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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10.08.2025 MINUTES Museum Arts & Culture Board Minutes of the October 8, 2025 Museum Arts and Culture Board Meeting Page 1 of 7 Minutes of the October 8, 2025, Museum, Arts and Culture Board Meeting (Approved at the November 12, 2025 Board Meeting) The October meeting of the Museum, Arts and Culture (MAC) Board was held at the Oshkosh Public Museum (OPM). Board Chair Vicky Redlin called the meeting to order at 4:34 p.m. and the Roll was taken. Present at Roll: Board Chair Vicky Redlin, Board Members Becky Matzke, Alternates Erron Hundt, Carrie Olson. Vice Chair Rebecca Doe Brown arrived at 4:38 Excused: Board Member Drew Mueske Absent: Board Member/Council Member Joe Stephenson With Mr. Mueske out, Chair Redlin appointed Ms. Olson With Mr. Stephenson out, Chair Redlin appointed Ms. Hundt OPM Staff Present: Assistant Director/Chief Curator Emily Rock, Marketing and Fund Development Coordinator Anne Schaefer and OPM Administrative Assistant Theresa Books recording the minutes. There were no citizen statements to the Board. Consent Agenda items included: A. Minutes of September 10, 2025 Board Meeting MOTION: Approve Consent Agenda Ms. Matzke; second Ms. Olson CARRIED: Yes (4) Hundt, Matzke, Olson, Redlin An update on planned programs and events was given by Anne Schaefer, Marketing and Fund Development Coordinator. She began with details regarding the big, all day event Día de los Muertos to be held this Saturday, October 11, 2025. Several food trucks will be here this year, which will help people stay at the Museum longer. The Parks department is loaning OPM tables and chairs. A group called Read More is coming and giving away 50 Día related books. For additional outreach to the Oshkosh Schools, OPM sponsored getting supplies for all OASD Spanish classes to build ofrendas. The ofrendas will be brought to OPM to be on display for the days around the event. Minutes of the October 8, 2025 Museum Arts and Culture Board Meeting Page 2 of 7 Following is a brief outline of 4th Quarter Programming: Thursday, October 29 at 5:30 pm Hidden Gem: The Tiffany Interiors of the Historic Sawyer Home A Virtual program with the Neustadt featuring Anna Cannizzo and Emily Rock who will be sharing details on the historic Sawyer Home. The museum will be hosting a watch party in the Sawyer Gallery featuring a post presentation Q&A with Anna and Emily. Saturday, November 1 at 11 am FREE - Personal Finance Workshop in Spanish with Fox Communities Credit Union Sponsored by the Museum and the Winnebago Literacy Council Presenter - Gerardo Mercado, CU@Work Program Manager The CU@Work Program Manager is responsible for fostering partnerships with local businesses and community partners to introduce financial wellness and banking perks with a goal of Fox membership growth. This includes active relationship-building and passionately promoting financial literacy and valuable banking services in the community. Things that will be covered: Como Crear Crédito Que es el crédito y como funciona Establecar crédito de manera segura Errores communes y Recursos disponibles How to Build Credit What is credit and how does it work? Establishing credit safely. Common mistakes and available resources Thursday, November 6 at 5:30 pm Tour of In Good Spirits with Lee Reiherzer Lee will lead a guided tour through the Oshkosh Public Museum’s In Good Spirits exhibit of drinking vessels and decanters for alcoholic beverages. From beer steins to champagne flutes, we’ll discuss how these pieces relate to the unique drinking culture that developed in Oshkosh during the 19th and 20th centuries. It’s a spirited excursion into our city’s history. Thursday, November 13 Meet with Lindsy Parrott Executive Director and Curator Morning Session with the Wisteria Circle Evening Session open to the Public Lindsy R. Parrott is the executive director and curator of The Neustadt Collection of Tiffany Glass. During her twenty-year tenure at The Neustadt, Lindsy has conducted groundbreaking research on the manufacture and use of Tiffany's opalescent flat glass, which has been published in numerous journal articles and exhibition catalogues. She has further developed The Neustadt's partnership with the Queens Museum, which now houses a permanent gallery dedicated to changing exhibitions drawn from The Neustadt's collection. In addition, Lindsy has curated traveling exhibitions exploring a variety of Tiffany topics, such as his translation of nature into glass, how his lamps were fabricated, and the aesthetic effects of changing lighting technology at the turn of the century. These exhibitions have been enjoyed by more than half a million people at museums across the country, including the Cincinnati Art Museum, Winterthur Museum, the Chrysler Museum of Art, and the Biltmore Estate. Minutes of the October 8, 2025 Museum Arts and Culture Board Meeting Page 3 of 7 Sounds of the Season sponsored by Oshkosh Public Museum Auxiliary The historic home will be decorated and ready to celebrate the holidays. We will be bringing the halls alive with music throughout December. The traditional elf hunt returns and the store will be filled with