Regular Meeting of the Board of Trustees, Muscatine Art Center
SEPTEMBER 18, 2008
Present:
Jan Henderson, Mark Huddleston, Caren Luke, David Meloy, Becky
Wichers and Barb Christensen
Absent:
Scott Natvig, Mike Knott, Tom Spread, Eric Knoernschild
Staff:
Barbara Christensen, Director
Acting Officers:
In the absence of the President, David Meloy was Acting
President. In the absence of the Secretary, Jan Henderson was Acting
Secretary.
Visitors Speak:
There were no visitors.
Minutes:
It was moved by Mark Huddleston and seconded by Jan Henderson to
approve the minutes of August 21, 2008 as corrected by adding Jan Henderson
and Becky Wichers as absent. Motion carried.
Bills:
It was moved by Mark Huddleston and seconded by Caren Luke to
approve the monthly bills totaling $5,878.40. Motion carried.
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Collections:
No report.
Building & Grounds:
Barb Christensen reported that two groups from Musco
Lighting, who participated in the United Way Day of Caring, assembled the three
bridges for the Japanese garden. The bridges are painted and waiting to be
installed. The ponds are currently being painted and sealed.
Finance & Budget:
Christensen reported that no City reports were available.
Long-Range Planning:
Barb Christensen reported that an offer of $130,000
was made through the City on the property next door to the Art Center and a
preliminary acceptance has been received from the Bankruptcy Court and
sellers’ attorney with a completion date of September 30, 2008. The Musser
Library and Art Center will continue working on collaboration programming.
Personnel:
No report.
Program/Publicity:
Barb Christensen reported that the Friends annual Festival
of Wreathes Gala, scheduled for Saturday, November 15, 2008, from 6:00 PM –
8:30 PM will feature Debbie Brooks Purse Trunk Show. The
QC Times
publication Thrifty Nickel (August 28, 2008) contained the Art Center’s
advertisement and the Upcoming Exhibition & Program Schedule thru June 28,
2009, included in our board materials, was reviewed. Work is underway on an
underground railroad exhibition for Fall 2009.
Education Coordinator’s Report:
The written report was reviewed.
Director’s Report:
The written report was reviewed. Barb Christensen
commented on the gift from Maria Norton of OURO PRESTO III, Mixed media on
canvas, painting by Karl Zerbe and the great amount of work that Virginia has
done on the in-house exhibits. Barb asked that the Board members personally
thank Maria and Virginia when they see them.
Unfinished Business:
The City of Muscatine Smoking Policy was briefly
discussed regarding non-smoking policy for garden weddings.
New Business:
Barb Christensen provided a copy of an article in the
September-October 2008 issue of Museum “
Grassley’s Roots – The Man (Some)
Museums Love to Hate.
”
Adjourn:
The meeting was adjourned at 5:55 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Jan Henderson, Acting Secretary
DIRECTOR’S REPORT
For the month of September 2008
October 16, 2008
Total number of visitors for September 2008
1151
Total number of visitors for September 2007
1129
Total number of visitors Year-to-Date 2008
17839
Total number of visitors Year-to-Date 2007
11769
All figures include outreach program participants
EXHIBITIONS (in the month of September)
Beginning July 20, 2008
The Musser Mansion at 100 - 1908-2008
Mc Colm Dry Goods Store
EXHIBITIONS (currently on view – October)
Through October 19, 2008
The Musser Mansion at 100 - 1908-2008
4-H Art Exhibition
CLASSES
September 17
Art for Tots: Fall Colors
–two sessions taught by Julie Herold
September 19, 26
Music for Tots
–taught by Julie Lear
September 24
Art for Tots: Tear and Paste
–two sessions taught by Julie Herold
TOURS
September 3
White Cloud Club
September 13
Sandi Claerhout Sorority Group
September 13
Marsha Froman Bridge group
OTHER
September 2, 9, 16, 23
Out reach: Adventures in art
September 4
Lear presented outreach programs to Y Teen Leaders
September 8
Lear presented outreach programs to Y: Variety Arts
September 19
Outreach: Homeschool Assistance Art
September 20
Outreach West Liberty Children’s Festival presented by Duffy DeFrance
September 21
Birthday Party for Steele
September 25
Outreach: Badge Project for Girls Scouts
September 26
Outreach: Homeschool Assistance Art
ACQUISITIONS
•
Immigrant trunk: Claus Fick, Muscatine Iowa
–
Purchase of Support Foundation
Respectfully submitted,
Barbara C. Christensen
Director
lb
KLZ INCORPORATED
1115 Sunrise Circle
Muscatine IA 52761
Oct. 1, 2008
To:
Barb
From: Maria
Re:
Education Coordinator’s Report, September 2008
The fall semester has begun, and so far we are on track with enrollment. The larger
outreach attendance in 2007 is accounted for by the fact that our Muscatine History
Exhibit was up that month, and there were a great many school tours.
