MADSONIAN NEWSLETTER
January 2024. N#1, vol #1
NOTES FROM THE FOUNDER AND DIRECTOR, DAVE SELLERS FAIA
WELCOME TO OUR FIRST NEWSLETTER. OUR MUSEUM ON THE MAD RIVER IN WAITSFIELD, VERMONT IS OPEN TO VISITORS THURSDAY, FRIDAY, SATURDAY AND SUNDAY. NOON TO 4;00. CALL US 802-496-6611, OPEN FOR SPECIAL EVENTS, BIRTHDAYS, CELEBRATIONS AND
POP-UP SHOWS.
Mystery solved. From founder director, Dave Sellers.
For several years now I have been investigating the design genius of Norman Bel Geddes. His book “HORIZONS” is a thorough self examination of his designs and design strategies from flying boats, ocean liners, modern trains, cars and more. He designed and managed the GM exhibit at the NY world fair including creating the scaled down future city.
His industrial designs changed much of the consumer world.
One unique design is his metal school desk and chair. I have looked for one over several years for our exhibits without success. . Then, last week an excellent example of that very desk arrived in the museum lobby unannounced, Micaiah and I were amazed that it manifested somehow. Later in the week Catie McCullough came in laughing and told us how she found it in a free pile and picked it up for us without knowing my interest. Thanks Catie.
I am gathering material for a slide lecture on the work of Norman Bel Geddes for this spring.
COMING SOON,
AI. DATE, TIME, to be set
Evening show and discussion about ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE. It is now everywhere and not going away. How to make sense and live with it. Led by ROSS , our tech wizard will headline the show. We will follow up the AI show with a private showing at the museum of SPIELBERGS’ AI movie. This is not kid friendly and somewhat spooky. Some say his best film others, his worst. Beautifully filmed in the not so distant future. Time and date not set. ,,,,,,,,,,
Current new exhibits:
25 antique lawn sprinklers, these are cool.. donated by a collector from Block Island. We are the only museum in the US to show these unique items.
The MADSONIAN first annual Design awards was presented at the museum where each of the awardees had a chance to explain and talk about his work. Kyle Clark, founder of BETA and designer of the first commercially viable electric airplane (who lives across the mountain in Lincoln) gave a detailed and excellent explanation of his vision and the current progress.
One of the galleries has an exhibit of each of the winners’ designs. A continuous loop slide show of the designs is showing now at the museum.
Winning designs:
John Connell. First Yestermorrow house
Duncan Syme, Vermont Casting Stoves
Jim Henry, Mad River Canoes
Richard Travers, Elm Stove
John Anderson, Skylight at the Burlington Airport
Robert Burley, Pavillion Hotel preservation
Stevenson FLemer, Modern Vernacular house on Rt. 100
Kyle Clark, Beta Technologies, first electric airplane
Renowned local Architect, MALCOLM APPLETON shows his collection of toy cars in the first exhibit room. This show will be replaced in the spring with Gracie Mayer’s awesome
eggbeater collection.
February new show: History of snow sleds, winter coats,
Snowshoes and one early pair of skis made from a single piece of wood.
TO BE SCHEDULED
FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT. Second show.
FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT, third show
Second show of the ENIGMA MACHINE
ANTIQUE BOAT SHOW this summer.
If anyone is interested in being a guest editor of our newsletter, please let myself or Micaiah know.
I hope you come to see our latest exhibits.
Dave Sellers, Micaiah Adams.
MEMBERSHIP DRIVE COMING UP.
We will send out a list of cool benefits in addition to the annual membership BBQ in September. (we haven’t held one yet). We need 100 members to assist in keeping up with our goals.
