Director's Note 1/1/16
We are getting off to a late start at Lynden this year. Although we were in regularly over the holidays to plan, plough snow, and close out whatever needed to be closed out by December 31, we were unable to convince others to come in and take care of some major maintenance issues before this week. Sergio spent his New Year's Eve tending to pumps and furnaces, and was back the next day to keep things limping along; he is now supervising the repairs.
We remain closed until Friday morning, when you will have an opportunity to come out and enjoy the long-awaited snow. We're continuing to monitor the ice-skating situation: the warmth of the earth and water has impeded the formation of ice safe for skating, and of course the wind can churn up the surface making it too bumpy to skate. But current reports are good for Little Lake, and as long as the precipitation promised for the next few days doesn't do anything drastic to the surface, we should be good. If skating is possible this weekend, we will post on the Lynden Facebook page. If the snow holds up and you're interested in cross-country skiing (and don't want to make your own trail), send me an email and we'll see about packing down the snow.
We do have plenty planned for the winter session, and are anxious to get started. All events are online and our new brochure is back from the printer. Because workshops can fill up early in the cold-weather months when we are seeking antidotes to hibernation, it pays to register early. Topics include candle mold making (Jan. 30); a two-part series on artist's books with Eddee Daniel and Max Yela (Feb. 20 and Mar. 12, can be taken separately); tapestry weaving (with a focus on pattern and texture) with Jamie Bertsch (Feb. 27); and fused silver chains with Leslie Perrino (Mar. 5). For those itching to get back in the garden, our grounds staff offers a workshop on tool maintenance (Feb. 27), and educators from UW-Extension take you through the art and science of tree pruning (Mar. 5).
Margy Stratton of MKE Reads has scheduled two Women's Speaker Series events for the winter session: Jennifer Robson, author of Moonlight Over Paris joins us on Jan. 21, and Sharon Guskin, author of The Forgetting Time comes to Lynden on Feb. 11. Each reading is preceded by some wine, snack and chat time, and followed by Q&A with the author and an opportunity to get your book (included in the price of the event) signed. Our friends from Bronze Optical will be on hand with a diverse, vibrant selection of frames for you to browse--mirror provided, of course!--while they clean and tighten the screws in your current eye wear.
Other January events of note include the family-friendly Light Up the Garden (Jan. 17), during which we make lanterns and then use them to guide us around the garden at night, and For the Birds (Jan. 24), a workshop devoted to making bird treats. There are many programs for children from Tuesdays in the Garden and Storytime in the Garden for the very young, to the weekly Art Drop-In (with a special extended session on Jan. 18), a Homeschool Day (Jan. 21), and a School's Out Workshop (Jan. 25). We wind up the month with another opportunity to trek outdoors, this time with artist Scott Wolniak, who will lead a (snowshoe?) tour of the garden followed by hot chocolate and a screening of recent video work. His exhibition, Landscape Record, remains on view through the end of February.
Finally, we'd like to thank everyone who purchased memberships or donated to our annual campaign. We are truly building something together.
