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Given the worldwide impact of Dr. Seuss’ work, it’s hard to believe that there is no museum in his honor. That is set to change in 2016, when the Springfield Museums will open the first museum dedicated to celebrating the life and legacy of Springfield native Theodor Seuss Geisel!
Young paleontologists unite! Resources for learning about dinosaurs abound here in western Massachusetts. From museum exhibits to hands-on paleontology activities to natural wonders, our region is rich with experiential and place-based opportunities for learning about the prehistoric creatures of the past. Learners of all ages can learn about the science of fossilization, dinosaur species and their adaptations, and the history of the discovery of fossils and footprints right here in western MA – all by utilizing educational resources available locally.
A thought-provoking art installation at the Springfield Museums’ Michele and Donald D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts is now open! Drawing from the well of magnificent western Massachusetts artists, this take on American domesticity comes from Berkshire resident, Ricky Bernstein. The subject matter is certainly an intrigue that invites discussion on pop art through stereotypically-American domestic scenes. However, since this is an installation that works outside the format of a formal exhibit, we are afforded an opportunity to watch how art works with its space. That is the tantalizing thing about installation art: it takes into account the surroundings it is being shown in. They are generally more labor intensive to exhibit and are a stimulating experience for the whole family to enjoy!
Read more and make plans to visit the many fine art museums we have here in western Massachusetts this summer with your family!
Opening at the Springfield Museums this weekend is “Rainforest Adventure,” a multi-sensory exhibit offering an interactive experience that both adults and children will enjoy as they learn together about one of our planet’s most precious resources…
What’s on your child’s holiday wish list? Some of the top commercial toys for 2013 include LEGO, Barbie, PlayStation and My Little Pony… but do your kids know the history behind these covet toys, or the history of toys before the commercialization of all things play? Take this opportunity to explore American history through the lens of toys and help your kids gain perspective on the toys they have on their wish list this year…
The Michele and Donald D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts at the Springfield Museums unveil two exhibits today to help usher in the holiday season: “A Peek Inside Santa’s Sack: Vintage Cast Iron Toys” and “Season’s Greetings: Photographer’s Holiday Cards.”
Families, schools & youth groups can get creative in the kitchen with the Springfield Museums Magic of Gingerbread Competition! Applying design theory and architectural skills, youth can build edible structures. Discovering fairy tale archetypes and participating in creative free play in the kitchen, families can have time well spent together. Working in groups with others in the community, schools and youth groups can apply design and creativity together… endless reasons to check out the competition, or at the very least, make plans to attend the exhibit!
Springfield Museums’ Michele and Donald D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts will host an art exhibit of flora and fauna from Puerto Rico as part of the Museums’ annual Hispanic Heritage Month events. Meet the artist, Josie Vargas, at a reception on September 14th, between 6-8pm…
The Springfield Museums are offering families a full six weeks of hands-on learning fun this summer! All of the learning experiences offered at the museum are designed with the topics presented in current exhibits in mind…
Amazing Butterflies at the Springfield Museums May 25-Sept 2nd, 2013 What do question marks, painted ladies, and mourning cloaks all have in common? They’re all things that can be found this summer at the Springfield Museums’ newest exhibit. And they’re all species of butterflies! Opening on May 25th, Amazing Butterflies is an interactive and informative exhibit created for both children and adults. Created by The Natural History Museum in London in collaboration… Read More
GUITAR: The Instrument That Rocked the World Rocks the Springfield Museums! January 18 through April 21, 2013 Throughout history, the many different media that humans have used in order to channel their creativity has expanded – whether as a result of changes in technology, shifting culture, or the availability of different and materials, the ways in which we convey and share our creativity constantly evolving. The Springfield Museums’ most recent addition explores… Read More
Springfield Museums Gingerbread Fairy Tales Exhibition & Competition Inspires Creative-Free Play in the Kitchen What does your fantasy fairy tale castle look like? Are there turrets? A moat? Maybe a drawbridge? Now, what if it was made not out of stone, but of gingerbread, icing & candy? – Gingerbread houses are a great way to engage in creative-free play with your family, and the Springfield Museums is inviting community members of all… Read More
Last Days of Summer at the Springfield Museums We’re down to those last, bittersweet weeks of summer before fall routines gets re-established and school begins, and most of us have had that week’s vacation away elsewhere. So it may be a good time to plan a family day trip. Here’s my thoughts about what’s fun and educational at the Springfield Museums during these last few weeks of summer. For adults there’s the… Read More
The Real Housewives of Currier and Ives Exhibit at Springfield Museums through June 25, 2012 Throughout history and changes in culture, women have been depicted within various media as a stable and nurturing force, despite changes in their role within society. The D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts (part of the Springfield Museums) is currently hosting a show of hand-colored Currier and Ives lithographs featuring Victorian portrayals of women. The Real Housewives of… Read More
April Vacation Week at the Springfield Museums The Springfield Museums’ usual array of family activities is broader than ever during school vacation week! Along with the museums’ many family-friendly exhibits and galleries, there will be several performances, special events, demonstrations, hands-on activities, and more! The museum is currently hosting an exhibit titled, “Frogs: A Chorus of Colors,” which will be open throughout the week – families can learn about the habitat of… Read More
Frogs: A Chorus of Colors Springfield Museums January 21st – May 13th, 2012 The Springfield Museums will be hosting the exhibit, “Frogs: A Chorus of Colors,” January 21st through May 13th, 2012. This is a new exhibit of live frogs that teaches visitors about the many different types of frogs found around the world and the habitats in which they can be found. The exhibit holds fifteen different habitats filled with plants, waterfalls,… Read More
The ABC’s of Dr. Seuss Springfield Museums Literacy Outreach Program Usually, museums offer their resources to educational groups just for field trips. However, the Springfield Museums offer a unique program that brings the museum to you! The outreach program is called, “The ABC’s of Dr. Seuss,” and is designed to promote literacy in young kids through reading, art, and movement activities. The program is available for schools, daycare centers, community centers, homeschool… Read More
Educational Programs for Kids at the Springfield Museums There are numerous educational opportunities and adventures to be had at the Springfield Museums! Visitors can explore topics and ideas anywhere from important figures in local history to coral reef ecosystems. There are five different museums, each with a theme of local history, natural science, and art. The museums offer guided tours as well as self-guided tours (which are really educational odysseys!) to groups… Read More
And to Think that He Saw It in Springfield! Sara J. Orr of the Springfield Museums writes: The influence of Springfield, MA on the world famous children’s book author known as Dr. Seuss is explained in And to Think that He Saw It in Springfield, a new exhibit at the Lyman and Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History at the Quadrangle. Theodor Seuss Geisel was born in Springfield, MA on March 2,… Read More
Heat Wave When we moved an hour north, I thought it might be snowier in the winter, but I didn’t think it’d be hotter in the summers. Here in Northampton we have been victims of several faker summer thunderstorms. The skies cloud over, we get ready to go do our rain dance of joy in the streets, the wind picks up, we hear a distant rumble, a few drops fall and then… Read More
The Art of the Brick Through September 5th at the Springfield Museums If you build it, they will come. And New York artist Nathan Sawaya has built some amazing sculptures out of common LEGO® building bricks. The Art of the Brick features 29 whimsical three-dimensional works created from nearly one million colorful pieces. Sawaya’s attention to detail, scale, color and sense of action elevates this common toy to the status of art…. Read More
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