Art Cart: Who? You? Express Yourself!

Dive into the world of Simone Leigh’s art! Explore her sculptures and make your own one-of-a-kind portraits and sculptures inspired by the things that make you special. Find the Art Cart in the Lerner Room on the Third Level. 

Do this at home! Make your own abstract sculpture inspired by Barbara Hepworth. Instructions here. 

A grey, organic sculpture made of clay and resembling a pelvis sits on a flat brown surface, a white background behind it.

ABOUT THE ART CART 

Want to make art inspired by your favorite Hirshhorn works on view? The Art Cart offers young artists a hands-on maker experience during their visit to the Hirshhorn. Each week’s Art Cart offers a fresh and fun theme featuring an artwork on view, an art making activity to do at the Museum, and kids’ projects to extend the fun at home! 

The Art Cart is free; no registration required. Drop in any Saturday between 10 am and 1 pm. 

Nursing caregivers are welcome. Stroller parking is available in the Hirshhorn Lobby. If there are access services or accommodations that can make your experience more inclusive (e.g., ASL interpretation, live captioning, etc.), please contact hmsgeducation@si.edu. 1-2 week’s advance notice is recommended but not required.

Art Cart: Creative Creatures

Celebrate Halloween with an Art Cart inspired by artist Judith Shea and her sculpture, Post-Balzac. Imagine who might wear this sculpture, create your own creature, and play with Halloween-inspired materials! 

Find the Art Cart on the Plaza near the Fountain. In case of inclement weather, check in the Museum Lobby for our indoor locations.

Do this at home! Design your own wearable work of art inspired by Yayoi Kusama’s Flowers—Overcoat and disappear into your surroundings! Instructions here. 

A homemade coat made with a translucent material appearing both blue and brown hangs on a white clothing hanger.

ABOUT THE ART CART

Want to make art inspired by your favorite Hirshhorn works on view? The Art Cart offers young artists a hands-on maker experience during their visit to the Hirshhorn. Each week’s Art Cart offers a fresh and fun theme featuring an artwork on view, an art-making activity to do at the Museum, and kids’ projects to extend the fun at home! 

The Art Cart is free; no registration required. Drop in any Saturday between 10 am and 1pm. 

Art Cart: Make and Model

What do you love about the outdoors? Explore Spatial Concept: Nature by Lucio Fontana and the nature of the Hirshhorn Plaza at this week’s Art Cart. Young artists can experiment with sculpting, investigate nature sketching, and more.

Find the Art Cart on the Plaza and pick up your sculpting materials. In case of inclement weather, check in the Museum Lobby for our indoor location. 

Do this at home! Build and suspend your own sculpture inspired by Eva Hesse. Instructions here.

A long red netting hangs in a U formation from a beige wall.

ABOUT THE ART CART

Want to make art inspired by your favorite Hirshhorn works on view? The Art Cart offers young artists a hands-on maker experience during their visit to the Hirshhorn. Each week’s Art Cart offers a fresh and fun theme featuring an artwork on view, an artmaking activity to do at the Museum, and kids projects to extend the fun at home! 

The Art Cart is free; no registration required. Drop in any Saturday between 10am and 1pm. 

Art Cart: Light Your Fire

Sculpt your own symbol at this week’s Art Cart. Young artists will look closely at Double Candle by Sterling Ruby and build their own massive messages. 

Find the Art Cart on the Plaza and pick up your symbolic materials. In case of inclement weather, check in the Museum Lobby for our indoor location. 

Do this at home! What do you want to change? Assemble a collage inspired by Loïs Mailou Jones’s Challenge—America. Instructions here.

A large, horizontally oriented collage has been created atop a rectangular piece of yellow construction paper.

ABOUT THE ART CART 

Want to make art inspired by your favorite Hirshhorn works on view? The Art Cart offers young artists a hands-on maker experience during their visit to the Hirshhorn. Each week’s Art Cart offers a fresh and fun theme featuring an artwork on view, an artmaking activity to do at the Museum, and kids’ projects to extend the fun at home!  

The Art Cart is free; no registration required. Drop in any Saturday between 10am and1pm.

Art Cart: Sculpt With Shapes

What can you create with shapes? Join us at this week’s Art Cart to explore abstract sculptures on the Hirshhorn Plaza and experiment with shape and form. 

Find the Art Cart on the Plaza to transform your shape materials.

Do this at home! Transform used cardboard materials into futuristic sculptures. Instructions here.

Two colored used cardboard pieces have been cut out into vaguely tree-like shapes to form small sculptures.

ABOUT THE ART CART

Want to make art inspired by your favorite Hirshhorn works on view? The Art Cart offers young artists a hands-on maker experience during their visit to the Hirshhorn. Each week’s Art Cart offers a fresh and fun theme featuring an artwork on view, an artmaking activity to do at the Museum, and kids projects to extend the fun at home! 

The Art Cart is free; no registration required. Drop in any Saturday between 10am and 1pm. 

Storytime: A Trip to the Hirshhorn

Ignite your child’s imagination with a trip to the Hirshhorn. We will read the story Matthew’s Dream by Leo Lionni, a book about a young mouse who visits a museum and realizes that art can change the way we see the world. Following the story, participants will create their own visual stories.

Meet in the Museum Lobby.

Do this at home! Explore abstract painting through layers of watercolor. Instructions here.

A hand painted watercolor.

