American Association of Museums... Thinking of You!

Due to our crazy deadlines and committing to speak at a number of other conferences we were not able to attend the AAM Conference in LA this year.  However, we do want to wish all our best to our friends at the Skirball Cultural Center at the Hebrew Union College who are hosting the evening event on Sunday. We completed the permanent exhibition approximately 15 years ago.  We have fond memories of working with Maltbie Associates who did an exceptional job of the exhibit fabrication and Paul Heller Productions who created the media using sensitivity, rich depth and humor.  It was our privilege to work with architect Moshe Safdie and the Skirball team of specialists: Dr. Uri Herscher, Dr. Bob Kirschner, Grace Cohen Grosseman, Adele Lander Burke, Marcie Kaufman as well as many others.  We are sure all who visit for the evening event will enjoy themselves.

Synagogue • Sacred Space, Permanent Exhibition Skirball Cultural Center

Interviewing Artists...

Irma and Matt continue the adventure of interviewing artists.  These are the first artists to be interviewed... more to come...

From left to right (top) Jim Poole, painter; Joan André, poet; Karen Lancey, metal sculptor; Jean Jacques André, painter/photographer (and our founder!). Bottom left to right: Delayne Corbett, stone sculptor; Isa Sevrain, ceramicist, Matt Brouwer, photographer; Bill Message, metal sculptor.

Cultural Resource Management Internship Program: Art Beyond Beauty

André & Associates has partnered with the University of Victoria to offer an internship program.  We work with students to develop a project that will be used to teach the process of exhibit design.  As mentioned earlier in this blog this year's intern from UVIC is Irma Rodenhuis.

As Bianca has long desired to promote artists, and one day have a gallery as a teaching tool, we have come up with creating an art show as this years project.  Irma and Bianca have developed a program that André & Associates will use as a framework for interns in the future as well.

The program...  Irma is researcher, curator and designer, coordinator, writer and media developer... she is getting a taste of all aspects of exhibit design and development.  The title of her art show: Art Beyond Beauty: Hope in the 21st Century.

Irma presents the graphic layout of the book for team critique and input

Irma and Matt strategize the photo shoots and interviews with the artists

As time was short this year we invited artists to participate and have involved the services of Matt Brouwer of Evenstar Photography.  Matt, a young photographer and artist in his own right, is working closely with Irma to capture the essence of the artists and their pieces.  Matt is generously donating his time and photographs to the project and his photographs will be featured in the book that Irma is creating that will accompany the show.  We encourage you to check out his website as his work is poignant and sensitive—a refreshing change from so many photographers hanging their shingle.

Irma and Matt are currently checking in on the artists to see how their progress is coming.  Irma is conducting interviews to better understand their approach and how they are working with her topic.

Stay tuned as the project unfolds!

Congratulations Jean Jacques!

On May 7, 2009 our founder, Jean Jacques André suffered a heart attack, which was soon followed by double pneumonia, and three bouts of the deadly CDeficile virus.  Today, we celebrated his one year anniversary of not only surviving this terrible trial, but continuing to pour out his creative influence in the world of Museum exhibit design, photography and painting.  Congratulations JJ!

Jean Jacques hiking in the hills near his home in Victoria.

Finishes Reflecting the River, the Land and the People...

As our team develops the colour palette for the Wanapum Heritage Center we strive to create an ambience which represents the Wanapum.  To choose these we look at traditional and contemporary regalia, as well as the river, the hills, the earth, the stone... and of course, the plants. 

Amy and Tom create options of colour combinations and textures while using LEED approved products.  Irma Rodenhuis (centre), our intern from University of Victoria, sits in on the session.

Stay tuned for the final product!

More Filming at Wanapum...

We continue to meet with members of the Wanapum community, recording their stories and being privileged observers of their traditional life ways.

During this visit we were particularly encouraged by the dedication of the young men in the community as they shared with us their experiences of their first fish and first hunt.  The youth are a vital part of the development of the Wanapum Heritage Center and we look forward to training as many community members as possible in exhibit planning and design.

Roland Andre Impressionist Painter

Creativity runs in the family... Here's the website of Roland Andre, impressionist painter, and brother of founder Jean Jacques Andre, uncle of Bianca Message.

Roland Andre Impressionist Painter