It was the last Ruru meeting of the year today and the team was looking festive! I'm sure you'll agree that Duncan looks dapper in his Ruru-themed Santa hat and Rebecca looks very merry in her head band decorated with Ruru badges. You want a closer look? I thought you'd say that ...
I think she might have been smiling more about the chocolate fish I gave her than wearing her faux antlers!
Anyway, to the proper news. We talked a lot today about what will happen once we've launched the label trail - how we'll promote it to the public, when we'll get round two of labels underway, and how/when we might invite the public to write some labels too. We all agreed that having the staff excited and enthused about the project is going to be integral to its success.
Therefore, we're looking forward to thrilling you with our new scavenger hunt on 20 January. It will be your chance to explore the reminiscences of fellow staff members, marvel at their wordsmithing and perhaps even get inspiration for your own label. We hope you'll love the labels so much that you'll bring all your family and friends in to explore them as well!
So until January 2011, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from the Ruru team!!!
We brought out the big guns today, trailing Simon and Andrew around the galleries to check our plans for label placement and to consider other logistical concerns. By our powers combined we'll figure it all out ... so full steam ahead for the launch in January!
On that note, I gather there has been a little concern about the start time for the label trail scavenger hunt. Fear not! The scavenger hunt will not kick off until 6pm on Thursday 20 January 2011 to ensure anybody who's working can still be a part of the fun!
I also took Ruru on a road trip to Auckland this week, spreading the revolutionary word:
Ruru made an appearance at the Auckland War Memorial Museum (as evidenced by this picture) and also snuck out at drinks with Camilla Baskcomb, Conservator of Works on Paper at the Auckland Art Gallery. He wanted to jump off the Sky Tower as well but I wouldn't let him! Our colleagues from the Big Smoke are very interested in what we're up to down here so hopefully we can entice some of them down for a label trail scavenger hunt one day!
After receiving a few sneaky last minute labels (thanks Linley, Sarah, Glen Skipper, Andrew and Janie!), Kate and I set out on a mission to find the perfect spot for each one. To help us visualise how colourful, exciting and REVOLUTIONARY our label trail will look, we took some photos of ourselves roaming the galleries with our little (but not too little ... 18pt font all the way!) mock up. I discovered that the lighting in Takapou Whariki may well make the objects look great, but makes me look demented! The things we do to make a blog amusing for our readers ...
I've done some preliminary editing of the (now 34!) labels that were submitted and, though horribly soppy for a Thursday, I have to say I was pretty overwhelmed by everyone's efforts. What, misty eyes?? Who me?? Never! (well, maybe just a bit) I was so impressed by how generous everyone was with their time and recollections. There are some fabulous labels for both staff and visitors alike to enjoy once the trail goes up. So thank you label writers!
People have been asking if and when they will get to read other people's labels. The answer is: not until the scavenger hunt on Thursday 20 January 2011 at 5.30pm! We want to keep the labels as a surprise so that the scavenger hunt is fresh, full of discovery and as scintillating as possible. Plus, there will be a prize for the team that wins the scavenger hunt, so we have to make sure nobody has an unfair advantage!!! Those who only come for the free beer will have to contend with the disadvantage of being slightly addled in the brain.
The countdown is on!
