 The M.J. Murdock Charitable Trust Open Art Studio is a place for all museum visitors to make art while at Tacoma Art Museum. This is where visitors make hands-on connections between the art in the galleries and the process of creation.
The Open Art Studio is full of art projects and supplies: You can follow one of the five art station’s more structured activities, or you can use the available art materials in whatever way inspires you. The activities are designed to be simple enough for three-year-olds to enjoy, yet complex enough that more experienced artists can take the projects to another level. Supplies include professional artist-quality materials, such as watercolor paint in tubes, high-quality paintbrushes, printing inks, specialized papers, drawing pencils, and more.
The Open Art Studio also features stations containing art toolkits focused on artworks currently on display in the museum’s galleries. The activities and stations change with the museum exhibitions (approximately every four months). Several art suitcases filled with art supplies and usage tips for painting, sculpture, jewelry, drawing, and printmaking are also available. Visitors have fun exploring new media, new concepts, and new inspirations in the Open Art Studio.
Activities in the Open Art Studio are free with museum admission. The studio is open whenever Tacoma Art Museum is open and is a help-yourself/clean-up-after-yourself art studio staffed by volunteers. Are you interested in volunteering in the Open Art Studio?
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Horse as Muse
Inspired by the current exhibition Oasis: Western Dreams of the Ottoman Empire from the Dahesh Museum of Art, this station explores how artists often use animal forms represent the relationship between man and nature. The horse has been both a practical tool-crucial to the armies throughout history and to farmers in the time before tractors-and a companion that many people come to love. How do you want to depict a horse?
Discover Surrealism
Surrealism was a cultural and philosophical movement that began in Europe in the1920s and whose influence can still be seen today in Northwest contemporary art. Surrealists past and present aspire to capture the essence of pure thought, unbound by reason or order. Unlock your imagination and unconcious and allow your Surrealist Impulse to run free at this station.
Weave with Color Inspired by Chihuly
Born and raised in Tacoma, world renowned glass artist Dale Chihuly draws some of his inspiration from the woven pattens and colors found in Navajo and Pendelton blankets. Utilizing the shard drawing technique he developed, he imitates the blankets detailed and colorful designs. At this station, create your own shard drawing using cellophane, paper, beads and more.
Explore Sculpture
Inspired by Tacoma Art Museums' beloved Leroy: The Big Pup and it's maker, artist Scott Fife, this station invites you to explore sculpture with everyday materials like cardboard and glue to create extraordinary works.
Paint with Parts
How do museums decide what artwork to choose for the permanent collection? In Speaking Parts: Conversations between Works in the Collection we explore the relationships between art pieces, form and function, traditional and non-traditional materials. Allow yourself to create your own abstract piece at this station.
The Open Art Studio regularly features local artists as artists-in-residence, working on their own artworks and sharing their knowledge. Featured artists are connected to Tacoma Art Museum’s current exhibitions either by inclusion in an exhibition or by shared techniques.
Summer 2008: As a complement to Illuminating the Word: The Saint John’s Bible (July 12 - September 7, 2008), local calligraphers demonstrated calligraphy techniques and provided instruction for visitors of all ages.
Spring 2008: Artist Allison Hyde demonstrated printmaking techniques and guided visitors in learning about and making their own prints using linocuts, collographs, monoprints, and relief prints. This activity was presented in conjunction with the exhibition Renoir as Printmaker: The Complete Works, 1878-1912 (January 17 - June 29, 2008).
February 2008: The Open Art Studio hosted members of the Pacific Northwest African American Quilters as artists in residence. The quilters worked on their own projects, answered questions, helped create a community quilt, and provided instruction to those who wished to participate. This artist-in-residence programming was presented in conjunction with the exhibition Threads That Bind: Works by Pacific Northwest African American Quilters (December 18, 2007 – February 17, 2008).
The Open Art Studio is generously supported by The Gary E. Milgard Family Foundation, Lori Uddenberg and Heritage Bank.
Captions:
Photos: Julie Rivera.