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Learn, play, and create in this beginner-friendly, drop-in watercolor class. Relax by the Boston harbor and let the colors of your environment inspire you. With the guidance of Boston-based watercolor artist Lisa Goren, participants will be encouraged to get messy, embrace mistakes, and create something uniquely their own.  

While all experience levels are welcome, this workshop is designed for adults. Supplies are limited; first come, first served.  

This series has been organized to accompany the exhibition— Firelei Báez. Báez’s exuberant, colorful artworks contain intricate motifs, ornamentation, and stylized forms that intertwine with symbols stemming from Afro-Caribbean cultures.  

About the Instructor

Lisa Goren was born in California, raised in New York City, and has been working out of Boston, Massachusetts, for the past 25 years. Her watercolors show unfamiliar polar landscapes in a new light. By using vibrant colors and taking risks with different surfaces, she makes the viewer reevaluate their understanding of these landscapes and their beliefs in the potential of the medium. Her works raise questions about the nature of abstraction and our planet, as many of her pieces are representations of unfamiliar, threatened terrains. 

Lisa is Vice-President of the National Association of Women Artists (Massachusetts Chapter). Her place on the 2013 Arctic Circle Residency was chronicled in an article she wrote for the New York Times and led her to the next phase of her Polar work. She had two pieces in Gaia – Les femmes et l’ecologie in Paris to coincide with the COP21 Climate talks. She recently completed a 2-week residency in Iceland and is currently working on paintings inspired by that landscape. 

Get creative with us in Courage to Care, an installation by Boston artist Sabrina Dorsainvil in the Bank of America Art Lab. Explore characters and stories brought to life through a mural designed just for the ICA! Each story reveals an act of care and serves as inspiration for reflecting on the ways you give and receive care in the world. What does care look like for yourself?  How do you care for your community?

Join us for an immersive hands-on art-making experience and create physical artifacts that hold memories, manifestations, and movements of and toward collective care. Take your artwork home or add it to a display of visitor reflections and creations! 

About the Artist

Photo by Nick Surrette

 

Sabrina Dorsainvil (she/they) is a Boston-based public artist, civic designer, and illustrator. Sabrina uses creative approaches to navigate issues around public health, civic participation, care infrastructure, and the built environment. They served as the first Director of Civic Design for the City of Boston’s Mayor’s Office of New Urban Mechanics and continues to work with local community-based organizations, non-profits, large institutions, and startups on issues regarding social, spatial, and environmental justice.  

Sabrina is captivated by people and how we interact with one another and our everyday spaces. As a muralist, they play an active role in their local creative community using their art to tell stories, unpack complex ideas, and find simple yet vibrant ways of celebrating people and their humanity. Sabrina holds a BFA in Industrial Design from Massachusetts College of Art and Design (MassArt) and an MS in Design and Urban Ecologies from Parsons School of Design. 

Free Admission for Youth

Youth 18 and under always receive FREE museum admission. The ICA is committed to providing access to the art and artists of our time—and we do this with the incredible support of our community. Explore the +1 Membership: A free ICA membership program for youth 0-18.

Questions? Reach us at familyprograms@icaboston.org.

Experience a brand-new exhibition and take a closer look at our works on view during April School Vacation Week. Create art inspired by Wordplay, join a +1 Youth Tour to learn more about Firelei Báez, and enjoy gorgeous views of the harbor in spring! 

What’s your story? Zinemaking with Non Issue Studio | Tuesday–Thursday,12–4 PM

1st Floor, Bank of America Art Lab

Experiment with stamping, drawing, and collaging to craft a visual narrative that’s all about you. What’s your story? Celebrate your individuality as you playfully explore storytelling with words and pictures. All activities are drop-in, first come first served, space is limited.   

+1 Youth Tours | Tuesday + Thursday, 12:30 PM + 2:30 PM

Discover our feature exhibition Firelei Báez in an interactive tour led by one of the ICA’s expert guides. +1 member exclusive tours invite youth members aged 12 and under along with 1 accompanying guest to discover the art and artists of our time during a visit to the ICA. +1 youth members can always bring 1 adult guest for free to the museum! Note: The content of these tours is geared to the age groups listed above but are not limited to those age groups. 

Tours at 12:30 PM are targeted towards youth members 6 years old and under.    

Tours at 2:30 PM are targeted towards youth members 7–12 years old.     

