by ron evans
Fire up the laptop and go on a historical walk-about.
Matthew Pippin and Education & Volunteer Specialist Debbie Stewart demonstrate an apple sorter from 1920 as part of the Museum’s Virtual Tour.
Museums and art galleries are on the “must close” list for now and this is leading many venues coming up with clever ways of keeping art, exhibits and educational pastimes alive. The Wenatchee Valley Museum And Cultural Center is now offering virtual tours and boredom busting DIY projects for the armchair visitor of distinguished taste.
Speaking of distinguished taste, local thespian Matthew Pippin was tapped (he’ll enjoy that turn of phrase) to help host this series of videos with a certain flair only he could bring us. I asked Matthew about the ins and outs of these virtual tours.
Whose idear was this?
Annie Holman, the Curator of Education & Programs. I met her when I hosted a few murder mysteries for the museum last fall which lead to me working the front desk. After the museum was shut down, we had a week before the stay at home order was given to film a few of the exhibits and do-it-yourself home projects. Giving the children of the valley and beyond who would have been on field trips at the museum a chance to experience something fun at home.
I was in the museum with Ms. Holman and Debbie Sawyer for most of the filming and it was just the three of us. I had general scripts I'd be handed before each segment and had to get out as many facts as possible with the least amount of takes.
Do you host all of them? What is currently available?
We only had three days of filming, but we were able to do 12 different videos. Whether or not they see the light of day is a totally different story (that's show biz, kid). Currently, I believe there are five videos out with more to be released in the coming weeks. Some are geared towards children and a few are for general audiences. There are a few others released where I am not hosting. For instance, Kasey Koski, the Curator of Exhibits, hosted one about the high school art that had been on exhibit in the main hall.
As a usually busy performer all-year-round in the local arts, how have you been coping with all of the stages going dark?
When this pandemic hit, I felt totally useless as a performer. It's my job to make people forget their troubles and I had no outlet. These videos helped me out a lot. Put me to work and I (hopefully) am entertaining while helping educate.
How can people support the Museum
Any donations could be made at: wenatcheevalleymuseum.org/donate/
Or…
When the stay at home order is lifted, I'll be happy to take nickels on any street corner.
Head to wenatcheevalleymuseum.org/ for virtual tours, blogs and more. No nickels required.
