Museum Sage Stories

*Paul Gaugin, Clovis, 1886, Portland Museum of Art, Portland, ME*

“Museum Sage was the single most powerful experience that I’ve had in a museum — and I’ve been going to museums my whole life and worked in them for the past five years."

– Caryne Eskridge, Yale University Art Gallery Fellow

The Queen Anne period room, c. 1720-1730, unknown artist, England, styled as a Jane-Austen-themed reading room; Minneapolis Institute of Art. — *The Queen Anne period room, c. 1720-1730, unknown artist, England, styled as a* *Jane-Austen-themed reading room*; *Minneapolis Institute of Art*.

"I’m a writer who hasn’t written for several years. My Museum Sage question was about how best to express my creative energy. I was led into the museum’s Jane Austen room and found myself in confrontation with a wooden desk strewn with letters and a pen. Not what I’d hoped for. As my Museum Sage Guide engaged with me, though, I discovered deeper layers of meaning in the installation and left feeling like I’d let go of some inhibitions and discovered some new possibilities for my creativity.”

- Eric

Banner image: Minneapolis Institute of Art.

Henry Hunt (Kwakwaka'wakw [Kwakiutl], 1923-2012), Eagle and Wild Woman, 20th century, Ink on paper, Peabody-Essex Museum — *Henry Hunt (Kwakwaka'wakw [Kwakiutl], 1923-2012),* *Eagle and Wild Woman, 20th century, Ink on paper,* *Peabody-Essex Museum*

"My question: How can I streamline my business so that I’m not going crazy all the time!!!? My insight: Fly with your strengths: design for natural history. This comes easy to you and gives you confidence, joy, and velocity.”

- Matt, museum exhibit designer

*John Burt, Porringer, c. 1725; Simeon Soumain, Tankard, c. 1719; John Coney,Tankard, c. 1710; John Coney, Footed Salver, c. 1702; Minneapolis Institute of Art*

“What does my professional future look like? The art that I got was a case of silver objects. My first thought was, 'Oh, I’ll do many little things that are beautiful and functional.’ Beautiful and useful is one of my mantras, so this art really resonated for me!”

- Kris

Edgar Degas, Woman in a Bathtub, 1889, bronze, Minneapolis Institute of Art — *Edgar Degas,* *Woman in a Bathtub, 1889, bronze, Minneapolis Institute of Art*

"How do I stay present? I asked the question in a context of tension and conflict. The Museum Sage process took me to this beautiful bronze sculpture. The experience provided so many incredible insights: Bronze can be used for a shield or for artful expression. Staying calm, peaceful, aligned and continually returning to balance keeps me present to what is emerging even if I can't at first identify what it is. A whole-hearted thank you to my Guide, Karen Olson! I heart Museum Sage!!”

- Kara Marie

Mariotto di Nardo The Coronation of the Virgin with Five Music-Making Angels, 1408, tempera on poplar panel. Minneapolis Institute of Art — Mariotto di Nardo
The Coronation of the Virgin with Five Music-Making Angels, 1408, tempera on poplar panel.
Minneapolis Institute of Art

“How can I open my heart to my wife more? I’m not attracted to religious art but I got to have an experience of this artwork that was incredibly evocative and responsive to my question. Now when I feel my heart not being open to my wife, I connect back to the image in my painting and remember the simplicity of Jesus putting a crown on Mary’s head. That gives me a shortcut to opening my heart. Using the Museum Sage process transformed stuckness and confusion into flow and love.”

- Adam