SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY (September 29, 2016) — The Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery at Skidmore College presents a series of nine Family Saturday programs to accompany the work in our exhibitions this fall, Sixfold Symmetry: Pattern in Art and Science; A More Perfect Union featuring Mel Ziegler’s Flag Exchange; and Liz Collins — Energy Field.
Held on Saturdays from October 8 through December 10 (except November 26), the programs include a hands-on art activity following a brief tour of one of the exhibitions, with all materials provided.
The free programs run from 2:00 to 3:30 PM (except October 15), and are suitable for children age 5 and older along with their adult companions.
Reservations are highly encouraged as space is limited and the programs are very popular. You may sign up for each program up to one week in advance.
For additional information and reservations, or to be added to our Family Saturday e-mail list, please call the Tang’s Visitor Service Desk at 518-580-8080.
The schedule
Oct. 8: Draw a Patterned Hand
After exploring Victor Ekpuk’s vast chalk drawing on black walls in Sixfold Symmetry: Pattern in Art and Science, we will make drawings of our hands with repeated patterns, using gel pencils that show up brightly on black paper.
Oct. 15: Starburst! Mathematical Masterpiece Outdoor Collaborative Art Project
Family Celebration Weekend drop-In activity on the Tang lawn! Come any time between noon and 1:30 pm.
Inspired by our exhibition Sixfold Symmetry: Pattern in Art and Science, we will create a large Starburst mathematical masterpiece on the lawn. Drop by to add your touches and stay as long as you like. And be sure to come inside to see the fun and surprising artwork from all times and places!
Reservations not required. If it rains, an indoor project will be offered.
Oct. 22: Musical Instruments
We will look at and talk about the beautiful instruments in the Balinese Gamelan in Sixfold Symmetry: Pattern in Art and Science, then we will make our own instruments and play them together as an orchestra.
Oct. 29: Spiders and Spider Webs
We will look at Dean Snyder’s shiny metal spider web in Sixfold Symmetry: Pattern in Art and Science, then make colorful spiders and spider webs out of pipe-cleaners, beads, and colored wire!
Nov. 5: Make Your Own Flag
After discussing Mel Ziegler’s Flag Exchange, we will make flags out of colored felt, with symbols to represent the things that each of us cares about most.
Nov. 12: Woven Benches
We will explore, discuss, and get comfy on Liz Collins’ artistic pot-holder style seating pads in her installation Energy Field on the mezzanine, then make pot-holder style weavings to use as bench covers for seats we will make, inspired by the ones in A More Perfect Union.
Nov. 19: 14th Annual Potato Turkey Festival!
Come to our 14th Annual Make-a-Turkey-Out-of-a-Potato Festival! We will make holiday centerpieces out of potatoes, pipe-cleaners, feathers, and beads. Create a fantastic bird sculpture to decorate your table!
You can register for this one anytime! No limit, but advance registration is encouraged.
Nov. 26: No Program
Dec. 3: Starry Mobiles
After looking at Grace DeGennaro’s paintings in Sixfold Symmetry: Pattern in Art and Science, we will make patterned mobiles out of paper circles and beautiful colored yarn.
Dec. 10: Snowflakes
After checking out the snowflakes in Sixfold Symmetry: Pattern in Art and Science, we will make snowflake designs suitable for hanging, using Gelli pads to print patterns within patterns.
About the Tang Teaching Museum
The Frances Young Tang Teaching Museum and Art Gallery at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. is a cultural anchor of New York’s Capital Region and a model for university art museums across the country. The Tang hosts some 40,000 visitors annually, ranging from school students to museum-goers from around the globe. The Museum is open noon – 5 p.m., Tuesday – Sunday, with extended hours through 9 p.m. on Thursdays, and is closed on Mondays and major holidays. For more information call 518-580-8080 or visit http://tang.skidmore.edu.