Tom's Thoughts...

When a valued colleague moves on it is both an opportunity to rejoice in their future prospects, and to reflect on the impact that colleague has had on you professionally, and inevitably, personally.

Amy has shaken my design world in a positive way through her thoughtful and fresh approaches and solutions.  

With an informed enthusiasm, she has also brought her expertise to bear on my understanding of social media, the latest technologies used in museums and whats happening in the larger contemporary world.

Her humor, her tenacity, her points of view attest to an independent personality, yet one capable of working smoothly within a team framework.

She has moved from being a co-worker to being both a co-worker and a friend.  On both counts she will be missed by me.

Best to you Amy.

Tom

Amy Willson Wonder Woman!

Jean Jacques Shares a Word...

Amy Willson Wonder Woman!

It has been said that in some very rare instances I may tend to exaggerate to emphasize a certain situation or quality. Not in this case. I have known, worked with, taught, and collaborated on many projects in these past eight years with Amy. Very few employees in my nearly sixty years career in Museum Design have shown the rare qualities and work ethic Amy has given while working for Bianca's Company.

Rare simply because there are many.

At first her search and studies to fulfill the requirements to become an intern and apprentice show a dedication and hard work which was a first sign of what she was going to accomplish during the following years. Accomplish she did, with passion, with enthusiasm, with intelligence. Experience developed her creative talents. She has also shown her uncanny ability to learn and understand quickly.

What a joy as a teacher and designer to exchange ideas, collaborate, criticize, admire, praise, and for me to accept new eyes on problem solving. Add to this her insatiable craving and drive for hard work, and to be "swamped" in projects.

To top it all her enthusiasm, cheerful attitude, and (from my experience) never a complaint or a negative stance. When I add it all up I could not think of a more suitable name than Amy Willson Wonder Woman. Merci Amy.

Jean Jacques André,  O.B.C.

Founder of André & Associates Interpretation and Design Ltd.

Joan Remembers...

Amy Willson.

Over the years I have had the opportunity to work with Amy on the layout, production, and printing of two of my books. Amy did the work quickly and efficiently, grasping exactly what I needed to have done, and providing a creative input to the job.

In all the time I have known Amy she has shown a cheerful, willing attitude towards whatever the job required, and the business as a whole.

With her creative abilities I know she will do well in her new endeavors, and I wish her the very best wherever life leads her.

Joan E. André

Co-founder of André & Associates Interpretation and Design Ltd.

Amy Willson: Bitter Sweet

I first met Amy when she came to our studio for a lecture Tom Palfrey and I were giving for John Adam’s “Principles and Practices”—a UVIC Cultural Resource Management Course.  After our session she came up to me and asked, “what would you look for when hiring staff?”  She explained that she was just finishing her degree in Art History.  I told her I would look for someone who had a diploma in Cultural Resource Management because the UVIC program is an excellent one.  It didn’t seem long before she contacted me again during the process of getting her CRM diploma.  She applied to be an intern.  I had a number of applicants.  When I interviewed Amy I told her that this industry is not always glamorous and often there are very difficult deadlines to meet.  I asked her how she would deal with difficult challenges. She thought for a moment and then replied, “Well… I think I would feel the fear and then work through it.”  Her answer instantly attained her the internship.  Once she had completed her diploma I was very fortunate to be able to hire Amy.

Amy during UVIC CRM Internship, 2006

I believe in apprenticeships and the value of mentors—perhaps because I have been very blessed by the mentors in my life.  Amy blossomed as a young interpretive planner, graphic and exhibit designer as she worked closely with myself and our team.  She cheerfully took on any project—even the drudgery jobs—with cheerfulness and enthusiasm.  She worked with my father, Jean Jacques, and he appreciated her fresh approach to design.  I remember a classic day when we were all working in the board room and Amy reached over and grabbed the pencil out of JJ’s hand just to sketch out her point!  We were all stunned but JJ took it well and they bantered back and forth as the design emerged.

(L) Amy presenting design options for Wanapum Heritage Center. 

(R) Amy helping Nick Johnson at the Jackson Hole Historical Society's Slim Lawrence BBQ

Amy’s talents have grown and our team has had the rich pleasure of working with Amy and sharing each other’s lives.  She is everything and more I could have ever hoped for in an apprentice.  She has developed into an excellent designer in her own right.  She is no longer the apprentice.  Long past are the days of her internship… 8 years ago in fact!  Many times Amy was pushed to "feel the fear and work through it".  Each time she faced one of these moments she would play the Rocky theme song "Eye of the Tiger" and jump into it with both feet and much courage!  Way to go Amy!  We are so proud of you!

