MakeArt Family Day invites visitors of all ages to experience the magic of art-making as a means to explore MCD’s exhibitions and build intergenerational connections. From 12 – 4 PM, our galleries are filled with hands-on activities allowing visitors to learn and explore the techniques, materials, and themes of our current exhibitions Beau McCall: Buttons On! and A Roadmap to Stardust.

Plus, collaboratively create a tactile touchpoint for Judith Schaechter: Super / Natural to help make this upcoming exhibition more accessible!

Beau McCall: Buttons On! Projects:

Identity Buttons
Stitched atop a base layer of plain buttons, identity buttons are core to McCall’s style and imbue his beautiful wearable art with symbolism and meaning. One example is Beau’s Hood Classic: The Ice Durag (2021), which celebrates natural Black hair while engaging with the history of the politicization and criminalization of Black hair and hairstyles by mainstream culture. The light blue durag is covered with transparent buttons and accented by ceramic identity buttons. Made by Glaze Girl Designs, these buttons feature Black hair products, combs, and hairstyles that emphasize Beau’s message.

Create your own identity button. What story will your unique button tell?

Button Necklaces
Beau knows that what we wear matters. The Button Man has been transforming buttons into wearable art for nearly forty years. His signature style of layered, overlapping buttons is present throughout his work and reflected in these signature necklaces.

Elevate your look with your own button necklace and, in the words of Beau himself, ‘wreck the room!

Button Pins
Create your own button-themed pin using images from the exhibition or a DIY paper button. Add flair to jackets, bags, or hats when you put your buttons on!

A Roadmap to Stardust Projects:

Air Dry Clay Diffusers
Simultaneously looking forward and back, the Roadmap to Stardust is a fictional exploration of humanity’s history through the lens of clay. This project leverages the power of scent to evoke memories of our personal histories while encouraging everyone to get their hands clay-ey!

Constellation Crossings
Just what is written in the stars? Humans have always been fascinated by the night sky, and cultures from around the world have long attributed meaning to the starry patterns visible above. Learn about the stars’ stories and create glow-in-the-dark constellation cards!

MakeArt Family Day Bonus:

Create a Tactile Touchpoint for Our Upcoming Exhibition
MakeArt Family Day kicks off our MakeArt Course: Papier Mâché | From Trash to Treasure with Daniel Iturralde. Led by artist and environmental advocate Daniel Iturralde, this community-powered workshop transforms clean trash into a papier mâché sculpture of Judith Schaechter’s Beached Whale (2018). The final sculpture will provide a tactile connection to our upcoming exhibition Judith Schaechter: Super / Natural. Haptic objects like this are an important part of museum access and inclusion, especially for the Blind and Low-Vision community.

Join us during MakeArt Family Day for step one – compacting clean trash for the sculpture’s structure. Sign up for sessions 2 and 3 to finish the sculpture and gain the skills needed to continue this sustainable practice at home!

MCD MEMBERS

Make the most of your MCD Membership. This event is FREE for Members. Don’t forget to stop by the Museum Store on your way out and get your 10% off discount!

Not an MCD Member? Join today and get free and discounted tickets to MCD’s signature programs, events, tours, and more!