On the first Saturday of the month (excluding May & September), the Phippen Museum offers a FREE supervised art or craft activity in its dedicated Kiwanis Education Room. This is a great way to spend a morning with a child, or grandchild, enjoy the museum's exhibits and create a unique art object to "lock in" memories of your visit.
All activities are two hours in duration (10AM -12 Noon) and are accompanied by a lesson and all the materials and tools necessary to successfully complete a project. Phippen Museum members attend free and adult non-members pay only the regular museum admission price.
Please Note: Class sizes are limited, so be sure to call the museum's Education Coordinator, Neal McEwen, in advance to make a reservation (928)-778-1385. In addition, classes that require fine motor skills and the use of sharpened or heat generating tools designate a recommended appropriate minimum age for participation.
Brands & Bookmarks - FREE
Saturday, July 1st at 10AM
Make your own leather bookmark and personalize it with a cowboy brand that you design. Learn about brands, their history and how to read these unique symbols. This class is an introduction to leatherworking and leather tooling.
Pioneer Journal - FREE
Saturday, August 5th at 10AM
Create your own personalized, hard-bound journal. Learn the basics of bookmaking and discover the vanishing art of calligraphy. Then let your imagination run wild and make up your own story of pioneer experiences.
Sand Painting - FREE
Saturday, October 7th at 10AM
Try your hand at this ancient Native-American art in this docent-guided activity. Kids can either work from a pre-printed outline, or come up with their own original design, then capture the image permanently in a work of art suitable for framing, using white glue and colored sand.
Scratch Art - FREE
Saturday, November 4th at 10AM
Recommended Ages: 10 and older. Kids study Native-American pottery and rock-art designs and then make their own design, or free-form art etching using a scratch art board provided by the museum. Led by Phippen docents. (Note: this class entails the use of sharpened instruments)
Cork Horse Ornaments - FREE
Saturday, December 2nd at 10AM
Recommended Ages: 10 and older. Kids (and adults) have the chance to design and outfit a whimsical, wine-cork horse with an array of materials to brighten and adorn your holiday tree. (Note: this class entails the use of hot glue).
CLAY OUT WEST YOUTH SCULPTURE CONTEST
September 3rd - 30th, 2017
With funds provided by a generous grant from the Arizona Community Foundation, the Phippen Museum is proud to offer this very special art activity for all local schoolchildren in September. Called Clay Out West is a sculpture contest open to area Elementary, Middle and High School students who are interested in trying their hands at clay sculpture. The entry fee is $10 per student and all materials will be provided by the museum. Participants will be introduced to this fascinating medium by museum staff and provided numerous, hands-on workshops and special instruction in the art of clay sculpture. These young artists will then be invited to execute a Western-themed sculpture for submission into this fun-filled competition.
First-place winners in each age category will receive award certificates and their artwork will be rendered as actual bronze sculptures by Bronzesmith Fine Art Foundry and Skurja Art Castings, LLC. Numerous instructional workshops will be offered at the museum as students may need more than one to complete their sculpture. But registration should be made early as class sizes are limited to 30.
Children will be classified into three separate groups: Elementary School (ages 6-10), Middle School (ages 11-13) and High School (ages 14-18). Elementary and Middle School Workshops will be held on September 2nd, 9th & 30th from 10AM to 12:30PM and High School Workshops on September 2nd, 9th & 30th from 1 to 4 PM. Additional Open Workshops (for all ages) are scheduled on September 3rd, 10th & 17th from 1 to 4PM.
All sculptures should have a Western or Southwestern theme -- plant, wildlife or domestic ranch animal, Western artifact or figure. In addition, dimensions should not exceed 5 inch by 5 inch by 5 inch. In addition, to be considered for judging, sculptures must be in the museum by 4PM on Saturday, September 30th and each will be judged based on creativity and quality of artistic execution. Afterward, participating student sculptors and their guardians will be invited to a special Clay Out West Open House reception on Sunday, October 15th, 2017. For more information or to enter the competition and participate in these workshops, please call the museum's Education Coordinator, Neal McEwen, right away to make reservations at (928)-778-1385.