This text is part of the special Christmas book at the museum
During the holiday season, the MMFA invites the whole family to explore human relationships through thematic workshops for children and its flagship exhibition on the voice, which runs until February 13.
The holiday school break is a good time to take the kids to the museum and away from their screens and video games. The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (MMFA) offers daily activities for the whole family, in order to find the artist in oneself and, who knows, awaken future vocations, while exploring the theme of human relations.
The thematic workshops for children, offered from December 18 to January 2, are divided into two age categories, from 2 to 5 years old and from 6 to 12 years old, and are linked to the theme of the major exhibition running until ” to February 13, How long does it take for one voice to reach the other?
Children 2 to 5 years old must be accompanied by an adult, and the cost of the workshops is only $ 2. You must register beforehand, but it is not necessary to present proof of vaccination.
For 2 to 5 year olds, we offer two activities in the morning. With “Listen to my voice”, we focus on both crafts and communication, inviting toddlers to make a pretty megaphone out of colored cardboard, decorated according to each one’s inspiration. The young handyman can then use it to express himself by distributing “sweet words” to his friends and family. A great idea for emphasizing positive verbalization and exchanges, in a creative way.
The other workshop for 2 to 5 year olds is called “I love you” and is inspired by the famous giant twin red hearts of the American artist Jim Dine, which sit at the entrance of the museum. You should know that another monumental heart by the same artist, says After the flood, is also part of the museum’s collection. Why not go take a look just before the workshop?
You can see After the flood, made of blue bronze decorated with various objects, including tools and a puppet reminiscent of Pinocchio, at the reception of the promenade of the Michel de la Chenelière Art and Education studios. The “I love you” workshop offers children the opportunity to create a heart sculpture on which they can attach objects they love and which represent them. For a child, it is a great opportunity to express his tastes through a personal work while exercising his fine motor skills.
Workshops for 6 to 12 year olds
A first workshop for 6 to 12 year olds, “Expression at your fingertips”, will allow them to learn about the molding technique by creating a work that expresses emotion through the position of the hands. In addition to introducing them to molding, the workshop gives participants the opportunity to examine self-expression, beyond words and voice, by reflecting on the role of the hands and the body in communication.
The second workshop for 6 to 12 year olds, “My museum, do you see me? », Invites children to create a portrait of a loved one in the manner of Kehinde Wiley, an American artist with a very colorful style whose painting is owned by the MMFA. Simeon the God-receiver, which represents a black man with a torso adorned with tattoos in front of a spectacular background of multicolored flowers. Kehinde Wiley is the first African-American artist to have commissioned a portrait of the President of the United States, that of Barack Obama. Young people will explore his particular technique of painting on a decorative background.
Adults too
While the young people are busy creating their unforgettable works, other family members will be able to visit the MMFA’s exhibitions which are running until January or February.
The flagship exhibition of autumn, How long does it take for one voice to reach the other? continues until February 13. Bringing together works from the museum’s permanent collection, the exhibition looks at the theme of the voice, in all its facets, but also on human relationships, put to the test during the pandemic. With carefully chosen pieces, the exhibition addresses not only the voice, but also love, reconciliation, separation and everything that weaves our bonds with others.
Another interesting possibility: the MonMBAM experience, a tour of the museum’s permanent collection with your mobile device, to discover the works through capsules presented by employees or by personalities who share their favorites with the public.
Finally, other exhibitions, devoted to artists such as Ragnar Kjartansson (until January 2), Anne Duk Hee Jordan (January 2) and the Armenian photographer Yousuf Karsh (January 30), among others, constitute as many doors of entry into unique worlds inviting us to explore.