ABSOLUTELY, YES!!!
People often ask me: Is it a good idea to bring children in Contemporary Glass Art Museum? Can families, school tours, after school programs visit the Museum?
My answer is always a resounding YES!!
In fact, just in terms of touching the works of art, adults are far guiltier of that quick touch than the children! (But, to be clear, no one is permitted to touch the art.)
But let’s get back to the children and how they can be inspired and educated about our art. And more importantly, share in exciting family fun!
Families, children, and other guests who visit have the opportunity to go on our Magical Creature Scavenger Hunt. We have nine small glass creatures who have escaped and have hidden amongst our sculptures in the first-floor galleries. Our scavenger explorers must find the creatures with the clues we give them and report back to our associates. When our scavenger explorers discover all nine creatures, we give them a certificate and a discount in our Museum Store for being such good explorers.
What do children and families take away from our Museum experience?
- An opportunity to lean in and look more closely at the sculptures in the galleries. Many times, when we walk through Museums, we only spend seconds looking at the objects. However, if you are looking for the Magical Creatures, you are also looking at the color, form, texture and design of the sculptures and seeing closely the various details you may have missed just walking through quickly.
- By spending more time with an object of art, you might think a little further as to why the artists wanted to make the piece and what they were trying to communicate with their talent and skill.
- You might look a little more deeply at all of the objects, how their three dimensional form takes up space in a gallery, and how it makes you feel when you approach it.
- You also might wonder a little more about the material of glass and how it reflects light, allows interior examination, as well as communicates the wonder of heat when exposed to sand, sodium, and ash.
Discovering Glass Art as a Family
We know not everyone who comes in has experienced the type of artworks in glass displayed at Imagine Museum. They might have heard or been to the Chihuly Collection. But they have no concept of how contemporary glass artists from around the world have approached this material of glass, melted it, and had it bend to their vision of expression and technique. In fact, the greatest assets of the Imagine Museum collection is the variety of form, color, design and technique. Not to mention the statement or narrative the artists are trying to communicate about our world.
Glass has impacted mankind throughout time. Now, through the creatives of today, we can further explore our place in this universe.
And finally… You might just want to take advantage of the discount in the Museum Store and take home a few of those Magical Creatures.
However, I would suggest one thing. If you do take some Magical Creatures home, make sure you put them in a safe place. We know from experience, they do like to wander!
Continue to imagine,