 

Amy and Yvette work out a design challenge

Amy and Jean Jacques working on Grand Ronde Cultural Center

I hold on to my team with an open hand, and truly desire that they are happy, whether it be as part of our team or wherever life leads them.  We are quite like a family here and it is with happiness for Amy that I share our news that she is moving back to Vancouver. It is with a very heavy heart that we see her go.  A very, very heavy heart! 

We thought we’d share a bit of our story as many of you might like to send Amy a note before she goes.  Her last day at the office will be June 27^th.

—Bianca Message, President

Amy Looks Back...

I remember almost a decade ago when I first learned that the job of exhibit designer existed.  I was finishing up my undergrad in Art History with the intention of pursuing a design job in the film industry.  As an elective to finish up my degree I took a museum studies course.  Bianca was one of the guest speakers and after that day my choice of career was set.   

After 6 months of being an intern at André & Associates I was hired as a design assistant.  Over 8 years later I have moved my way up to designer...marketing coordinator...interpretive planner...graphic designer...GPS...Food Taster....the list goes on.   

Starting out in a company that is literally a big family can sometimes be intimidating however this was not the case at André & Associates.  They welcomed me with open arms and I couldn't imagine working with a better group of people.  Leaving AAID is like leaving my family and I will bring with me gratitude for the years of experience, mentorship, support, professional development, and friendship.  

I cannot thank Bianca, Bill, Tom, Andy, JJ, and Yvette  (and past members of AAID) enough for making me the person and designer I am today.   

—Amy Willson, Designer

Never Never Land - 50 Years Ago Today!

From the Tacoma News Tribune..

June 7th, 1964 

Visitors to Point Defiance Park will soon be able to walk through an "enchanted forest" where Humpty Dumpty, as big as life, is perched on a wall, Little Boy Blue is blowing his horn, Jack and Jill are carrying their buckets up a hill, and Old Mother Hubbard is apologizing to her dog because she's out of bones.  Never Never Land is scheduled to open its doors in a few weeks, on a 15-acre plot of wooded land just north of Fort Nisqually.  Never Never Land will be one of only two "enchanted forests" on the continent.  The other one is at Victoria, B.C., where more than 30,000 people visited last year.

Post card credit: Distributed by Smith-Western Co., Tacoma-Portland; 

Plastichrome by Coulurpicture Publishers, Inc., Boston, Mass

Truly pioneers in creating memorable visitor experiences, Jimmy Reuter was the general manager of Never Never Land at the time; Alfred Pettersen was the project manager and one of seven owners; and Jean Jacques André designed the exhibits.  Behind the scenes Joan André refurbished and created some of the figures.  Alfred  Pettersen shared his memories with me:

Most of the figures used in the Tacoma project were made from rubber molds that we made and cast at the house your mom and dad had before their current one. If memory serves me correctly, your mom was the one who painted all the figures.

The original figures plus the large 8 foot high Humpty Dumpty that sat atop the book-like entrance were made by Elek Imredy, a brilliant sculptor who fled from Hungry during the revolution in 1956 – check that on google – I think that was the date – who came to Canada and settled in Vancouver. What was unique about his work was that he was one of the first – if not the first – who created the figures in clay first, then surrounded them with a  plaster of paris to make a mold and, when the plaster mold dried, he cast the actual figure in fiberglass. That made them very light to carry but very strong in terms of withstanding the weather and attempted vandalism.

The houses and various sets in the park, like the house for Mother Hubbard and the Pie Stand for Peter Pie Man, were designed by your dad and made out of wood by Jim Reuter’s dad, David Reuter.

One of the owners, John Hewitt, eventually bought everyone out of the project and kept until he sold it to the Tacoma Park Board. They operated it for a number of years but just didn’t have the budget to keep it well maintained. They eventually closed it (2004) and, under some arrangement with the park board, John Hewitt ended up with all the figures.

Disneyland had opened July 17th, 1955 so the theme park concept was still quite new in 1964.  Congratulations and Happy 50th Anniversary to our innovators and founders!

We'd love to hear your memories of visiting Never Never Land or Wooded Wonderland. Please add your comments to our blog!