Explore She Bends: Neon as Soulcraft at MakeArt Family Day!
Ready, set, glow to MCD in celebration of Neon as Soulcraft’s MakeArt Family Day! The exhibition showcases the skillful mastery of the trade and shines a light on the learning process behind the craft. Experience the illuminating magic of neon and foster your own creativity through exhibition-inspired MakeArt activations—popping up in the galleries exclusively on MakeArt Family Day.
All ages welcome—craft your day with the whole family at MCD!
Pre-registration encouraged
TICKETS
$10 non-members
$8 students/seniors
Members and kids 12 and under FREE
MakeArt Family Day Activities
–Haptic Scrap Neon Exploration
Touching art unlocks creative connections—slide your fingers across bends, tap glass tubes, and consider the physical weight of the craft. Enjoy a guided tactile touch tour featuring scrap neon by local artist Vince Kolosoki!
–Noble Gas Glass Etching
Learn about the gasses that give neon its distinct hues while practicing the satisfying art of glass etching—bending light in the shape of exhibition-featured neon works.
–Bent Bombarded Bracelets
Get tubular! These accessories evoke neon bending in process and shape—mimicking the curving contours of neon signs and filled beads reflective of the excited noble gasses within blown tubes.
–Blow Painting
Breath is essential to maintaining a consistent neon tube diameter. Experiment with the power of your breath to create unique works of art.
–Neon Scratch Art | Continuous Contour Drawing
Each neon tube is bent individually and by hand, echoing the sensation of drawing an image without lifting pen from paper. Work within the bounds of this process limitation as you create.
–Neon Needlework
A well-made pattern is the crucial first step in neon bending. These paper maps indicate the length of glass tubes, weld points, and the location of electrical components. Artists place hot glass onto patterns to check their bends, leaving behind charred paper. Trade molten glass for embroidery thread and follow your own paper pattern—no fire required!
–Sun-Powered Cyanotypes
Neon is a timeless and sustainable practice, inextricably linked to the natural world via the noble gases aglow within tubes. Cyanotypes harness the power of the sun, another environmental light. Just like neon, the final result evidences chemical reactions inherent to the craft. Get your hands wet as you delight in the scientific side of art!
–Twisting Twinkling Tulle
A new twist on a familiar classic, this project lights up Ramekon O’Arwister’s Crochet Jam practice! Create your own glowing faux neon sign while learning about the differences between real neon signs and the LED imitations.
MakeArt Family Day occurs just once an exhibition cycle—don’t miss this signature program! Plus, pick up a Dogpatch Scavenger Hunt map, explore the neighborhood, and save the date for our end-of-summer party on September 20th.
