Unique Museum and Educator Resource


Located in a pleasant neighborhood in Wausau, Wisconsin is the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum, an museum that features artworks from all over Wisconsin. The museum is best known for its acclaimed Birds in Art program which is a juried exhibit. The museum is in an English Tudor period Cotswold-style residence, with a new two story gallery space. Surrounded by four acres of land there is the Margaret Woodson Fisher Sculpture Garden, an English garden, a shaded arbor, and several places to stroll and reflect. There is onsite parking and a seating area for relaxing and enjoy a picnic lunch.

Each year about ten of the exhibits at the museum change each year. This encourages visitors to return to the museum. Also in an effort to encourage frequent visits, the museum changes up their children and adult programs. Some of the regular programs include Art Time for Tots, Toddler Tuesday, Art Explorers, and Art Buddies. There are also storytelling sessions, art lectures, videos, and demonstrations. Summer time brings the Concerts in the Gardens series, as well as OctoBIRDfest, the museum's largest festival of the year.

Birds in Art is the best known exhibit at the museum. It begins annually during the weekend following Labor Day and runs for nine weeks. There are affiliated education programs, and special events are usually organized around the exhibit. The purpose of the exhibit is to "... present the very best contemporary artistic interpretations of birds and related subject matter. Two- and three-dimensional artworks in all media other than crafts and photography are eligible for submission.'' As many as 100 works of art are jury reviewed. Following the onsite show, 60 of the pieces are chosen to be included in the national or international tour. This gives artists exposure across the nation and around the world.

The museum promotes lifelong learning and offers visitors programs meant to educate, provoke curiosity, and incite exploratory feelings toward art. The center provides resources and materials for educators and individuals with a desire to learn more about art. School and group tours are welcome and people can choose self-guided or audio tours of the space. The museum asks that you schedule tours at least three weeks in advance to help keep the museum on schedule and organized.

There are also adult centered activities at the museum including lectures, demonstrations, workshops, and gallery walks for teens and adults. The museum loves the idea of spreading art to all age groups and promoting a lifelong love of art.

Many of the art pieces featured at the museum have thumbnail reproductions on the museum's website. To get a sense of what the museum has to offer, visit the site to prepare yourself for seeing the works in person. If you have an appreciation for art, or you are looking to instill the appreciation in your children and loved ones, a trip to the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum should be in your future. Tucked away in Wausau, Wisconsin, this museum is a true gem.

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