Our preschool classes began this month. We have very good enrollment in Julie Lear’s
“Music for Tots” program. However, enrollment continues down in Julie Herold’s “Art
for Tots” classes. Enrollment has been strong so far for our Kids’ workshops, which
begin in October.
On Sept. 4 Julie Lear led the Y Teen Leader group in creating scratch art frames. On
Sept. 8 she and the Y Variety Arts group created button bracelets.
The Homeschool Assistance students have begun their fall art classes. This semester
Julie Lear has chosen to focus on the Musser exhibition and is teaching art which relates
to Laura Musser and the mansion’s 100
th
anniversary. They began by painting a portrait
of Laura in acrylics.
On Sept. 20 Duffy De France passed out brochures and conducted a stamping craft for
kids at the West Liberty Children’s Festival. Thanks to Sandy and Collin Wettach and
Larkin Chapman for helping out.
Julie Lear and I conducted a combination tour/workshop for Brownie troop 154 on
September 25. The girls took part in a play, “Laura gives a Tea Party,” and discussed
how life was different 100 years ago. They then created a Victorian pressed-flower
collage. All activities were keyed to badge requirements.
There were three formal tours scheduled in September.
There was one birthday party scheduled in September.
I am currently working on support of our fall classes and planning our winter semesters.
Julie and I are preparing for Halloween at the Mansion and the “Sunday with Santa”
event at the Festival of Wreaths. I have also begun planning our winter semester and
brochure.
Let me know if you have anything else to add to the list.
Muscatine Art Center Education Department
2008 Fall Attendance Report
September 2008
Date
Event
Students enrolled
Attendance
Mon. Sept. 1
Art Center Closed – Labor Day
Tues. Sept. 2 Adventures In Art
--
--
Wed. Sept. 3 Tour: White Cloud Club
--
5
Thurs. Sept. 4 Outreach: Y Teen Leaders
--
6
Fri. Sept. 5
Sat. Sept. 6
Sun. Sept. 7
Totals for week:
--
11
Mon. Sept. 8 Outreach: Y Variety Arts
--
8
Tues. Sept. 9 Adventures in Art
--
2
Wed. Sept. 10
Thurs. Sept. 11
Fri. Sept. 12
Sat. Sept. 13 Tour: Sandi Claerhout Sorority Group
--
15
Sun. Sept. 14
Totals for week:
--
25
Mon. Sept. 15
Tues. Sept. 16 Adventures in Art
--
3
Wed. Sept. 17 Art for Tots: Fall Colors ID5101 & 5102
9
8
Art for Tots: Fall Colors ID 5103
cancelled –
low enrollment
Thurs. Sept. 18
Tour: Marsha Froman Bridge Group
--
9
Fri. Sept. 19 Music for Tots ID 5137 & 5138
34
50
Outreach: Homeschool Assistance Art
--
93
Sat. Sept. 20 Outreach: West Liberty Children’s Festival
--
240
Sun. Sept. 21 Birthday Party (Steele)
--
22
Totals for week:
43
425
Mon. Sept. 22
Tues. Sept. 23 Outreach: Adventures in Art
--
2
Wed. Sept. 24 Art for Tots: Tear & Paste ID 5104 & 5105
12
18
Art for Tots: Tear & Paste ID 5106
cancelled –
low enrollment
Thurs. Sept. 25
Outreach: Badge project (Meinart)
--
21
Fri. Sept. 26
Music for Tots ID 5137 & 5138
36
62
Outreach: Homeschool Assistance Art
--
99
Sat. Sept. 27
Sun. Sept. 28
Totals for week:
48
202
Mon. Sept. 29
Tues. Sept. 30 Outreach: Adventures in Art
--
--
Totals for week (Sept.)
--
--
Totals for September 2008:
91
663
Totals for September 2007
115
763
Totals for September 2006
159
478