Have you been to Laumeier Sculpture Park lately? In addition to being a great place to explore and run around (dogs too!), this beautiful sculpture park has an exciting and diverse number of arts education programs for youth of all ages as well as adults. Be sure to check out their special holiday art workshops. (Snow globes!) Sign up today for a fun experience.
Here is a just a sample of their wide range of family programs. Registration fee includes one adult with one child; children must be accompanied by an adult.
ArtSparks / Adult with Child Ages Pre-K
Thursday, September 8 / 11 am to noon / $10
Monarch Mania / Adult with Child Ages 4 to 12
Saturday, September 10 / 2 to 4 pm / $40
ArtSparks / Adult with Child Ages Pre-K
Thursday, September 22 / 11 to noon / $10
Things That Go Bump in the Night / Adult with Child Ages 4 to 12
Saturday, September 24 / 7 to 9 pm / $20
Bye Bye Birdies / Adult with Child Ages 4 to 12
Saturday, October 22 / 2 to 4 pm / $40
The Sounds That Surround Us / Adult with Child Ages 4 to 12
Saturday, November 19 / 1:30 to 3:30 pm / $40
Laumeier Sculpture Park presents its 28th Annual Art Fair on Mother’s Day weekend, May 8–10, 2015. More than 15,000 patrons attend this annual three-day event featuring local food vendors, a wine garden, live music, the Creation Location for kids, and 150 juried artists exhibiting work in ten categories. Media categories include ceramics, fiber/textiles, glass, jewelry, mixed media 2D, painting, photography/digital, printmaking/drawing, sculpture, and wood.
Highlights of the weekend include Friday evening’s Art of the Vine, a special wine tasting event featuring unlimited samples from the following participating wineries: Blumenhof Winery, Bommarito Estate Almond Tree Winery, Noboleis Vineyards, Peaceful Bend Vineyard, Stone Hill Winery, and Sugar Creek Winery. Saturday afternoon’s Art of the Ale, presented by Schlafly, features a special beer tasting and Q&A, including unlimited samples of classic, seasonal and special-release Schlafly beers. The City of Sunset Hills Music Festival on Saturday afternoon features performances by Miss Jubilee & the Humdingers, The Dust Covers, and One More Round. Laumeier’s Creation Location for Kids, free with Art Fair admission, is open throughout the day on Saturday and Sunday, offering family activities and entertainment. Finally, the popular Mother’s Day Brunch on Sunday morning features a lively, family-friendly atmosphere.
Here’s a video of Miss Jubilee & the Humdingers. Be sure to hear them at the Art Fair!
General Information
28th Annual Art Fair
Laumeier Sculpture Park, 12580 Rott Road, St. Louis, MO 63127
Friday, May 8, 6 to 10 pm
Saturday, May 9, 10 am to 8 pm
Sunday, May 10, 10 am to 5 pm
Tickets: $10, Ages 12 and up; $5, Ages 6 to 11; FREE, Ages 5 and under Art Fair Program Booklet
Special Events during the Art Fair Art of the Vine
Friday, May 8, 6 to 9 pm
$12, Ages 21 and up
Art Fair admission required
Creation Location for Kids | Art Projects
* Wind-Powered Whirligigs: Children make their very own functional whirligig (or pinwheel) that spins in the wind. Kids can decorate them using fun colors and patterns or make them look like an animal with moving wings or fins.
* Funky Fresh Foam Sculptures: Participants create a variety of sculptural creations using polyethylene foam scraps (donated by Robot Monkey Lab, Inc.), including some that hang and spin.
* irRESISTible watercolors: Youth use wax crayons, stickers, or tape to block off shapes/areas of paper to be left white, called a “resist.” Then kids watercolor the paper and remove the stickers or tape to reveal white areas. The wax crayons will naturally repel the watercolor.
* A “Construction Zone” with free play building blocks are available for younger kids.
