This summer, experience the whimsical side of monsters at the i.d.e.a. Museum. My Favorite Monster, through fun art and hands-on activities, will look at the popularity of these imaginative creatures in media and their role in storytelling, as well as cultural and historical aspects of monsters in our society. The exhibition opens June 16.
"During the summer, our exhibitions feature themes that are both fun and relevant. We're taking a light-hearted look at monsters," said i.d.e.a. Museum Executive Director Sunnee O'Rork. "And monsters today are quite relevant because they're everywhere - from comics, kid-friendly cartoons and video games to popular fiction, classic TV shows, films and more."
Planned activities for children of all ages include:
Creating their own whimsical monster art
Dressing up as goofy monsters
Playing monstrous games
Making a monster movie
Creating shadow monsters
Building 3D creatures in the museum's monster lab
Being part of a monster dance party (green screen activity)
The exhibition - which runs through Sept. 10 - is sponsored by the i.d.e.a. Museum Board of Directors Inc., Pogo Pass, the City of Mesa and the Arizona Commission on the Arts, which receives support from the state of Arizona and the National Endowment for the Arts. Other financial contributions come from the Gila River Indian Community, Season for Sharing and The Steele Foundation.
The Gila River Indian Community and Season for Sharing support the museum's Access for All fund, which helps pay for programs such as school field trips and free days at the museum. The Steele Foundation continues to provide funding for the ArtFul Tales Experience, an art and literacy program designed for children ages 2 to 5.
Artworks featured include digital illustrations, metal sculptures, masks, acrylic painting, glass art, comic books, hand-sewn art, photography, 3D paintings, and watercolors. Phoenix area artists represented in My Favorite Monster are: Michael Butzine, Jason Chakravarty, John Chakravarty, Jannine Doto, Zarco Guerrero, Scott McNeill and Quick Yeats. National artists featured in the exhibition are: Jake and Tate Parker of Provo, Utah; Richard Pauza of Chicago; Daniel Romano of Colorado Springs; John Schwegel of Naples, Florida; and Scott Wyatt of Coatesville, Penn.
Contact: Yvette Armendariz
Museum Public Relations & Marketing
Yvette.Armendariz@MesaAZ.gov
(480) 644-4129