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July 2009
Museum and Museum-Related News items are listed in descending chronological order.
GLFF traditional artist featured in August 'Greater Lansing Woman' magazine
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Art grew from waste-not practice of Depression
"Braiding is pretty much an American Invention," says local artist
By Anne Erickson
GLWoman
For Eaton Rapids artist Julie Sullivan, braiding rugs is a talent that comes naturally.
"My mother taught me, and she learned it from her mother," Sullivan says. "Now I've passed it down, so my daughters braid.
"Braiding is pretty much an American invention, and it's one of those things I just grew up with."
Sullivan's rugs are a staple at the Michigan State University Museum's annual Great Lakes Folk Festival, which runs August 7-9 in downtown East Lansing. You can spot her at the Folk Arts Marketplace, alongside various local and national artists and crafters.
Pick up a copy or read more here:
http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20090723/GLW/907230305/1132/glw
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MSU NATURALIST FINDS PUBLIC MORE TOLERANT OF CRITTER ENCOUNTERS
In the "man versus wild" encounters of summer, people today seem less likely to overreact with violence, if calls to Michigan State University's "Critter Guy" are an indication. More folks just want to learn about the snakes and other creepy crawlers they stumble upon, James Harding reports, and that's a good sign.
"In the last few years, there's been a slow change in attitude," said Harding, a zoology instructor and outreach specialist. "People are more willing on more occasions to 'live and let live' as long as they don't think that something is deadly and will harm their kids or their dog."
Harding has anchored the MSU Museum's "Wildlife and Natural Science Q-line" Web page for the last decade, answering phone calls and e-mails about the creatures people find in their backyards and beyond. The service focuses on the fauna of Michigan, but Harding regularly takes queries from other states and from as far away as Sri Lanka. See: http://critterguy.museum.msu.edu.
Harding was a guest on the July 13 "On Point" program produced by WBUR in Boston and broadcast on public radio stations around the country.
Read more at MSU News:http://news.msu.edu/story/6566/
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VISIONARY ART 2009
Through Aug. 7, 2009
Youth Art Gallery
"Visionary Art 2009," a touring emerging-artist exhibit sponsored by VSA arts of Michigan, is now featured at the MSU Museum's Youth Art Gallery until Aug. 7. The juried exhibit features 41 works created by artists of all ages from across Michigan, selected from almost 170 entries. Subjects include natural history and wildlife, home and family, the homeless, and portraits of people and pets.
Read more:
http://museum.msu.edu/Exhibitions/current/VisionaryArt.htm
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MEET MSU MUSEUM VOLUNTEERS
Volunteers at the MSU Museum information desk and Stanley's General Store exhibit help provide a friendly face and visitor services for museum-goers.
Volunteer coordinator Diane Penix has put together a series of short profiles, with volunteers ranging from MSU students to active retirees who all share an interest in museums, education and service. Meet them -- below -- and say hello next time you visit the MSU Museum.
VIRGINIA BODMAN
Virginia is currently enjoying her cottage for the summer. She is also one of the original general store volunteers.
TOM CORWIN
Tom received both his bachelor's and master's degrees from MSU, working as a counselor at Fowlerville High School for 34 years before retiring, while his wife, Sherry taught hearing-impaired children for the Lansing schools. Tom also volunteers at MSU, teaching Conversational English to international students and their spouses. He and his wife enjoy traveling, just recently returning from a cruise of the St. Lawrence Seaway. They reside in Okemos.
CLANCY D'ISA
Clancy is a student at East Lansing High School and a proud Spartan fan, born and raised in East Lansing. She is interested in both the humanities and medicine and would hope to pursue one of these in college. Her belief in giving something back to the community has caused her to volunteer in many places. Clancy fell in love with the museum as a child and never forgot the enchantment.
KALYAH FORD
Kalyah is a junior in the James Madison College with a major in Comparative Cultures and Politics and a minor in Music-Voice Performance. Her interests include art history, music, and riding her bike. Her career goal is to work in the International Government sector. Her hometown is Atlanta, GA via Mississauga, Canada.
CALLIE FREY
Callie is a senior at MSU, majoring in Art History and Visual Culture with specializations in Studio Art, NS, and Museum Studies. After graduation, she plans to enlist in the Peace Corps for 27 months and then to attend graduate school in Art Administration.
FRED HASSELBACK
Fred is a CMU graduate and US Navy veteran, who is retired from the State of Michigan. He is a serious follower of MSU sports, holding season tickets for football, men's and women's basketball, ice hockey, and baseball! He and his wife of 38 years reside in Perry and are the parents of 4 children and grandparents of 2. He especially enjoys his time at the museum, introducing visitors to the general store and is one of the original general store volunteers.