The Art Fair is generously sponsored by Emerson, the City of Sunset Hills, Ameren, Edward Jones, and Jamba Juice, with media support from KDHX, KTRS, Riverfront Times, Sauce Magazine, St. Louis Public Radio, and Y98.
Ready to explore contemporary art in lush fields, free your imagination, create your own works of art, and see dance on riding lawnmowers? Be sure to experience Laumeier Sculpture Park‘s fun and free family friendly events this Fall. All ages are welcome, although the tours may be more interesting to children age 8 and up.
Friday, September 5, 2014 at 5 pm Family Tour: “How’d They Do That?” The Way Field at Laumeier Sculpture Park 12580 Rott Road, St. Louis
FREE
Join Laumeier Sculpture Park for a visual tour and scavenger hunt. Enjoy a behind-the-scenes look at how large-scale sculptures are built and maintained. Learn how natural phenomena and the environment affect the preservation and deterioration of works of art.
Friday, September 5, 2014, 5 to 7 pm Family Activity: Feast for Your Eyes The Way Field at Laumeier Sculpture Park
12580 Rott Road, St. Louis
FREE
Participants in this activity will experiment with color and work together to create an expressive work of art.
Sunday, October 5, 2014 at 2 pm Family Tour: Poetry in Motion Meet at the sculpture: Tony Tasset, Eye, 2007 Laumeier Sculpture Park 12580 Rott Road, St. Louis
FREE
View kinetic works of art and those with implied movement, including the current Kranzberg Exhibition Series installation, Tom Huck: Bugs, 2014 (this exhibition opens October 3, 2014 in the Children’s Sculpture Garden at Laumeier). The whimsical installation will inspire visitors to take a closer look at how art can amplify or reframe both the beautiful and creepy-crawly in nature.
Sunday, October 5, 2014, 2 to 4 pm Family Activity: Art Moves! Education Center Deck at Laumeier Sculpture Park 12580 Rott Road, St. Louis
FREE
Rhythm and movement in nature can serve as wonderful inspiration! Join Laumeier Sculpture Park for kinetic creations and take home a family-focused activity book, featuring original drawings by 2014 Kranzberg Exhibition Series artist Tom Huck.
Photo: Laumeier Sculpture Park
Saturday, October 4, 2014 at 11 am & 1 pm American Arts Experience St. Louis 2014
Laune Dance Performance The Way Field at Laumeier Sculpture Park 12580 Rott Road, St. Louis FREE
Dancer, choreographer, and 2015 Kranzberg Exhibition Series artist Ashley McQueen will honor the labor that goes into the manicured landscape at Laumeier Sculpture Park. Through a series of dance performances using riding lawnmowers, hedge-trimmers, and watering hoses, Ms. McQueen and her dancers will explore Laumeier Sculpture Park’s unique relationship with the St. Louis County Parks staff—highlighting the passion and hard work that are involved in the care and maintenance of the 105-acre park.
Questions about these events? Call 314.615.5278 or info@laumeier.org.
Here are four family friendly (and free!) arts events upcoming in St. Louis that you won’t want to miss.
1. CAM (Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis)
3750 Washington Boulevard, St. Louis
Tuesday, June 5 at 9 am: Stroller Tour of the galleries, FREE, complimentary refreshments.
2. CAM (Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis)
3750 Washington Boulevard, St. Louis Tuesday, June 5 at 10 am: Play Date, FREE, artist led activities for kids, storytelling, music workshops, complimentary refreshments, and more.
UPDATED! 3. Citygarden 9th and Market Streets in downtown St. Louis
Tuesday, June 5, 12:15 to 12:45 pm: Circus Flora artists perform a special lunchtime show throughout the park. Bertini Troupe on unicycles, Luciano’s Pound Puppies, the St. Louis Arches, and Shayna Swanson are featured. FREE.
