Museum Director

marlob@herald-mail.com After 21 years as director of the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, Jean Woods has decided to take it easy for a while and refocus her life. Thursday was Woods' last day in the post she held since 1982. But her legacy of acquiring fine works of art, inspiring both artists and patrons while attracting the public to the City Park landmark will live on. "I like doing research and I've always been interested in art history," Woods said. Woods said she may even dust off her writing skills, honed in an early career as an editor with Harper and Row Publishers.

scottb@herald-mail.com HAGERSTOWN - While there are many in Washington County who like the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, the new director is going to try to make the institution a place that is loved and treasured, the museum's president, Spence Perry, said Sunday. One of the reasons the board chose Joseph T. Ruzicka to become the museum's director is that he understood that goal and has plans on how to make that happen, including having projects at the museum for seniors and young professionals, Perry said.

alician@herald-mail.com When Jean Woods began her service at the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts 21 years ago, the building was in need of repair, the budget was in the red and there was not enough endowment to cover the year's expenses. Since her tenure as director of the museum, there have been two expansions, the museum was reaccredited twice, the art collection has grown by fifty percent and the endowment has increased to more than $4 million. These accomplishments were recurrent themes of conversation among the estimated 300 people who attended a concert and reception at the museum on Sunday, Nov. 16, to honor Woods, recently retired director of the museum.

Baltimore conservator Sian Jones worked for 13 hours to restore Frederick Childe Hassam's "White House, Gloucester," which is part of the collection of the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, City Park, Hagerstown. As part of the adopt-a-painting program, Jones removed old varnish layers and surface soil. The program offers individuals or businesses opportunities to sign on to pay a conservator's charge to clean a painting and/or restore the frame on a particular painting in the museum's collection.

The Washington County Museum of Fine Arts has reached its Waltersdorf/Henson Endowment Challenge Campaign fundraising commitment of $100,000. On Tuesday, museum board president Tom Newcomer and museum director Rebecca Massie Lane presented Brad Sell, executive director of the Community Foundation of Washington County MD Inc., with the final installment of the money raised through fundraising efforts. "This is a truly remarkable accomplishment for the museum in its service to the citizens of Washington County," Newcomer said in a prepared release.

By JENNYLYNN BROWN Staff Writer The Washington County Museum of Fine Arts is searching for a new curator, according to museum director Jean Woods. "We are looking for someone familiar with American art from the 19th and 20th centuries," Woods said. "The primary focus of the bulk of our collection is American art. " Woods said applicants also should enjoy the "many hats we wear" working in a smaller museum. The vacancy occurred after curator Mary B. Caverly retired at the end of the summer and moved to Florida, Woods said.

Pianist Dan Franklin Smith The Inez H. Perry and Mary G. Brandenburg Endowment for Music Trust, sponsored by Cinda and Spence Perry, will feature pianist Dan Franklin Smith in a concert titled "Expanding Universes: Theme and Variations. " The concert will include works by Ludwig van Beethoven, Dave Brubeck, Frdric Chopin and Carl Czerny. 2:30 p.m. Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, City Park, Hagerstown. Talk by museum director A reception for "Our Fondest Dreams & Hopes" and gallery talk with museum director Joseph Ruzicka.

Former museum director is honored The Washington County Commissioners on Tuesday presented a proclamation to Jean Woods, former director of the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts. Woods, director since 1982, retired on July 31. County Commissioners President Gregory I. Snook presented the proclamation to Woods, which acknowledged her interest, time and dedication to the museum. Under Woods' direction, endowments to the museum have grown to almost $4 million and the museum's donor base is nationwide, according to a written statement.

waynesboro@herald-mail.com Hagerstown will represent Maryland with a historic marker honoring a trail that first carried animals then Native Americans and later pioneers from the Great Lakes to Georgia as one of the routes that paved the way to the nation's early development. A bronze plaque marking the "Great Indian Warrior/trading Path" was unveiled in a brief ceremony Saturday afternoon on the grounds of the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts. The plaque was paid for by the 7,000-member National Society Daughters of the American Colonists.

HAGERSTOWN - After nearly three weeks spent brightening the walls and polishing clean the evidence of some 300,000 feet, the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts is back in business. The museum, which closed for renovations Aug. 7, reopened Saturday with buffed floors and repainted galleries. "Anything that can be painted was repainted," museum director Joe Ruzicka said during an informal tour of the facility. During the shutdown, contractors tore carpeting out of three galleries, restoring the original 1931 wood flooring in two rooms, while laying down a nut brown-and-black cork surface in the other, Ruzicka said.

