Report of the Nordic Heritage Museum Show
Heidi Wastweet
June brought another great exhibit for AMSA, this time at the beautiful Nordic Heritage Museum in the Ballard section of Seattle, Washington. We had 32 members enter their work for the show plus 3 medals by invited medalist, Ingrid Austlid Rise, sent all the way from the Norwegian Mint. From the 89 medals entered we were able to accept 75 to be included. Everyone that entered their work had at least one medal accepted.There was a wonderful variety and outstanding quality in the submitted group which was juried by our president Jim Licaretz, vice president Eugene Daub, secretary Anne-Lise Deering, member Heidi Wastweet, and Lisa Sheets, local sculptor. Our goal was to give a prime display opportunity to as many AMSA members as possible. This entire exhibit was curated by our secretary Anne-Lise Deering (originally from Norway) who is also a member of the Nordic Heritage Museum and who worked for over a year to gain a spot in the museum for AMSA. Her diligence paid off with two display cases packed with our members best work to heighten more public awareness and appreciation to our chosen art form.
The museum held a preview reception on the evening of June 17th which included 4 other separate art exhibits besides our own. The exhibits were introduced in the auditorium by Allan Osberg, President of the Board of Trustees of the Nordic Heritage Museum Foundation who spoke for Marianne Forsblad who had just left for Scandinavia a few hours earlier.
Anne-Lise Deering stood up and spoke on our behalf to tell a little about our oganization, our member’s exhibit on display, and also the Hands Across The Sea catalog and the Karen Worth Millennium medal available for sale in the gift shop. The introductions were followed by a fascinating traditional dance performance from a Danish troupe complete with elaborate costumes.
Our medals on display were labeled with a number system that coordinated with printed sheets listing names of artist, titles, size and material of medals and any additional information provided. People attending the reception were indeed very interested in what they saw and referred to the sheets to learn more. The evening brought a healthy turn-out of art lovers and seemed to be quite a success. The exhibit is noted on the Museum’s website as well as AMSA’s website and will be up at the Museum through August 1, 2004.
There was a preview reception on June 17th and the exhibit was open to the public until August 1.
The Museum is located at 3014 NW 67th Street, Seattle and is open: 10 am to 4 pm Tues – Sat and 12 noon to 4 pm Sun.
In addition to the Nordic Heritage Museum exhibit Ms. Deering continues to display AMSA members’ medals at libraries throughout the greater Seattle area.