It’s rare when most of Joslyn’s education staff calendars align, but when they do we make the most of it. This year we traveled to the Des Moines Art Center (DMAC) to meet with their education staff and view their collections and exhibitions.
Meet Joslyn’s Education Department
Front row, left to right:
Thom Sibbitt, Kent Bellows Mentoring Program Coordinator
Karla Lechtenberger, Tour Coordinator
Laura Huntimer, Director of School Programs & Interactive Media
Ben Jones, Interactive Media Coordinator
Back row, left to right
Susie Severson, Director of Adult Programs
Maranda Allbritten, Community Outreach Coordinator
Jukie Tsai, Weitz Family Fellow
Nancy Round, Director of Education & Outreach
Tom Simons, Youth & Family Programs Manager
Andy Smith, Studio Programs Manager
Weston Thomson, Community Outreach Manager
Not pictured: Studio Programs Assistant Sara Sykes, EdTech Gallery and Art Works Assistants.
We wandered around the labyrinth of galleries taking in their fantastic collection and getting inspired with the artworks we experienced. We went our own way, paired up and bumped into each other with exclamations – did you see this or that?
Under a couple Calders, we gathered and waited to be escorted through the locked doors (oooh) to make our way to the studios and meet DMAC staff for lunch. Following some brief introductions, the conversations began. (Click here to see the Alexander Calder mobile in our collection.)
With our counterparts we shared stories, techniques, and compared war stories…for two hours. Their mission is different than ours. They are an art center with a museum collection whereas we are a museum that offers art classes and outreach. That said, it was great to hear how our respective jobs overlapped.
Our gracious hosts lead us on a tour of their five studios, and we salivated over all their natural light while peeking in drawers admiring their organizational skills.
We got inspired with everything we saw – getting ideas for new interactives for Joslyn.
Here’s what happens when eds are let loose in a museum:
And as we all know, a museum visit isn’t complete without a trip to the Museum Shop.
Tom found many goodies for the Scott EdTech Gallery and Art Works.
Before hopping in the car, we took some time in the lobby area to chat about our experience, under those Calders again.
And we look forward to hosting the DMAC education staff when they come visit us in May.
Laura Huntimer, Director of School Programs & Interactive Media
