What happened at the museum in February...

left many of us awe struck at the power of art to comfort the soul, express the inexplicable and bridge the past and future. When Dick Hess contacted Bergstrom-Mahler Museum about placing a granite bench on the grounds in memory of his wife Susan, a life-long fan of the museum, we were honored.

We discussed the opportunity with the family and worked toward a solution to tie this gesture with the memory of Susan and the museum’s glass collections. On February 17^th, The Hess Family presented an exquisite bench to the museum—a functional work of art that expresses the love of the Hess Family for Susan and her enthusiasm for the museum.

The design of the bench evokes images of a bridge — a connection from the past to the future, this life to the next and each of us to one another. A look from the top reveals a colorful, cast glass panel in the shape of a boat to represent Susan’s love of the lake and our life’s journey. Would a granite bench have revealed as detailed a portrait? So is the power of art.

As you know, maintaining a free, public museum comes at a cost. We need your support to help us share with future generations what attracted Susan Hess to the museum: a beautiful space filled with inspiration, free for everyone to enjoy. Please consider making a monetary donation. Click on the donate button on the right. Thank you for your generosity.

Another way to donate

Museum collections have grown by significant gifts. Historically, such generosity established most of the great museum collections we experience today. Bergstrom-Mahler Museum began with such gifts and continues to rely heavily on donors to build the collections.  The collections become a public resources of beauty and information, as well as inspiration for those new to collecting glass.

We look for exemplary objects, objects that offer a representative example of something not already in the collection, as well as updated work by current artists in glass sculpture and paperweight forms.  Our collections have served as resources for many other private collections and after fifty years, the museum continues as a learning resource for the general population, as well as the collecting community.  I invite you to become a part of this important history.

Please contact Jan Smith, Executive Director and Curator to learn more about contributing glass related to one of our four areas of collecting.  Monetary contributions for the acquisition fund are also always welcomed.