BILL & LEE HELDER
Lee is a graduate of Hope College with an M.A. from MSU, and is a retired French teacher from Everett High School. Her husband, Bill, is also a graduate of Hope College with a master's and doctorate degree from MSU. He is retired from Lansing School District where he served as Director of Curriculum and Staff Development. Both are active in local theater, especially Riverwalk, but also the Summer Circle Acting Company. In addition, Bill has appeared in MSU productions at Fairchild and Wharton Great Hall Theaters.
HAEJUNG JUN
Haejung is from South Korea and moved to the US August 2008. She attends MSU as a sophomore majoring in Anthropology. She is not yet sure of her career goals but wants to help children in 3rd world countries, especially those in Asia. Haejung likes to volunteer to help people and she always tries to give her best at whatever she does.
SOPHI KIM
Sophi (Chanyoung Sophie Kim) is from Seoul, South Korea and Seattle, Washington. Her major at MSU is in Art History and Visual Culture, she is hoping for a specialization in Museum Studies. Her career goal is to work at a museum or gallery, especially in Exhibit or Educational Program Design.
BOB LEONARD
Bob, a graduate of MSU, retired from teaching in the Holt Middle School as a 6th grade teacher. He volunteers in many venues including: Job Site Coach for the developmentally disabled at Peckham Industries, educational tour guide for an orchard, a chaperone for the Special Olympics, and various ministries with the Riverside Terrace Church. Another one of the original general store volunteers, he likes the opportunity to talk with interested visitors and tour groups. He and his wife of 42 years reside in Okemos with their dog, Monet.
WINIFRED NWAEFIDO
Winifred is a doctoral student in the Department of History here at MSU, where she is a Research Assistant, involved in collecting, translating, and transcribing oral interviews and in library and archival research. She graduated from the University of Nigeria with Honors 1st Class in 2007, where she also served as an Assistant Faculty and Research Assistant in the Department of History. In addition, she was a librarian in the Department of History Library from 2003-2006 and Editor-in-Chief for the Student Historical Journal, 2005-6. Winifred speaks fluent Igbo, Yoruba, West African Pidgen, as well as English.
NIKKI O'BRIEN
Nikki has worked at MSU since 2000 in the Office of Minority Student Affairs, the Department of Residence Life, and currently in the College of Nursing. She received her BA in Human Resource Management from Eli Broad College at MSU and her Masters in Social Work at UPenn. Nikki's interests include cooking, entertaining, museums, art galleries, libraries, and jazz.
DIANE PENIX
Diane is a recently retired English and Health, & Life Mgt teacher. She especially enjoyed the opportunity to be an advisor to various student- run organizations including Pals, Sadd, and Odyssey of the Mind. She and her husband own a floor covering and window treatment business and are the parents of 3 children and 1 grandchild. She has many interests, including reading, history, traveling, music, kayaking, etc. Currently, she is an ESL tutor for the Lansing Reading Coalition.
KELSEA RAETHER
Kelsea is a sophomore at MSU majoring in Anthropology with a specialization in Museum Studies. She has a special interest in the Mediterranean, having toured Italy, Greece, Turkey, and the Mediterranean Islands, and hopes to study abroad in Rome. Kelsea's interests include reading, history, and crafts, having just finished painting and stenciling her mom's deck chairs with flowers, bugs, and borders. She currently works as an office assistant for her dad.
DREW SPOELSTRA
Drew is an MSU undergrad majoring in Anthropology. Besides the Information Desk, Drew works behind the scenes as a student assistant to Val Berryman. He hopes to continue working with museums in his future career. An avid reader, string bass player, and amateur landscaper, Drew enjoys spending his free time with his girlfriend of two and a half years, Salena, a grad student in MSU's School of Social Work.
ANDREW STRUSKA
Andrew is a senior at MSU majoring in Journalism with concentration in Anthropology/Archeology. His interests include reading, The Beatles, movies, cooking, hiking, playing guitar, and fishing. He grew up on the south side of Chicago, but his family moved to Cadillac, MI, where he finished high school.
Learn more and/or sign up to volunteer at the MSU Museum: http://museum.msu.edu/GeneralInformation/Volunteering/
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NEW AT THE MUSEUM STORE:
Check out the selection of new products at the MSU Museum Store!
This Fair Trade jewelry from The Leakey Collection is made from native grasses by the Maasai women of Kenya. The project helps to create a sustainable source of income where women can work close to home, allowing them to maintain traditional lifestyles.
Hollow dried grasses are cut into bead-sized pieces and dyed in a wide range of colors. The beads are then strung on a special, very durable elastic. Czech glass beads are added to the designs to bring sparkle to this eco-friendly jewelry.
ZuluSport is the new Action Line from The Leakey Collection! Play soccer or tennis, swim, jog or dance in style. This jewelry is sold by single strands in necklace and bracelet lengths, allowing for creative custom color combinations. Beautiful coordinated earrings are available as well.
