CLARK ART INSTITUTE INVITES FAMILIES FOR FREE ART-MAKING SESSIONS

June 27, 2018

Williamstown, Massachusetts—In celebration of the summer exhibitions Women Artists in Paris, 1850–1900 and The Art of Iron: Objects from the Musée Le Secq des Tournelles, Rouen, Normandy, the Clark Art Institute invites families for free, weekly art-making sessions beginning Wednesday, July 11 and continuing through Thursday, August 30. Clark educators provide all materials for the workshops, which are held outdoors in the visitors’ picnic tent near the reflecting pools. These activities are weather dependent.

On Wednesday afternoons from 1–4 pm, drop in on a metalworking demonstration by a local blacksmith and create a unique piece of wire sculpture inspired by the intricate forms on view in The Art of Iron. Learn how craftspeople in the Berkshires carry on the ancient tradition of ironworking and get creative in the outdoor studio. Blacksmiths in residence are Art Evans of A&E Forge (July 11–August 1) and Del Martin of Knox Trail Forge (August 8–29).

On Thursday afternoons from 1–4 pm, watch special demonstrations by visual artists working en plein air on the Clark’s campus. Get inspired by their work and by the paintings on view in Women Artists in Paris and create a custom thumbnail watercolor kit—a pocket-sized palette perfect for the artist on the go. With the spacious 140-acre campus acting as an open studio, this afternoon of free exploration and art-making is designed give creative context to gallery experiences.

All art-making activities are free; admission to the galleries is not included. Admission for children and students is always free.

ABOUT THE CLARK

The Clark Art Institute, located in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts, is one of a small number of institutions globally that is both an art museum and a center for research, critical discussion, and higher education in the visual arts. Opened in 1955, the Clark houses exceptional European and American paintings and sculpture, extensive collections of master prints and drawings, English silver, and early photography. Acting as convener through its Research and Academic Program, the Clark gathers an international community of scholars to participate in a lively program of conferences, colloquia, and workshops on topics of vital importance to the visual arts. The Clark library, consisting of more than 270,000 volumes, is one of the nation’s premier art history libraries. The Clark also houses and co-sponsors the Williams College Graduate Program in the History of Art.

The Clark, which has a three-star rating in the Michelin Green Guide, is located at 225 South Street in Williamstown, Massachusetts. Galleries are open Tuesday through Sunday, 10 am to 5 pm. Admission is $20; free year-round for Clark members, children 18 and younger, and students with valid ID. Free admission is available through several programs, including First Sundays Free; a local library pass program; EBT Card to Culture; Bank of America Museums on Us; and Blue Star Museums. For more information on these programs and more, visit clarkart.edu or call 413 458 2303.

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