ABOUT STORYTIME

Join Hirshhorn Kids on Wednesdays for a one-of-a-kind Storytime experience! Each week offers a fun and fresh theme for our youngest artists and their adults. Get a fun and hands-on introduction to a new artwork each week, and participate in a joyful read-aloud filled with music, stories, and movement. Then, stay and play while your little artist creates. No reservations or tickets required. Nursing caregivers are welcome. Stroller parking is available in the Hirshhorn Lobby. An ASL Interpreter may be requested for this program; two weeks advance notice is appreciated. For a group of ten or more, please contact mcgettigant@si.edu to reserve a program in advance.

Storytime: Shine Your Light

Explore the possibilities at this week’s Storytime. We will look closely at Double Candle by Sterling Ruby, read Not a Box by Antoinette Portis, and use our imaginations to think outside the box. Get ready to fire up your creativity to build, play, and explore!

Meet in the Museum Lobby.

Do this at home! What makes you who you are? Collage a self-portrait with some paper, small objects and scissors! Instructions here. 

Three black and white photos printed onto regular printer paper sit fanned out on a wooden surface.

ABOUT STORYTIME

Join Hirshhorn Kids on Wednesdays for a one-of-a-kind storytime experience! Each week offers a fun and fresh theme for our youngest artists and their adults. Get a fun and hands-on introduction to a new artwork each week, and participate in a joyful read-aloud filled with music, stories, and movement. Then, stay and play while your little artist creates. No reservations or tickets required. Nursing caregivers are welcome. Stroller parking is available in the Hirshhorn Lobby. An ASL Interpreter may be requested for this program; two weeks advance notice is appreciated. For a group of ten or more, please contact mcgettigant@si.edu to reserve a program in advance.

Storytime: Any Way, Shape, or Form

Many artists use shapes to create sculptures. Join us and educators from the Smithsonian’s Natural History Museum for a read-aloud of The Shape of Me and Other Stuff by Dr. Seuss and an abstract shape scavenger hunt around the Hirshhorn Plaza. Following the read-aloud, we’ll play with our own creations using different shapes.

 

Meet in the Museum Lobby.

Do this at home! Looking for an alternative to screen time? A formula for sustained play? Meet the tinker tray. Instructions here.

A wooden box full of art supplies sits on a black surface

ABOUT STORYTIME

Join Hirshhorn Kids on Wednesdays for a one-of-a-kind storytime experience! Each week offers a fun and fresh theme for our youngest artists and their adults. Get a fun and hands-on introduction to a new artwork each week, and participate in a joyful read-aloud filled with music, stories, and movement. Then, stay and play while your little artist creates. No reservations or tickets required. Nursing caregivers are welcome. Stroller parking is available in the Hirshhorn Lobby. An ASL Interpreter may be requested for this program; two weeks advance notice is appreciated. For a group of ten or more, please contact mcgettigant@si.edu to reserve a program in advance.

Storytime: Happy Birthday, Hirshhorn!

Celebrate World Architecture Day and the Hirshhorn’s birthday by exploring our building! Join us for an explanation of the Hirshhorn’s architecture and a read-aloud of Iggy Peck Architect by Andrea Beaty. Then, investigate the Hirshhorn building through hands-on construction activities and play.

Meet in the Museum Lobby.

Do this at home! In honor of the bundt-like shape of the Museum, pull out your favorite round cake pan and bake the Hirshhorn Museum! Instructions here.

A bundt cake shaped like the Hirshhhorn sits on a white preparation tray, which in turn is placed on a marble topped table surrounded by white walls.

ABOUT STORYTIME

Join Hirshhorn Kids on Wednesdays for a one-of-a-kind storytime experience! Each week offers a fun and fresh theme for our youngest artists and their adults. Get a fun and hands-on introduction to a new artwork each week, and participate in a joyful read-aloud filled with music, stories, and movement. Then, stay and play while your little artist creates. No reservations or tickets required. Nursing caregivers are welcome. Stroller parking is available in the Hirshhorn Lobby. An ASL Interpreter may be requested for this program; two weeks advance notice is appreciated. For a group of ten or more, please contact mcgettigant@si.edu to reserve a program in advance.

Storytime: Forms of Fall

Get inspired by the seasonal changes happening all around us and join for a fall-inspired Storytime on the Plaza. Young artists will explore the Plaza’s plant life with a gardener from Smithsonian Gardens, look closely at Figure for Landscape by Barbara Hepworth, and read Plants Can’t Sit Still by Mia Posada. After the read-aloud, we’ll build and sculpt our own nature inspired works!  

Meet in the Museum Lobby.

Do this at home! Make your own abstract sculpture inspired by Barbara Hepworth. Instructions here.

A grey, organic sculpture made of clay and resembling a pelvis sits on a flat brown surface, a white background behind it.

ABOUT STORYTIME

Join Hirshhorn Kids on Wednesdays for a one-of-a-kind Storytime experience! Each week offers a fun and fresh theme for our youngest artists and their adults. Get a fun and hands-on introduction to a new artwork each week, and participate in a joyful read-aloud filled with music, stories, and movement. Then, stay and play while your little artist creates. No reservations or tickets required. Nursing caregivers are welcome. Stroller parking is available in the Hirshhorn Lobby. An ASL Interpreter may be requested for this program; two weeks advance notice is appreciated. For a group of ten or more, please contact mcgettigant@si.edu to reserve a program in advance.