Woman and two boys in the A Walk in the Woods family space

January 2018 Family Fun

Happy New Year! It’s time to set some resolutions. Let the Denver Art Museum start you off on the right foot in the month of January.

Resolution #1: Have fun as a family!

Catch the last week of Winter Break for creative fun for the whole family. Experience the newest family-friendly play, Art Emergency: Stampede Edition, for fast-paced, fun, and fascinating stories about some of the most beloved artworks at the Denver Art Museum. At 30 minutes in length, there’s plenty of time to catch a performance of Art Emergency and explore the rest of the museum. Art Emergency is offered at 11 am on January 2, 3, and 5.

Her Paris: Women Artists in the Age of Impressionism closes January 15. This is the last chance for families to enjoy an imaginary stroll through the City of Light. Pick up a game—available in English and Spanish—and check off all the different ways you might enjoy a day in Paris. Would you like to hear music? Look for instruments. What about learning how to paint at an art school? Find a paintbrush! (Children 5 and under receive free admission to this exhibition, and tickets for youth age 6-18 are just $5. Adults require an additional ticket.)

Resolution #2: Spend more time with nature

If it’s too cold outside, you can still explore nature indoors at the DAM. Drop in the new family space, A Walk in the Woods (pictured at top), for hands-on experiences inspired by the new exhibition Stampede: Animals in Art. Step into the forest and try out animal-themed activities including mix-and-match animal costumes, a birdwatching challenge, building with branches, and the chance to create your own shadowbox displaying your favorite animals. Open daily.

Join us for Create Playdate on January 10 for a new art project inspired by Andrew Dasburg’s Poppies. Just like the artist, create a colorful background to make the flower petals pop! Sign up for a story time in the gallery as we read books about blooms. Create Playdate is best for kids ages 3–5 and their adults, but older and younger siblings and friends are welcome.


Resolution #3: Make new friends

If you haven’t yet met our friendly fox duo Foxy and Shmoxy, January is the perfect time to make their acquaintance. On January 14, pick up a letter from the Fox Box and catch Foxy and Shmoxy: Art Detectives in the galleries at 10:30 or 11:30 am. Kids and adults alike will have fun looking closely at animal artworks with the determined fox detectives as they solve their newest mystery.

Resolution #4: Go on an adventure!

Determined to see new places in 2018? Explore the Asian continent without leaving Denver in the newly opened exhibition Linking Asia: Art, Trade, and Devotion. Choose one of three different family games, and find all of the objects on your list as you travel across Asia and through time. Spot ink paintings from Japan, objects pulled from shipwrecks, colorful textiles, and more!

Gallery view of Linking Asia

Gallery view of Linking Asia: Art, Trade, and Devotion.

Resolution #5: Find a new hobby

We can also help you explore new creative pursuits! Experiment with paper and wire sculpture in the 3-D Studio, open daily 10 am –5 pm. Catch artist demonstrations on Saturdays and Sundays, from 12–3 pm.

All ages can pick up a needle and yarn and try some easy stitches at the Create-n-Take “Sew Wild.” Or, picture yourself as an abstract artist and experiment with building your own snowy landscape at the “Home on the Range” Create-n-Take. The family-friendly Create-n-Take program is offered from 10:30 am–4 pm daily during Winter Break (through January 7) and on weekends for the remainder of the month.

If the art of storytelling sparks your interest, listen to our master storyteller at Art Stories (Cuentos del Arte) on January 6 at 11:30 am and 1 pm, which is Free First Saturday. Everyone is welcome to hear the imaginative stories behind the objects.

Looking forward to creating with you in 2018!