What a Day!

By Louise Irvine

Smithsonian Magazine Museum Day was an amazing success at WMODA on Saturday, September 17. Several hundred visitors flocked to WMODA throughout the day, many experiencing the museum for the first time. They learned about the fired arts on display in our galleries, some diving deeper by scanning our QR codes for more information with their smartphones, and they enjoyed the latest exhibitions, Glamorous Glass and Jabula, the Joy of Living with Ardmore Ceramic Art & Design.

Visitors met the artists who were sharing their work and demonstrating their talents. They were mesmerized by Ellen Cohen-Berman who was throwing porcelain rice bowls on the potter’s wheel and displaying her unique raku glazes. Afterwards, many crossed the road to the Gasper Arts Center to find out about making their own ceramics.

Aspiring artists signed up for Chelsea Rousso’s Creative Glass Workshops at WMODA on October 14 and December 9. Chelsea and Brenda Waters took them through the process and showed them the sort of glass art that they can make as holiday décor and gifts. Chelsea talked about her latest commissions for wearable glass including corsets and glasskinis and guests tried on her sparkling glass tiaras.

Mirela Popovici showed her community ceramics project to create a coral reef in clay and Commissioner Joyce Davis was thrilled to see the piece she made on Museum Discovery Day. The 1000 Mermaids Artificial Reef Project will soon be deploying their next artificial reef in Hollywood and guests had fun posing as mermaids with their entertaining selfie tail, an example of their underwater sculptures.

Lots of photos were taken at Lloyd Goradesky’s heart shaped frame inspired by his Let Love Guide Your Way project. His monumental weathervane outside Dania Beach City Hall has recently been added to the national database for the Public Art Archive and has become a big attraction in the city where we SEA IT, LIVE IT, LOVE IT.

It was fun to see visitors of all ages so engaged with the scavenger hunts. Some families were having mini competitions with all three and dived in to find elusive mermaids, track the Big Five safari animals, and chase rabbits around the galleries. It was so gratifying to watch WMODA come alive again with a full house after the dark days of Covid.

Business was brisk in the museum shop as guests purchased unique gifts made by artists working in our community and further afield. It was a record day of sales to benefit the educational programs at WMODA such as free Museum Days. Thank you to the amazing WMODA team of staff and volunteers who made the day such a spectacular success!