Beginning on Sunday, October 6, 2024, families visiting the Museum can explore new Maker Stations in our upstairs Art Ways Interactive Family Gallery. This space is home to the hands-on Crayola Classroom, our animal mascot Arty the Turtle, and five newly installed Maker Stations that incorporate STEAM principles, promoting experimentation and problem solving through play and critical thinking.
Woodblock Printing
At this station, visitors can experiment by creating a woodblock print inspired by the AAM’s collection of Japanese prints. The first woodblock has the design outlined in black. Then, each color in the design is carved on a new woodblock. Finally, the blocks are printed in a specific order on a sheet of paper to create a print.
Curator’s Corner
This station explains the steps curators take to present an exhibition. Using reproductions of art from our permanent collection, families are encouraged to create their own exhibition including giving it a name and a theme.
Pattern Exploration
Visitors have the opportunity to create patterns inspired by Frank Llyod Wright and Louis Comfort Tiffany at this magnetic station. Using reproductions of art from the permanent collection and colorful magnetic shapes, families can recreate iconic patterns or something completely new.
Creativity Roundtable
Watch an animated video in English or Spanish that explores who does what at museums and create work using the guided instructions in the video.
We Weave
At this station, visitors can collaboratively weave a work of art. On a larger-than-life loom, families can add rows of yarn to create a colorful community tapestry.
The Maker Stations are open Thursday through Sunday 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Admission and parking are always free.