for Central Middle School (School
within a School)
February 27
Virginia Cooper presented an outreach program on Eisele Hill exhibition
to the Kiwanis Club
ACQUISITIONS
Respectfully submitted,
Barbara C. Christensen
Director
cc
KLZ INCORPORATED
1115 Sunrise Circle
Muscatine IA 52761
February 28, 2007
To:
Barb
From: Maria
Re:
Education Coordinator’s Report, February 2007
Our winter semester is over, and while there were a number of classes cancelled due to
weather and low enrollment, the over-all attendance was good. As you will note from
the comparative summaries below, we showed an increase in paid enrollment over 2005
and 2004. Our outreach numbers were lower than 2005 – this was accounted for by the
lower number of students taking part in the Home-School enrichment program this
winter, and the fact that our tours of the Eisele Hill exhibit were split between the
Education Department and Virginia Cooper, who conducted the badge tours for scouts
and the tour for the Muscatine Genealogy group. Our other outreach projects were pretty
much on a par with last year.
We are introducing a new program to our classes – a series of “manners” workshops
taught by Vickie Anderson, which was offered as an after-school program this winter. As
is often the case for new programs, response was very slow for the winter workshop and
we had to cancel due to low enrollment. We will continue with this program for a few
semesters to see if there is community interest in it, and plan to try different time slots as
well.
The workshops which did not meet the required minimum enrollment were our two after-
school programs (Pet Rock Studio and Kids with Class), one early January Kids’
workshop, and three of our four Sunday afternoon “Cabin Fever” programs. We plan to
re-think the Cabin Fever workshops before Winter 2007.
Our Tots and Preschool Programs and Thursday evening adult classes continue to be
success stories. We also had a very good response to our “Oil Painting for Kids”
workshop and “Pottery from the Past,” which was tied to the Eisele Hill exhibit.
Julie Lear conducted a number of outreach workshops in February. The Y Variety Arts
Group studied the art of Karl Zerbe and created a collage valentine. The Y Teen Leaders
learned about artist Robert Indiana and created a stencil valentine in his style. Central
Middle School’s “School Within a School” learned the origami art of iris-folding and
created picture frames. The Hodge Podge Kids from the Big Brothers, Big Sisters
program created Styrofoam snowmen using “glue” created by mixing Elmer’s glue and
shaving cream.
We conducted several tours in February. I gave a second tour of the mansion for our
trustees, and Julie and I gave a tour of the Eisele Hill exhibit to the Homeschool students,
as noted above. I gave a tour of the Eisele Hill exhibit for Lutheran Homes Assisted
Living residents. Also, together with Carolyn Airola, we have prepared and distributed a
teachers’ packet of information on the Eisele Hill exhibit for our fourth-grade teachers,
and conducted a tour of the exhibit for them.
There were no birthday parties in February.
The Spring Brochure has been distributed and we are taking enrollments for our spring
classes.
In addition to supporting our winter program, I am now working on plans for our spring
and summer 2007 semesters, as well as the Ice Cream Social and other outreach events.
Let me know if you have anything else to add to the list.
Muscatine Art Center Education Department
2007 Winter Attendance Report
February 2007
Thurs. Feb. 1 Red Barn Studio: Gourd Sculptures ID 3056
8
7
Host:Homeschool Assistance Enrichment
--
9
Outreach: Y Teen Leaders – Robert Indiana’s Valentine
--
13
Fri. Feb. 2
Music for Tots: ID 3041 & 3042
34
59
Sat. Feb. 3
Kids Workshop: the art of Sister Corita ID 3048
8
9
Sun. Feb. 4
Cabin Fever: The Art of Georgia O’Keeffe
cancelled – low
enrollment
Totals for week (Feb. only)
50
97
Mon. Feb. 5 Outreach: Y Variety Arts – KLZ’s Valentine
--
9
Tues. Feb. 6 Adventures in Art
--
2
Wed. Feb. 7 Art for Tots: Winter Surprises ID 3033 & 3034
14
25
Kids with Class ID 3053
cancelled – low
enrollment
Pet Rock Studio: Passport to Art II ID 3052
cancelled – low
enrollment
Thurs. Feb. 8 Red Barn Studio: Iris Fold Valentines ID 3057
16
16
Tour: Homeschool Assistance - Eisele Hill
--
22
Fri. Feb. 9
Music for Tots ID 3041 & 3042
35
51
Sat. Feb. 10 Kids Workshop: Sailor’s Valentine ID 3049
9
8
Sun. Feb. 11
Totals for week:
74
133
Tues. Feb. 13 Adventures in Art
--
--
Wed. Feb. 14 Art for Tots: Love Bugs ID 3035 & 3036
11
21
Kids with Class ID 3053
cancelled – low
enrollment
Pet Rock Studio: Passport to Art II ID 3052
cancelled – low
enrollment
Thurs. Feb. 15 Red Barn Studio: Scrapbook Boxes ID 3058
cancelled – instructor
ill
Fri. Feb. 16
Music for Tots ID 3041 & 3042
35
58
Sat. Feb. 17
Kids Workshop: Chinese New Year ID 3050
8
11
Sun. Feb. 18 Cabin Fever: The Art of Sister Corita ID 3061
cancelled – low
enrollment
Totals for week:
54
89
Mon. Feb. 19
Tues. Feb. 20 Adventures in Art
--
--
Tour: Lutheran Homes – Eisele Hill
--
21
Wed. Feb. 21 Art for Tots: Red, White & Blue ID 3037 & 3038
13
21
Kids with Class ID 3053
cancelled – low
enrollment
Pet Rock Studio: Passport to Art II ID 3052
cancelled – low
enrollment
Thurs. Feb. 22 Red Barn Studio: Scrapbook Boxes ID 3058
14
9
Outreach: MCC Honors Class (Julie Herold)
--
15
Fri. Feb. 23
Family Days ID 3043 & 3044
17
32
Outreach: Hodgepodge Kids – Styrofoam snowmen
--
17
Sat. Feb. 24 Kids Workshop: The Art of Aaron Douglas ID 3051
cancelled – ice
storm
Sun. Feb. 25 Cabin Fever: The Art of Faith Ringgold ID 3062 cancelled – low
enrollment
Totals for week:
44
115
Mon. Feb. 26 Outreach: CMS School Within a School – iris folding
--
17
Tour: Fourth Grade teachers – Eisele Hill
--
29
Tues. Feb. 27 Adventures in Art
--
2
Wed. Feb. 28 Art for Tots: Puppet Pals ID 3039 & 3040
12
20
Little Miss Manners ID 3098
cancelled – low enrollment
Pet Rock Studio: Passport to Art II ID 3052
cancelled – low
enrollment
Totals for February
234
502
Totals for Winter 2007
425
881
Totals for Winter 2006
414
1106
Totals for Winter 2005
377
598