Tiffany Treasures and vintage inspired gifts. Saturday, December 6 Mrs. Claus joins us for hearthside storytelling. Randy Petersen a well-known kids artist from the area who really knows how to engage the kids will be holding two interactive performances. Thursday, December 11 from 3 to 6 pm Enjoy holiday music provided by the retired teacher’s Brass Quintet. Thursday, December 18 from 4 to 7 pm Logan Lamers, our very own Visitor Services Coordinator will share his cello talents with musical performances in the library. When the program and events report was complete Chair Redlin then requested the Assistant Director’s Report. Assistant Director/Chief Curator Emily Rock began with facilities updates. She reported that the staff parking lot is finished and functional except for the fence around the dumpster area, which still needs to be installed and will be installed in a couple weeks. Overall, it looks great. Engineering noticed three of the new sidewalk sections were cracked by an excavator, so they will need to be replaced. They are not wide cracks and are not tripping hazards. The main/visitor lot is still slated to start construction next spring, exact date to be determined. Regarding elevator modernization: staff have a date for the elevator work: Monday, January 19. Facilities and Express Elevator, the company doing the work, have kindly accommodated the start date around the deinstallation of Gardens in Glass. This elevator work is estimated to take six to eight weeks, due to the fact that the elevator has two doors. During this time, the elevator will be inaccessible to visitors, so staff is working on how to effectively communicate this with visitors. Next Ms. Rock gave an update on the deaccessioned collections items. Registrar Emma Eisner and Exhibit Technician Greg Witthun took 67 deaccessioned items (sewing tables, trunks, spinning wheels, mannequins) to Hansen Auction in Neenah. The auction ended October 7. Staff do not know yet know the total proceeds, but these items were fire damaged or otherwise in not great condition and no provenance, so staff were not expecting to make much money, but would rather not see them thrown away. This deaccession freed up needed space in the Irving offsite storage facility. All proceeds from this auction will return to the Collections Fund. For the fire apparatus Ms. Eisner reached out to several Wisconsin museums to ask if any were interested in the deaccessioned fire apparatus that the board approved. Most have said no. We are still waiting to hear back from the Peshtigo Fire Museum—they are considering accepting one. Good news is the De Pere Historical Society has agreed to take one of the hose carts that was originally used in De Pere, so it is great that it will remain publicly accessible in this region. Ms. Eisner is working to coordinate how to get it to them. If Peshtigo also declines, Emma will move forward with selling the remaining two at auction. Any proceeds will return to the Collections Fund. Minutes of the October 8, 2025 Museum Arts and Culture Board Meeting Page 4 of 7 Ms. Brown asked about some details. Ms. Rock noted that one is a hand-pumper from about 1850s, no hoses with it. The other are hose carts that are the carts that held the hoses. Ms. Rock noted that if they go to auction staff will let the board know, so if they know of anyone who might be interested, they’ll be able to let them know. Ms. Rock then went over the Exhibition Schedule for upcoming months: See attached document Ms. Hundt noted that the Lewis Hine exhibit would be great for 8th grade for fall 2026. And whatever age is covering WWI. Ms. Rock said there is potential for a virtual exhibit, similar to what OPM did for OASD High School classes with the WWII Manufacturing Victory exhibition. Ms. Schaefer suggested a donor may be interested in sponsoring a bus for fieldtrips. Ms. Rock reported that staff are thinking through a wide range of programs that could relate to the Hine exhibit, photography, etc. That ended the Assistant Director’s Report. MAC Board Member Statements or Announcements included the following: Ms. Olson reported that people are liking the new banner in front of the museum. It was brought to the attention of the BID as a style they could use for their needs. Ms. Redin reported that OPM still needs volunteers to cover time in the gallery for Tiffany’s Gardens in Glass exhibit. If anyone is available, contact Neal Matherne. Ms. Redlin also mentioned that Charm Matherne is doing a Literacy council presentation about her experiences as an immigrations advocate. With no additional agenda items Chair Redlin asked for a motion to adjourn. MOTION: Adjourn (Ms. Hundt; second Ms. Matzke) CARRIED: Voice Vote The meeting adjourned at 5:30 p.m. See OPM Exhibitions 2025-2026 Schedule on following pages. Minutes of the October 8, 2025 Museum Arts and Culture Board Meeting Page 5 of 7 OPM Exhibitions 2025-2026 NOW OPEN Nature as Muse: Tiffany Treasures from the Richard H. Driehaus Collection February 8, 2025-January 10, 2026 Sawyer Den Immersed in an unmatched original environment of Tiffany Studios design, a selection of beautiful decorative arts treasures from the Richard H. Driehaus Collection shed light on Louis