Amy Wike and Margaret Collerd discuss Phillips After 5 with visitors at the Marketplace of Ideas.
Photo: Suzanne Wright

On May 19–22, several staff members from the Phillips ventured to Baltimore to attend the American Alliance of Museums’ annual conference. Appropriately, the conference coincided with Baltimore Museum Week, during which members of the community were encouraged to visit local museums and to share their stories by describing their “most unforgettable museum experience” in just six words as part of the Six Words Project. Now that we’re back at the Phillips, excited about all we learned during the conference, we decided to challenge ourselves to sum up our experiences, again in just six words. Here’s what we came up with!

Inspired! Now, I’m excited to implement.

Margaret Collerd, Public Programs and In-Gallery Interpretation Coordinator

Utterly galvanized by inspired collective wisdom.

Michele De Shazo, Museum Supervisor

All my people in one room.

Meagan Estep, Teacher Programs Coordinator

Overwhelmed and exhilarated, opposites inspire action.

Natalie Mann, School, Outreach, and Family Programs Coordinator

Some things aren’t measured in dollars.

Lydia O’Connor, Finance Assistant

Cyber café conversations with creative colleagues.

Paul Ruther, Manager of Teacher Programs

Shrinky dinks, kindred spirits, infinite inspiration.

Amy Wike, Publicity and Marketing Coordinator

Inspired by colleagues, sparked by staff.

Suzanne Wright, Director of Education

Left: Amy Wike and Margaret Collerd show off the crowns they made at the Visionary Art Museum.
Right: A photo booth at the Visionary Art Museum, showing the conference theme, “The Power of Story.”
Photos: Meagan Estep

Natalie Mann and Meagan Estep excitedly palm a reproduction of Degas’ Before the Race, on display on a street in Baltimore, via the Walters Art Museum. Photo: Margaret Collerd