For questions, please email plus1@icaboston.org. Find out more

+1 Art Club: Making a Photo | Saturday, 2 PM–5 PM

+1 Teen Members join Boston-based photographer Tiffany Binger for an afternoon of photography and exploration at the ICA Seaport Studio. Learn the basics of photography in this FREE workshop for +1 Teen Members 13-18 years old, inspired by ICA exhibition Firelei Báez. Note: The content of these tours is geared to the age groups listed above. 

For questions, please email plus1@icaboston.org. Find out more

Current Exhibitions | 10 AM–5 PM

Head up to the 4th floor to view our current exhibits: Firelei Báez, Wu Tsang: Of Whales, Wordplay. Stop by the 1st floor Lobby to view our Art Wall installation, Igshaan Adams. The Galleries are open from 10 AM–5 PM. 

About Non Issue Studio 

a man in white hat, a green apron, and underneath it, an abstract green shirt stands behind a table with art supplies. beside him, a woman with red hair in a black polka dot top and black apron smiles

Non Issue Studio is a collaboration between Brooke Scibelli and Dyllan Nguyen where they create handmade goods and develop creative workshops. Their furry studio assistant Patina stamps a paw of approval on each project. Learn more at www.nonissue.info and follow along on Instagram @nonissuestudio.

Free Admission for Youth

Youth 18 and under always receive FREE museum admission. The ICA is committed to providing access to the art and artists of our time—and we do this with the incredible support of our community. Explore the +1 Membership: a free ICA membership program for youth 0-18. 

Questions? Reach out to us at familyprograms@icaboston.org.  

+1 Membership is generously supported by Vertex.

Vertex logo


Join teens in our Fast Forward video production program for an exclusive after-hours look into local artist Mithsuca Berry’s new mural and interactive art-making experience. At this free event, teens can create, make, and enjoy snacks in the ICA’s Bank of America Art Lab. Fast Forward is making a documentary and will be filming parts of the event and looking for event participants to share their opinions during on-camera interviews. 

Get creative with us in Destiny Doorways, an installation by Boston artist Mithsuca Berry in the Bank of America Art Lab. Enter a bright, colorful, nature-inspired space where you can design your own visual or written affirmations using some of the artist’s favorite mediums, including paint, textiles, and poetry. 

Destiny Doorways features botanical motifs that evoke the winding pathways you might follow in different parts of your life. Each doorway reveals a message and is an invitation to reflect on a new journey to transformation. What pathways have you taken? Which doorway will you open? 

Dive into an immersive hands-on art-making experience and add your artwork to a display of visitor reflections and creations!

Art Lab activities are free with museum admission and are drop-in on a first-come-first-serve basis — space is limited. Last entry 30 minutes before closing.

About the Artist

Dark skinned person in green and pink skirt and shirt outfit standing in front of orange and yellow text-based mural

Mithsuca Berry (they/them) is a Haitian artist, educator, and storyteller from Boston and former member of the ICA Teen Arts Council. Their work spans many mediums, including painting, digital illustration, fiber, and art education. Throughout their practice they have transformed what creating art means to them. Each piece marks an epiphany in their journey as it relates to existing as a black queer/non-binary person of Caribbean descent, fostering new connections to identity and healing. Their hope is that this process brings healing on a collective scale, protecting the future autonomy of people like them.

Free Admission for Youth

Youth 18 and under always receive FREE museum admission. The ICA is committed to providing access to the art and artists of our time—and we do this with the incredible support of our community. Explore the +1 Membership: A free ICA membership program for youth 0-18.

Questions? Reach us at familyprograms@icaboston.org.

Visit the ICA during school vacation week for hands-on art-making in the Bank of America Art Lab! Visitors may drop in anytime during our open hours; spaces are available on a first-come, first-served basis.  

“Painting” off the Page, 12–4 PM

1st Floor, Art Lab

Inspired by Cicely Carew’s sculptural paintings, visitors are encouraged to play with abstraction, layering, and texture to create three-dimensional works that go beyond the frame. Using various paper, fabric, and cellophane, play and connect with the process and flow of “painting” in a whole new way. 

Last entry at 3:30 PM

Family Gallery Guides, 10 AM–4 PM

1st Floor, Art Lab and 4th Floor, Galleries

Pick up a Family Gallery Guide from the Art Lab and head to the 4th floor to view our current exhibits: Forecast Form: Art in the Caribbean Diaspora, 1990s – Today, Taylor Davis Selects: Invisible Ground of Sympathy, the 2023 James and Audrey Foster Prize, and Tammy Nguyen. Family Gallery Guides provide discussion questions to spark conversations about contemporary art for all ages. The galleries are open from 10 AM–5 PM. 
 

