WAM launches holiday season with lumina, a new animated and immersive art and light installation
Holiday programming also includes concerts, tours, and community castle exhibit
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Worcester, MA ??? October 30, 2018 ???The Worcester Art Museum (WAM) announces a special interactive art installation that will infuse the winter season with brilliant light and color and serve as a cornerstone for the Museum???s Holidays at WAM programming.?? lumina, a floor-to-ceiling dynamic and immersive canvas, invites visitors to connect with works of art in a completely new way. Animated images of iconic works from WAM???s collection are projected onto dozens of hanging strips of illuminated silk. Visitors walk into and through the silk strips and become part of the shimmering color and light. Mesmerizing and magical for all ages, lumina is a perfect antidote to dark winter days???and setting for photographing oneself alone or with friends and family.?? Free with Museum admission, lumina opens to the public on Saturday, December 1, 2018, with a day-long Opening Celebration, and ends on Sunday, January 20, 2019.??
lumina is designed by artist Sam Okerstrom-Lang and Vanessa Till Hooper and produced by LuminArtz, a non-profit organization that produces Boston???s annual ILLUMINUS festival.?? lumina is sponsored by Fallon Health. Media partners are Worcester Magazine and iheart Media WSRS.
With the opening of lumina on December 1, the Worcester Art Museum launches its annual Holidays at WAM programming, which includes concerts in the Renaissance Court, art tours, and Brick by Brick, a community exhibit of castles made out of plastic bricks.
All Holidays at WAM programs and activities are listed below. All events are free with Museum admission, except where indicated. Holidays at WAM programs are sponsored by Interstate Specialty Products, Inc. For more information, visit
worcesterart.org/events/holidays-at-wam/
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CONCERTS
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Salisbury Singers
Sunday, Dec. 9, 2 p.m.
Renaissance Court
Salisbury Singers, a mixed chorus of selected volunteers under the dynamic leadership of Music Director Michelle Graveline, perform holiday and classical favorites. Free with Museum admission.
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Merrimack Valley Ringers
Sunday, Dec. 16, 2 p.m.
Renaissance Court
The Merrimack Valley Ringers, an auditioned community hand-bell ensemble, delight audiences with their infectious joy, gusto, and warmth. Free with Museum admission.
PROGRAMS FOR FAMILIES
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lumina Family Day/Opening Celebration
Saturday, December 1, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Visitors of all ages are invited to join in this day-long celebration of the opening of lumina, an exciting new immersive art and light experience. In addition to stepping into lumina???s animated floor-to-ceiling canvas, visitors will engage in a variety of hands-on art activities that explore the theme of light and imagery. Free with Museum admission.
Arms and Armor Demonstration:?? Live Demonstration of Medieval Combat
Saturday, December 15
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., 2:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.
The subtle skills of attack, parry, and grapple are brought alive by Cambridge Historic European Martial Arts Study Group as they demonstrate the knightly arts in a recreation of a medieval combat school. Free with Museum admission.
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Brick by Brick: A Community Castle Exhibit
Friday, December 7 ??? Friday, February 1
Wednesday ??? Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Third Thursdays, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Brick by Brick features plastic-brick castles that reflect a wide range of imaginations and creative skills.?? From medieval-style fortresses protected by knights in armor to streamlined structures inspired by modern-day legends, the exhibit showcases both realistic and fantastical creations by artists and LEGO?? enthusiasts of all ages. This community exhibit in the Higgins Education Wing is open during Museum hours; admission is free.
LEGO?? enthusiasts are invited to submit a plastic-brick castle they have created. Whether the work of art was from a kit or from your own imagination, all entries??? from artists of all ages, as well as groups???are welcomed. For entry information, visit:??
worcesterart.org/events/holidays-at-wam/??
MEMBER EVENT
Member Event:?? Champagne, Chocolate & Shopping!
Friday, November 30, 5 to 7:30 p.m.
