Putting a little more culture into Sundays
Enjoy one of the many family events at the Phoenix Art Museum for free
The Phoenix Art Museum is extending its Free Family Sundays program, sponsored by Discount Tire, through the end of 2019.
Introducing kids to culture can be tricky. They can be so easily bored by the unfamiliar, especially with the siren call of “Baby Shark,” or whatever, just a cellphone click away. But it’s worth risking a few eye rolls for a chance to plant an intriguing seed somewhere in their minds.
And all the better if it’s free, right?
The Phoenix Art Museum is extending its Free Family Sundays program, sponsored by Discount Tire, through the end of 2019. On the second Sunday of each month, admission is by voluntary donation from noon to 5 p.m., when hands-on educational activities are offered.
Here’s everything you need to know about visiting the museum, including tips on shows that might be of interest to curious young minds.
Getting there: The museum is at 1625 N. Central Ave., on the Valley Metro Rail route. For drivers, parking is free and ample (at least on a Sunday afternoon). Enter from northbound Central, or take the back way, east from Central on McDowell Road, then north on Alvarado Road.
Free Family Sundays: Each month has its own theme and activities, such as scavenger hunts, storytelling and art projects (from fashion illustrations to “word wheels”). Aug. 11 is “Cool;” Sept. 8 is “Numbers;” Oct. 13 is “Sound;” Nov. 10 is “Motion,” and Dec. 8 is “Texture.” You can find full lists of themed activities at phxart.org.
Other good times to bring kids: In addition to Free Family Sundays, the museum hosts other events. Check the website for family friendly options, such as Stroller Tour Tuesday (10:30 a.m., Aug. 13) and Family Afternoon (noon-4 p.m., Aug. 31).
Best exhibits for kids and teens: Current shows feature old masters (not very kid-friendly), early American modernists, Arizona landscapes, and (starting Aug. 3) Chinese jade and silk treasures.
But to open eyes about what art can be, be sure to check out the Infinity Mirror Room, an installation by Yayoi Kusama, titled “You Who Are Getting Obliterated in the Dancing Swarm of Fireflies.” It’s a dark room draped with tiny LED lights, but the mirrors make it feel like a vast space filled with fireflies — inspired by a Japanese folk tale.
If your kid spends a lot of time clothes shopping, the fashion design gallery has “Flora” (through Aug. 18), with clothes and accessories from the 18th century to today inspired by flowers and other plant life. Opening Sept. 21 is “Antonio: The Fine Art of Fashion Illustration.”
Finally, Nov. 3 is the opening of “Legends of Speed,” a collection of historic race cars, from a 1911 Franklin to a 1977 Lotus.