Free Admission for Youth

Youth 18 and under always receive FREE museum admission. The ICA is committed to providing access to the art and artists of our time—and we do this with the incredible support of our community. Explore the +1 Membership: a free ICA membership program for youth 0-18.

 

Questions? Reach out to us at familyprograms@icaboston.org. 

Your support helps keep programs like this—both virtual and in-person—free and accessible! If you are able, please consider becoming a member or making a one-time gift to support the ICA. 

Join Shadow Play artist Lily Xie for an introduction to stop-motion animation through light and layering! Learn about stop-motion animation and experiment with transparency and silhouette using layers of paper and light boxes. Create scenes and film short animations that play with light and shadow. All participants will have their videos emailed to them after the workshop (if desired).

Workshop recommended for ages 6+. When selecting tickets, please select “Participants” for those that are participating in making during the workshop and “Chaperones” (if applicable) for those accompanying/assisting. All youth under 14 must be accompanied by an adult. Capacity is limited, advanced tickets are required. 

Shadow Play is on view in our Bank of America Art Lab most weekends through December 31st, 2023.

Join Shadow Play artist Lily Xie and artist Maria Fong for an introduction to stop-motion animation using paper puppets! Learn about the mechanics of stop-motion animation and create puppets out of paper. Use your puppets to film a short, animated video. All participants will have their videos emailed to them after the workshop (if desired).

Workshop recommended for ages 6+. When selecting tickets, please select “Participants” for those that are participating in making during the workshop and “Chaperones” (if applicable) for those accompanying/assisting. All youth under 14 must be accompanied by an adult. Capacity is limited, advanced tickets are required. 

Shadow Play is on view in our Bank of America Art Lab most weekends through December 31st, 2023.

Celebrate the creativity and magic of spooky season with artmaking and gallery fun! Create your own shadow puppets with Shadow Play artist Lily Xie in the Bank of America Art Lab. Pick up a Shadow Play Gallery Guide and visit the 4th floor to see more ways that artists tell stories through light, form, and sound. Families are welcome to dress in costumes! Reserve free admission tickets online in advance. * 

*On Saturday, October 28, museum admission is FREE for families when accompanied by kids ages 12 and under, with up to 2 adults per family. Tickets must be reserved online in advance. Use the code PLAYDATE when reserving your ticket(s). Advance tickets are strongly recommended; day-of tickets are not guaranteed. All activities are drop-in, first come first served, space is limited.  

Shadow Play with Lily Xie, 10 AM–3 PM

1st Floor, Art Lab

Meet and make Lily Xie, the artist behind Shadow Play! Artists of all ages are invited to experiment with shape, shadow, and light as they create and perform their own shadow puppets. Drop-in, first come first served, space is limited. Last entry to the Art Lab will be 2:30PM.

Shadow Play will be on view most Saturdays and Sundays from 12-4 PM through December. More information and hours can be found here. 

Books + Looks, 11:30 AM + 12:30 PM

4th Floor, Mediatheque

Come up to the Mediatheque for a staff-led reading of family-friendly storybooks and make connections to artworks on view. Drop-in, first come, first serve, space is limited. 

Shadow Play Gallery Guides, 10 AM–4 PM

4th Floor, Galleries

Pick up a Shadow Play Gallery Guide from the Art Lab and head to the 4th floor to view our current exhibits: Forecast Form: Art in the Caribbean Diaspora, 1990s – Today, Taylor Davis Selects: Invisible Ground of Sympathy, the 2023 James and Audrey Foster Prize, and Tammy Nguyen. Visitors are encouraged to think about how artists tell their own stories through light, form, and transformation.  

ICA Bat Booth

1st Floor, Elevator

Bring home a special Halloween memory! The ICA’s glass elevator transforms into a dramatic Bat Booth, where you can snap a pic with friends, family, and hundreds of winged creatures of the night.

About the Artist

Lily Xie (she/they) is a Chinese-American artist and educator whose socially-engaged work explores desire, memory, and self-actualization for communities at the margins. In collaboration with local residents and grassroots organizers, she facilitates creative projects with a focus on public space, housing, and racial justice. The work they create together often takes the form of animation, video, print media, and installation. 

Free Admission for Youth

Youth 18 and under always receive FREE museum admission. The ICA is committed to providing access to the art and artists of our time—and we do this with the incredible support of our community. Explore the +1 Membership: A free ICA membership program for youth 0-18.

Questions? Reach us at familyprograms@icaboston.org.

Join us for a day of family fun! Explore different ways of telling a story through artmaking, music, and performance. Reserve free admission tickets online in advance*. All activities are drop-in, first come first served, space is limited.   