This festive evening includes a special preview of lumina, an animated and immersive canvas of light and color; Chocolate Bar with desserts from The Queen???s Cups and Chocolate Therapy; champagne (the first glass is free for Members); multi-sensory musical performance by Boston???s MASARY, coordinated with the lumina???s animated light and color; candlelight, winter-themed tour of the European galleries; and cash bar. Free gift wrapping of Museum Shop purchases is sponsored by the WAM Members Council. ??This event for WAM members and their guests is offered in partnership with LuminArtz.
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MUSEUM TOURS
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Zip Tours
Saturdays at 1 p.m.
Celebrate the season with a holiday-themed tour. These fast-paced, docent-led gallery talks are designed to offer a short but in-depth view of a single work or artist. Tours are scheduled Dec. 1, 8, 15, 22, and 29.?? Free with Museum admission.
Sunday Public Tours
1 p.m., from Nov. 25???Dec. 30
These hour-long tours offer an overview of the permanent collection. Tours will leave from the Salisbury Street Lobby.?? Free with Museum admission. No admission charged on December 2, which is Free First Sunday.
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December Tours of the Month
Saturdays, Dec. 1 and 15, 2 p.m.
???The Ten??? American Painters
In 1897, the ten leading painters in America, led by Childe Hassam, agreed to resign en masse from the Society of American Artists and form their own group. This tour examines dozens of works by those men, with samples from seven of the ten at WAM.?? Tour begins in Lancaster Welcome Center. Free with Museum admission. No admission charged on December 2, which is Free First Sunday.
Family Tour
Saturday, Dec. 1, 10:30 ??? 11 a.m.
This 30-minute, docent-guided, discovery tour is designed for families with young children to explore some of the Museum galleries. Meet in Lancaster Welcome Center. Free with Museum admission
Stroller Tours
First and third Wednesdays of the month, 10:30 ??? 11:15 a.m
Dec. 5:?? Stained Glass
Dec.19:?? Rocket Ship
Stroller tours introduce children 0 – 3 years old to art and stories with a specially designed gallery program. Juice and snacks are served after the tour. Free with Museum admission. Siblings are also welcome. Stroller access to Lancaster Lobby is through our Tuckerman Street Entrance.
DECEMBER ART WORKSHOPS
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WAM???s Studio Classes program offers a wide array of workshops this December with a choice of many adult, youth, and teen classes that suit a variety of interests and schedules. These include Saturday workshops for ages 5-17 and adult workshops and short classes on holiday paste paper, clay sculpture, acrylic and oil painting and Japanese woodblock printing, and more. In addition, workshops for youth and teens are offered during the holiday school vacation. For more information and to register, visit worcesterart.org/classes.
HOLIDAY HOURS
Museum Galleries
Wednesday???Sunday: 10 a.m.???4 p.m.
Third Thursday of every month: 10 a.m.???8 p.m.
(Closed Mondays, Tuesdays and Dec. 25.)
Museum Shop
Open seven days a week, 10 a.m.???4 p.m., Dec. 1??? Dec. 24. *
*On Mondays and Tuesdays, please enter through the Salisbury Street front doors.
WAM Members receive a 20% discount Nov. 23 ??? Dec. 24.
Museum Caf??
Open Wednesday through Sunday, Nov. 25 ??? Dec. 23
11 a.m.???3 p.m.
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ABOUT THE WORCESTER ART MUSEUM
Founded in 1896, the Worcester Art Museum’s encyclopedic 38,000-piece collection covers 51 centuries of art. Highlights include the Medieval Chapter House, Renaissance Court and Worcester Hunt Mosaic, as well as the recently integrated John Woodman Higgins Armory Collection of arms and armor. The Museum is internationally known for its collection of European and American art. It was the first in America to acquire paintings by Monet and Gauguin and one of the first to collect photography. As the first U.S. museum to focus on collaborating with local schools, it has been at the forefront of engaging audiences and giving them a meaningful and personal experience.
The Worcester Art Museum, located at 55 Salisbury St. in Worcester, Massachusetts, is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and every third Thursday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Admission is $16 for adults, $6 for children 4???17, $14 for seniors 65+, and $14 for college students with ID. Members and children under four are free. Admission is free on the first Sunday of each month.?? Parking is free. For more information, visit