Rediscover TMA at Artoberfest 2012

by Emily Rippe
I remember the first time I visited the Toledo Museum of Art. It was during a college field trip, and I had barely explored the world outside of my small, close-knit Bowling Green community. That initial trip to Toledo and the Museum would change everything for me. I knew immediately that what Toledo housed in its Old West End neighborhood was something special. I went back to school and wrote about TMA and how it was one of Toledo's finest treasures.

I'm sure many Toledoans (both natives and transplants) have had similar experiences. Maybe you grew up with the Museum right in your own back yard. Perhaps you visited TMA with your parents or class in grade school. Maybe you've never stepped foot inside the Museum, but you've played outside on the giant tire swing outside the Center for the Visual Arts. As a kid, it's hard to grasp the bigger picture. But as an adult, revisiting (or seeing for the first time) the Museum is about as rewarding of a cultural experience as it can get.

The people involved with Circle 2445 (a.k.a. the Circle) understand this more than most of us. The group--which consists of 9 core members and about 25 volunteers at any given time--throws parties and behind-the-scenes events to draw excitement over the collections and facilities.

"The Museum does a great job engaging younger people, and obviously we're working on enhancing that," said core Circle member Dustin Hostetler. "The fact that [TMA] thinks the Circle is a good idea says a lot."

Thursday,October 18th is the perfect day to get reacquainted with TMA. The Circle will be hosting it's second annual Artoberfest from 6-10 p.m. in Libbey Court. It's a great after-hours party where attendees can tour two world-class exhibits, including Manet: Portraying Life and Made in Hollywood. Guests can also enjoy Franco-German hors d'oeuvres and German & French beer and wine tastings (in addition to a cash bar). And you won't want to miss a live acoustic performance by Jack & The Bear. There will also be raffles and a silent auction for people to win fun schwag. Tickets are $15 for members and $25 for nonmembers in advance and $20 for members and $30 for nonmembers at the door.

Not only is Hostetler a Circle member, he's also an Old West Ender.

"I love that the Museum is walking distance from my home," he said. "As an artist myself, I take great inspiration from the collection and always love discovering new details in the art I've been visiting my entire life."

For more information about the Toledo Museum of Art and Circle 2445, visit http://www.toledomuseum.org/events/circle2445/.





Published: 10/09/2012

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