*On Saturday, September 30, museum admission is FREE for families when accompanied by kids ages 12 and under, with up to 2 adults per family. Tickets must be reserved online in advance. Use the code PLAYDATE when reserving your ticket(s). Advance tickets are strongly recommended; day-of tickets are not guaranteed.

What’s your Uh-Oh or Yippee moment? With Jo Ham | 10 AM–3 PM

Art Lab, 1st Floor 

Enter the world of Jo Ham’s dynamic character Rabbit by choosing your favorite Rabbit print (selection to be supplied) and letting your imagination create the wider story to make their own Yippee or Uh-Oh moment! Landscapes, room sets, new characters, colorful props and more can all be added using paint, pens, stickers and craft materials, with help on hand from the HAM team. While supplies last.

Book Signing with Jo Ham | 3–4 PM

Art Lab, 1st Floor 

Meet beloved illustrator, artist, and now author Jo Ham, and get your copies of her new children’s books Yippee! Rabbit and Uh Oh! Rabbit! signed! Copies of the books and other HAM selects will be available to be purchased on site — including a special limited edition print to celebrate the occasion, only available at the ICA Store!

Musical Storytelling with The Rubin Brothers | 11 AM-12 PM

Outdoors, Grandstand + Plaza

Circus musicians, vaudeville entertainers, and real-life brothers AJ & Colescott present an all-ages show of interactive musical storytelling, complete with acrobatics, unicycling, juggling, and unbridled silliness!

Books + Looks | 10:30 AM + 12:30 PM

4th Floor, Mediatheque

 
Join for a staff led reading of family-friendly storybooks and make connections to artworks on view. Drop-in, first come, first serve, space is limited. 

In the Galleries, 10 AM–5 PM

4th Floor, Galleries

Our Visitor Assistants (VA) are always eager to talk about the artworks and answer your questions. Pick up a gallery game card to explore the museum as a “Thinker, Maker, Explorer, or Performer”. Great for a variety of ages and for intergenerational audiences to play together. Cards are available on the 1st and 4th floor near the elevators. Questions? Ask a VA on the 4th floor. Only #2 pencils allowed in the galleries.

Warm Up with a Mug | 11 AM–4:30 PM

1st Floor, ICA Wine + Coffee Bar

Stop by the ICA Wine + Coffee Bar for a free coffee, tea, or hot chocolate with the purchase of a HAM mug.

About Jo Ham

Jo Ham graduated from the Ruskin School of Art, University of Oxford, where she gained a degree in fine art with a focus on anatomy. In 2011, she formed her studio—HAM, developing bespoke products and artwork for global brands, creating large-scale installations, and raising funds and awareness for charity. Informed by her studies and early career in design, Jo has always been fascinated by popular culture and uses Rabbit to shine a light on life’s simple pleasures—in particular how we interact with one another through work and play. The resulting social commentary creates Rabbit’s happy world, where our daily rituals, likes, and hobbies are immortalized in print for all to enjoy. In 2018, Jo was awarded the Aviva Women of the Future Arts and Culture Prize and the NatWest Great British Creative Industries Entrepreneur of the Year. Jo’s work can be found online at hammade.com and on Instagram at @HamJoanna.

About the Rubin Brothers

AJ and Colescott Rubin are Boston-based circus musicians & vaudeville entertainers who lift spirits and make smiles wherever they go, performing swing & popular songs of yesteryear with a lighthearted energy and danceable beat. Known internationally for their unicycling, juggling, & acrobatics while playing instruments, they play sold out shows from coast to coast. They have performed and/or recorded with Esperanza Spalding, Old Crow Medicine Show, Patrice Rushen, Catherine Russell, Charmaine Neville, & John Legend, and around the world in New Orleans, Iceland, Moscow, Barcelona, Buenos Aires, and elsewhere. Student and staff at Berklee College of Music, respectively, they are recipients of the 2021 City of Boston Opportunity Fund Award, and recently made their debut recording on all pre-1930s recording equipment in NYC. They play stadium halftime shows as the house brass band for the major league rugby team of New England and make their circus debut September 2023 in NYC.

Facebook | Instagram | Tiktok

Free Admission for Youth

Youth 18 and under always receive FREE museum admission. The ICA is committed to providing access to the art and artists of our time—and we do this with the incredible support of our community. Explore the +1 Membership — A free ICA membership program for youth 0-18.

Questions? Reach us at familyprograms@icaboston.org.

Your support helps keeps programs like this – both virtual and in-person – free and accessible in this time of uncertainty. If you are able, please consider becoming a member or making a one-time gift to support the ICA.