When an exhibition of Dale Chihuly glass or William Wegman photographs opens at the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, most people probably don't give much thought as to what transpired ahead of time to get the show to Wausau. One thing is certain, though. It's much easier to secure exhibitions for the Woodson's galleries today than it was when the museum opened in 1976. Back then, the Woodson was hardly a blip on the museum world's radar screen. Exhibitions for the taking Hardly a day goes by that Andy McGivern, the museum's curator of exhibitions, doesn't receive one or more proposals for a future exhibition.
Proposals come from museums around the country and from businesses that rent exhibitions.
The problem now is how to decide among Picasso ceramics, 20th century theater posters, maritime paintings, contemporary needle arts, classic Hollywood portraits and the entire world of art. Too many choices and too few time periods in a year. And the Woodson's reputation has grown in bigger and splashier ways, too. Among other activities, the museum has built new galleries, created an outdoor sculpture garden, sent Woodson-organized exhibitions on tour, invited toddlers to the musem and hired creative, energetic staff members. A perfect match Staff at the Glenbow Museum in Calgary, Alberta, approached McGivern to see if the Woodson would be interested in exhibiting the work of Rungius, North America's most notable wildlife artist.