Secrets From Exhibit Designers...

Bianca and Amy enjoyed hosting a workshop "Secrets from Exhibit Designers: Working With What You've Got" in conjunction with the University of Victoria for this years BC Museums Association Conference in Nanaimo. 

A wonderful time of meeting up with old friends and making new ones.  Bianca and Amy appreciated Nina Simon's Key Note address as her emphasis on involving the communities you are working in supports the philosophy and approach of the André & Associates Team.  Thank you Nina for the encouragement!

Morris Thompson Cultural & Visitors Center Panoramas

Kaleidoscope Theater

Michael recently visited Fairbanks for the Museums Alaska conference and while he was there, he took the opportunity to take panorama photographs of the dioramas and Kaleidoscope Theater.  They'll just been uploaded to our Flickr photostream, so you can check them out at the link below.

Morris Thompson Cultural & Visitors Center Photos

If any of you are interested in seeing high resolution versions of these, feel free to contact us!

Museum of Mistakes—In House Design Session

Every month (or so) we choose a topic relevant to our industry. We each research and bring to the team our thoughts and experiences.  It is a fabulous time of sharing and learning more about relevant issues.  Officially, its "Professional Development".  Unofficially, its just a lot of fun.  This month we looked at "The Museum of Mistakes" samples we've come across of what not to do.  It was interesting as always as we looked at exhibitions that had been designed and sold to clients from "plan view only"—what a mess it makes when the visitor isn't considered.

We looked at the importance of traffic flow as well as the problems with timelines... disasterous mannequins and much more.  We will be sharing some of these "Errors to Avoid" as well as "Tips From Designers" at our Pre-Conference Workshop at BCMA at the end of the month.  

Part of our In-House Design Sessions is also the study of food and beverage... it was Tom's turn to provide the food and beverage, so he got his friend Kim Butler to create an outstanding arrangement of epicurean delights...

Her "Bouchée Amusé" consisted of:  Gourgere—Burgundian Cheese Puffs of gruyere and smoked apple cheddar; Chicken liver Pate, with figs, cherries, cranberries and Grand Marnier; Tapenade in Chickpea Crepes with chocolate mint, hazelnuts, orange spicy thyme and cinnamon basil; Ginger butter cookies; and Brownies with Broiled Coconut Topping... this was paired with Cono Sur Chardonnay, an organic wine from Valle de San Antonio, Chile.

Oh Kim Thank you so much!  You out did yourself!  We all waddled home a little wiser and a littler rounder!

Autumn Internship—Working with Craigdarroch Castle

We are pleased to have Vanessa Kent join us from University of British Columbia as our Autumn Intern.  As her focus is architecture we have had her building scale models and, in collaboration with Craigdarroch Castle, she will be working on creating graphic panels for the interpretation of the period rooms.

Bruce Davies generously gave us a tour of the castle and explained the bigger interpretive vision.  His steadfast work over the years has brought many of the original objects home and we were thrilled to see the restoration work that has been completed.

Congratulations Bruce and thank you for being part of our internship program! 

Run For the Cure—Celebrating Life

On Sunday, October 3rd, Bianca joined her mother-in-law, Joy Message, and walked the 5 km route to celebrate the life of this inspirational woman, as well as to remember dear friends that have been taken by cancer.

 

Thousands came out, and Bianca, joined by her husband Bill, enjoyed seeing Yvonne (Michael's significant other) take off with the runners as they headed off at the front of the pack.

Bianca has run, jogged and walked this event for over 10 years as a way to raise awareness for the need for a cure for breast cancer.

Bianca and Joy Message (a three time cancer survivor).

Mountain Plains Museum Association Conference 2010

Bianca & Amy enjoyed their visit to Rapid City for the Mountain Plains Museum Association Conference.

In between workshops, sessions and time in the exhibit hall they caught up with friends and colleagues and got a chance to visit many of the the local museums and attractions such as Mount Rushmore, the Crazy Horse Memorial and the Black Hills Museum of Natural History.

Many thanks to the MPMA team for a great conference!

The famous "Art Ally" in Rapid City

The Black Hills Museum of Natural History where we got to see the original STAN T. Rex skull and skeleton. 

 The Crazy Horse Monument has been in progress since 1948.  When it is finished it will be 641 feet wide and 563 feet high.

Mount Rushmore at night