Each year, the Morrison County Historical Society tries to offer a new exhibit along the east hall display area of The Charles A. Weyerhaeuser Memorial Museum. As we began 2020, this year was to be no different. We put together the BEAD Exhibit, featuring all sorts of beaded objects from the museum’s collections, plus a few items on loan.
Just as we were putting the finishing touches on the exhibit and preparing for an official opening, the COVID-19 pandemic hit and we had to close the museum. Because we are only open by appointment now in order to avoid the gatherings that spread COVID, the BEAD Exhibit hasn’t been viewed by very many people.
In order to give our beaded objects the attention they deserve, we decided to bring the BEAD Exhibit to people online. As the exhibit was being built, we took photos of the artifacts. (Did we have a premonition?) These form the basis of the exhibit, along with descriptions of the items.
In reviewing the online exhibit, museum staff have noted that some of the photos are so vivid that they’re almost better than viewing the items in person. (Not that we want to make a habit of that, but it’s a nice thing during a pandemic while so many of us are shut in.)
Have a look at the BEAD Exhibit and tell us what you think. Follow this link to get started. Or find it under the Exhibits>Online Exhibits menu under the museum photo at the top of our website.
Well done! You are right the close up of each object allows the viewer to see just how labor intensive beading is using color and design to create a work of art.