Museum Volunteers Wanted for Hands-On Art Experiences

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About Springfield Museums

Location:

21 Edwards Street, Springfield, MA 01103, US

Mission Statement

The Springfield Museums, located in the heart of downtown Springfield, Massachusetts, is comprised of five world-class museums; the Michele & Donald D'Amour Museum of Fine Arts., the George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum, the Springfield Science Museum, the Connecticut Valley Historical Museum and the Museum of Springfield History. The Museums Association is proud to be home to the Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden, a series of full-scale bronze sculptures of Dr. Seuss's whimsical creations, honoring the birthplace of Theodor Geisel, a.k.a. Dr. Seuss. The George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum is one of the two Springfield Museums dedicated to fine and decorative arts. It represents the personal taste and Victorian aesthetic of the collector whose name it bears.

Description

The Hasbro Games Art Discovery Center is painted in bold colors and intricate designs inspired by the Asian collections of the museum. Detailed murals depict Samurai warriors, animals of the Chinese Zodiac, Asian symbolism and architecture, Buddhist figures, and scenes from Japanese wood block prints. The murals reflect motifs represented in the museum's extensive holdings of Asian art, which include Chinese cloisonné, Japanese arms and armor, ivory carvings, ceramics, and other decorative arts.

Upon entering the space visitors are greeted by a huge gilded figure resting over the doorway at the far end of the gallery. Inside, families are invited to trace their own Chinese horoscope, try on costumes and armor, play gallery games, peek under lift-up panels on the Wall of Symbols to discover the meaning behind Asian motifs and create an animal puppet.