This past week, I went into the gallery and was shocked at what a mess it seemed. As in any construction project, after all the careful work of planning, it actually looks awful before it comes together. Right now, it’s starting to come together into the final gallery you’ll see next week.


On Wednesday, the staff from Sign-O-Rama finished putting the opening illusion on the title wall and floor. There is a giant vine growing out of the floor. An artist from Madison, Michael Russick, created the illusion. We were crossing our fingers that it would work in the space—that if you stood on it, it would seem as if you were climbing the vine or teetering over open space. It worked!

Illusions: Near and Far opens Saturday, October 26, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. You can snap a photo climbing the vine like we did—and that’s only the beginning: wait until you see what’s inside!
—Brigid Globensky, Barbara Brown Lee Sr. Director of Education and Public Programs