C. Tiffany’s innovative design inspired by nature. The Durow Trust Presents: In Good Spirits May 24, 2025- May 2027 Sawyer Library From wine goblets to champagne glasses, from whiskey bottles to beer steins, the exhibit will explore how form meets function in the design of containers for alcoholic beverages. Naturescapes: Landscape Highlights from OPM’s Collection June 21, 2025-January 31, 2026 Sawyer Parlor Much like Louis C. Tiffany, many artists draw inspiration from nature. Beginning in the early 19th century, the landscape became a significant theme for American painters as the US expanded west. This exhibition will highlight landscape paintings in the Museum’s collection by artists who were contemporaries of Tiffany (1848-1933), who himself started as a painter. Tiffany’s Gardens in Glass July 19, 2025-January 3, 2026 Waldwic Gallery Tiffany’s Gardens in Glass explores Louis C. Tiffany’s enduring interest in the natural world and illuminates his studios’ path from inspiration to expression. This dynamic focus-exhibition features ten of Tiffany Studios’ famously lush botanical lamps and windows, along with nine nature study photographs drawn from the Studios’ own extensive reference collection. Organized by the Neustadt Collection of Tiffany Glass. UPCOMING Around Town: Views of Midcentury Oshkosh October 22, 2025-October 2027 Steiger Hallway (outside Waldwic Gallery) What did Oshkosh look like in the 1950s and 1960s? What buildings were going up or coming down? What was happening on the streets of the city in this era? See the sights around town in this peek into Oshkosh’s recent history. This historic photo exhibit highlights OPM’s mid-century archival collection. Minutes of the October 8, 2025 Museum Arts and Culture Board Meeting Page 6 of 7 Staff Picks: Collection Highlights January 13, 2026 – March 28, 2026 Sun Room OPM’s staff members share their favorite artifacts from the Collection. See hidden gems and unique objects from the Museum’s vast collection, and the stories behind them. Souvenirs of America February 7, 2026 -August 29, 2026 Sawyer Parlor Travel the United States and learn its history through the eyes of Oshkosh tourists! This focus show features antique and vintage souvenirs such as teacups, plates, and spoons, and more that were collected by Oshkosh residents on their travels. A Passion in Bloom: Mary Jewell Sawyer's Flowers February 14, 2026 - August 29, 2026 Sawyer Den Oshkosh’s Mary Jewell Sawyer had a lifelong love of plants. This focus-show shares historic photos of the Sawyer homes’ green house and conservatory, explores Mary’s work with local florist clubs, and displays select artifacts that belonged to Mary that demonstrate her love of flowers. Crowned in Tradition: Quinceañeras in Wisconsin March 21, 2026 – August 8, 2026 Sawyer Gallery This community-centered exhibit explores how quinceañeras are celebrated here in Wisconsin through women’s stories and items from their special event. The exhibit introduces the historical origins of this unique coming-of-age celebration, and highlights the social and cultural significance of this important tradition. Every item in this exhibition, from dresses and jewelry to invitations and decorations, is an opportunity to delve deeper into the stories of the women, their families, and their dreams for the future. This exhibit will be guest curated by students and professors from UW-Oshkosh’s Chicano/a and Latinx Studies Program, and all artifacts and stories will be loaned by local members of the Latinx/Hispanic community. Lewis Hine: The Man Behind the Camera March 28, 2026-January 2027 Waldwic Gallery This exhibition explores the life of Lewis Hine and how formative experiences in Oshkosh influenced him and his work. Born in Oshkosh, Hine became a sociologist and documentary photographer. His photos were a key influence in the passage of child labor laws. The exhibit will feature a never-before exhibited collection of personal artifacts, gifted by Hine’s son. Oshkosh Works: Images of Labor May 15, 2026- May 2028 Lower Level This pictorial exhibit of the area’s labor history is intended to complement not only the Lewis Hine exhibition, but the 250th Anniversary Celebration of the signing of the Declaration of Minutes of the October 8, 2025 Museum Arts and Culture Board Meeting Page 7 of 7 Independence. Labor is a large part of US history that keeps evolving today. About 30 historic images will show the different types of labor in the Oshkosh area throughout its history. Chicago Collects: Jewelry in Perspective September 19, 2026-March 13, 2027 Sawyer Gallery, Sawyer Den, and Parlor Chicago Collects: Jewelry In Perspective Is an exhibition of over two hundred pieces of rare and significant jewelry from the 17th century to the present, all from prominent Chicago collections. This first-of-its- kind exhibition includes a range of never-seen-before jewelry and decorative arts objects from the Richard H. Driehaus Museum and Richard H. Driehaus Collections, alongside objects from the Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art, and objects from private lenders with unique areas of focus. Chicago Collects: Jewelry in Perspective is organized by jewelry historian and author Elyse Zorn Karlin.