Proceeds from Museum Store sales benefit Visitor Service programs of the MSU Museum.
There are educational books, science kits, and do-it-yourself craft projects as well as many locally-made crafts. With unique jewelry, toys, and many Michigan-themed items, customers can find a variety of distinctive gift ideas for friends and loved ones.
The MSU Museum Store is on the main floor of the MSU Museum, located on West Circle Drive next to the Beaumont Tower. The store is open Tuesday-Friday 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m.- 4:30 p.m., and Sunday 1-4:30 p.m. For more information, call: (517) 355-2373.
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MSU MUSEUM CLOSED FOR HOLIDAY WEEKEND
Please note the MSU Museum will be closed Friday, July 3 - Sunday, July 5 in observance of the Independence Day holiday. Regular hours resume on Monday, July 6 at 9.m.
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GREAT LAKES FOLK FESTIVAL NEWS & UPDATES:
Summer is in full swing in mid-Michigan and plans are taking shape for the Michigan State University Museum's annual Great Lakes Folk Festival, Aug. 7-9 in downtown East Lansing.
LISTEN UP!
The music and dance program, sponsored by the City of East Lansing, features more than 50 performances - ranging from Klezmer to Acadian to Blues to Cajun, Western Swing, Celtic, Caribbean and more. Sound clips are now installed on the GLFF web site so you can hear some sample tracks and start learning more about your festival favorites: http://www.greatlakesfolkfest.net/Programs&Activities/Music%26Dance/ (scroll down) . The music schedule will be posted soon!
BEYOND THE MUSIC:
Fiesta! -- Latino traditions at the MSU Museum's 2009 Great Lakes Folk Festival celebrates crafts, games, music, dance, customs and ritual, holidays, occupational arts and children's activities with tortilla-making demonstrations, paper flower-making, piņata -making and games led by MSU's student group, Latinos on the Move. Also planned: a display of lowriders, modified, mural-rich vehicles (weather permitting). This special festival program area at the Great Lakes Folk Festival draws from the MSU Museum's recent work with the Smithsonian Institution, producing a series of programs in connection with the special exhibition, "Our Journeys/Our Stories: Portraits of Latino Achievement."
*NEW* MSU Press: Michigan Young People's Book Festival -- celebrating the state's rich tradition of children's books, authors and illustrators and the story-telling that is so important to their future. MSU Press is taking the lead in this new festival feature.
2009 Michigan Heritage Award honorees, recognizing the state's top tradition-bearers: Willard Finch of Stockbridge for decorative architectural painting; and Les Ross Sr. of Marquette for Finnish "lumberjack" style harmonica playing. Les Ross will also play a couple of sets on the Albert Avenue Dance Stage.
Taste of Traditions Foodways: with regional and ethnic food - Ethiopian, Middle Eastern, Mexican, Jamaican and more. New this year: Chinese, Greek and Indian foodways.
Folk Arts Marketplace: visitors can see master artists in action, demonstrating traditional skills, and take home a bit of the festival experience. New to the Folk Arts Marketplace this year are Mountain Bows from the American South, Polish mouth-blown glass and carved fishing lures.
FESTIVAL FAST FACTS:
Festival hours are: Friday, Aug. 7, 6 - 10:30 p.m.; Saturday, Aug. 8, noon - 10:30 p.m.; and Sunday, Aug. 9, noon - 6 p.m.
Follow the festival on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=46300743090
and twitter http://twitter.com/GLFF
To volunteer, learn more here: http://www.greatlakesfolkfest.net/Volunteers/About/
Admission to the MSU Museum's Great Lakes Folk Festival is free (donations are encouraged for this visitor-supported event).
Be great, donate!
https://secure.museum.msu.edu/webCredit/GLFFContributions/form.html
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MSU Museum creates mural for new credit union headquarters
The MSU Museum has created a photo mural on MSU history for the new MSU Federal Credit Union, which recently opened at 3777 West Road, East Lansing. The floor-to-ceiling 10-by-60' shows some 200 photos and objects from the museum's MSU collections. Leading the project were MSU Museum Curator of History Val Roy Berryman, Curator of Exhibits Juan Alvarez, along with photography by Collections Coordinator Pearl Yee Wong.
Berryman also included captions that identify the various images and objects that are pictured on it - and readers are encouraged to visit the new MSUFCU credit union to check it out!
The new building is seeking LEED certification (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), a standard set forth by the U.S. Green Building Council. LEED buildings emphasize strategies for sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, material selections, and indoor environmental quality.
A long-time partner with the MSU Museum, MSUFCU is the title sponsor of the annual MSUFCU Dinosaur Dash, as well as activities and programs including the Great Lakes Folk Festival, the museum's Youth Art Gallery and Orientation Theatre, and a series of holiday exhibits at the MSUFCU branches over the past several years.
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