Fundraising efforts for a $2.5 million glass enclosure over the courtyard of the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts got a boost Wednesday when it was announced that a local foundation has agreed to give $400,000 toward the project. But there is work to do to get the money. Because the $400,000 would come through a 2-to-1 matching grant, $200,000 will have to be raised to secure the money, officials said Wednesday afternoon during an announcement ceremony at the museum. The $200,000 needed was reduced to $150,000 when Lee Stine said he has agreed to give $50,000.

The Washington County Museum of Fine Arts has reached its Waltersdorf/Henson Endowment Challenge Campaign fundraising commitment of $100,000. On Tuesday, museum board president Tom Newcomer and museum director Rebecca Massie Lane presented Brad Sell, executive director of the Community Foundation of Washington County MD Inc., with the final installment of the money raised through fundraising efforts. "This is a truly remarkable accomplishment for the museum in its service to the citizens of Washington County," Newcomer said in a prepared release.

When she became the director of the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, Rebecca Massie Lane said it was as though she were handed a gem - one that she wants everyone to see shine. Lane officially began her duties Aug. 1 as the director of Washington County Museum of Fine Arts. As director, Lane is in charge of managing the museum's day-to-day operations and giving the museum a sense of direction, said board member William G. Plavcan, who was board president during the hiring process.

"The Horses are Coming" to the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts April 12 to June 22. "The Horses are Coming" is a collection of work by 20 artists from the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries, according to Jennifer Smith, acting assistant curator with the museum. Each piece, says Smith, "is an interpretation of the horse. " Former museum director Jean Woods began coordinating and formulating the idea of an exhibit strictly focusing on horses. "Maryland has always been a horse area," said Woods.

According to Donna Taylor, there are two kinds of people in this world - those who love a good sale and those who don't. "I'm in the first group," the Hagerstown resident admitted. "Just ask my husband. " Taylor then demonstrated her shopping prowess as she loaded her arms with a basket, a necklace, a small painting and a cup and saucer. "I'm a pro at this," she said, heading for the cash register. Taylor was among a large group of people who visited the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts on Saturday for the annual Treasure Sale, hosted by the museum's volunteer association, the Singer Society.

Pianist Dan Franklin Smith The Inez H. Perry and Mary G. Brandenburg Endowment for Music Trust, sponsored by Cinda and Spence Perry, will feature pianist Dan Franklin Smith in a concert titled "Expanding Universes: Theme and Variations. " The concert will include works by Ludwig van Beethoven, Dave Brubeck, Frdric Chopin and Carl Czerny. 2:30 p.m. Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, City Park, Hagerstown. Talk by museum director A reception for "Our Fondest Dreams & Hopes" and gallery talk with museum director Joseph Ruzicka.

HAGERSTOWN - After nearly three weeks spent brightening the walls and polishing clean the evidence of some 300,000 feet, the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts is back in business. The museum, which closed for renovations Aug. 7, reopened Saturday with buffed floors and repainted galleries. "Anything that can be painted was repainted," museum director Joe Ruzicka said during an informal tour of the facility. During the shutdown, contractors tore carpeting out of three galleries, restoring the original 1931 wood flooring in two rooms, while laying down a nut brown-and-black cork surface in the other, Ruzicka said.

alician@herald-mail.com HAGERSTOWN - Dozens of little ones lined up Saturday morning at the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts Children's Holiday Reception waiting expectantly for a moment with the awe-inspiring fat guy. As the children approached him, the stout character did not ask for their Christmas wishes or share a jolly "Ho ho ho. " He rarely even made eye contact. Instead, he sluggishly was spread across the stage digesting the 24-pound pig he had swallowed whole last night for dinner.

kristinw@herald-mail.com The word is out: The Singer Society's annual Treasure Sale is a place to find bargains. The benefit sale's reputation for offering myriad items, from furniture to home accessories, at greatly reduced prices, is helping the event grow from year to year, says Judy Waters, chairwoman of the sale. By the time the sale opens at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 12, crowds of people will be lined up waiting to get into the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts.

HAGERSTOWN heatherk@herald-mail.com The Washington County Museum of Fine Arts broke ground Wednesday morning on a garden renovation project that will transform the museum's lakeside lawn in Hagerstown City Park with new landscaping, a new path, a central circular seating area, new external lighting, and improved drainage and irrigation. "The garden will be a public asset that complements the investment that the city has made in recent years to this area of the park," museum director Joseph Ruzicka told a gathering of museum affiliates, city officials and guests.