[Woodcarver] Museum

[Joe Dillett]

Hi Joe. I think  you'lls museum is a wonderful thing to do.

                Vickie in Chicago

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Hi Vickie,

Are you keeping those tools sharp? Feel free to bring them back to my shop for sharpening.

Thanks for your encouraging words about the museum. My wife Sharon has a real eye for art and how to display it. She will be the Museum Director deciding what goes in, how it will be displayed and event planning. I will be the business manager providing her with the framework to use her talent.

One thing we have to insure is what happened to another carving museum doesn't happen with us. I don't know all the details but heard they swindled the carving community out of almost $1/4 million. 

Here are some thoughts we are working on.
We are working with our attorney in how to protect everyone involved. One suggestion that Big Dog had, for donated items, was to have it set up to pass those items to another museum after we are gone or if the museum closes. I feel it important to get that in writing to the donor so they are assured the item will be passed to another museum if and when ours closes.

We will also be adding to our personal collection by purchasing items for display and/or as an investment that may be re-sold in the future. On purchased items the seller knows that we may or may not re-sell the item.

We will also have some selected items on consignment of which we will take about 10 to 20% commission where other museums typically take 40 to 50% commission.

Items on loan will typically be items by one artist, such as for a one-man show that would last a month or two. Loaned items may also come from another museum or individuals for short periods of time for special shows. Loaned items, other then an artist one-man show where they are here, are a very special case used rarely because of the liability.

There is a lot to think about. We hope to bring awareness that woodcarving can be elevated to a fine-art-form and not just a craft. We hope to do this by displaying other art forms but keep the focus on the fine art of carving. We plan to be open every day except Sunday but don't expect more then a dozen people all week. Our advertised show openings, special shows, classes and evening events is where we expect most of our traffic. Included in the museum is our educational area. The center focus of this educational area is my old workbench (almost 200 years old). There will also be examples of different wood and different types of carving. This is where I will be doing carving demonstrations. Back in my shop area is where we'll have classes and activities for groups from the local schools. 

The museum will have very little income. We don't expect it to meet our expenses but we should be fine as long as we keep our costs low. That is why we are going slow as money becomes available. I think that it will take about a year to open. We hope to have a nice museum display and be open by GOW 2009, (September 21-26, 2009).

Joe Dillett
The Carving Shop
645 E. LaSalle St. Suite 3
Somonauk, IL. 60552

(815) 498-9290 phone
(815) 498-9249 fax
http://www.thecarvingshop.net [business web site]
http://www.carvingmagazine.com ['Ask Joe' column]
http://community.webshots.com/user/joe_dillett
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