Art Fair at Laumeier Sculpture Park celebrates its 25th anniversary this May 11, 12, and 13, 2012. Stroll, shop, eat, and play at this nationally acclaimed fine art and craft fair. Enjoy browsing a variety of original ceramics, fiber/textiles, glass, jewelry, mixed media, painting, photography/digital, printmaking/drawing, sculpture, and wood pieces. In addition to seeing the Art Fair booths, your kids can enjoy hands on art activities at the Creation Location, concessions, live performances, and of course the extensive outdoor sculptures located throughout the park.
Friday, May 11 | 6 to 10 pm
Saturday, May 12 | 10 am to 8 pm
Sunday, May 13 | 10 am to 5 pm
12580 Rott Road, St. Louis, MO 63127
Creation Location
The Creation Location area of the Art Fair offers art projects for kids on Saturday, May 12 and Sunday, May 13. This year’s fun projects include “Scenic Shades,” “Striking Structures,” and “Wind Spinners.” On Saturday at 3 pm, be sure to see the entertaining Joe the Juggler and on Sunday at 1 pm, experience the world percussion ensemble, Joia. Both performances take place at the Creation Location.
Concessions
Kid friendly food for sale includes Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, tacos, egg rolls, hamburgers, nachos, funnel cakes, soft pretzels, kettle corn, shaved ice, pizza, and more.
Tips
* If you want to avoid the lines, try to attend on Saturday. Parking is easier and there are fewer children at the Creation Location area.
* Become a member of Laumeier Sculpture Park to help support this worthy nonprofit and to receive complimentary Art Fair admission. Be sure to check if your employer offers a matching gift program to increase your donation.
* Concession lines can get long, especially on Sunday (Mother’s Day), so plan in advance before your kids or spouse has a hunger meltdown.
* The park is large. Remember to bring your cell phones or designate a meeting point before you start exploring the grounds.
* Pets and outside food or drink are not allowed during the Art Fair.
* Encourage your children to find art at the Fair that they like. At many of the booths, the artist is present and ready for questions. Encourage your child to ask about the art making process or what the art means to the artist. Painter Chris Vance from Iowa (booth 10) looks like he may have some conversation starting pieces appealing to youth.
* As tempting as it might be, please do not climb on the sculptures at the park.
* Strollers are a little challenging to navigate on the grass throughout the park, so consider bringing your infant or toddler in a baby sling.
* 2012 Artist List
* 2012 Art Fair brochure (includes Art Fair grounds layout)
* Site map of Laumeier Sculpture Park
Questions?Contact artfair@laumeier.org or call 314.615.5278.
There is an abundance of excellent summer camp offerings in the St. Louis region for kids of all ages. Looking for something special for your little arts enthusiast? Here are some suggestions. Classes are filling up quickly, so be sure to register soon. Note, some nonprofit organizations offer discounts for members.
Doesn’t this list make you want to have summer vacation again?
COCA (Center of Creative Arts)
COCA has numerous summer camps located in University City and Creve Coeur that focus on dance, music, visual art, story telling, theater, cooking, clowning, acrobatics, stage combat, comic books, film, legos, photography, pottery, and pretty much anything and everything art related. For ages 3 to 18. Summer camp brochure.
Laumeier Sculpture Park
4 to 6 year olds get to create artwork with composer-in-residence, Eric Hall! Expect fun experiences at these week long outdoor summer camps that explore the Laumeier Sculpture Park’s incredible collection. The average staff to camper ratio is 1:7. For kids ages 4 to 15. The park is located in the Sunset Hills area. Summer camp brochure.
Yucandu Art Studio
Located in Webster Groves, this unique hands on art studio offers small visual art camps for grades K-12. Projects include painting, decoupage, collage, mosaics, and more. For those of you who head scout troops or have a million cousins in the area, Yucandu also offers a special friends and family summer camp designed for 8 to 16 kids.
The College School
Also located in Webster Groves, the Reggio-Emilia geared College School offers all day camps for ages 4 to 15. Arts themed camps include Funtastic Fantasy, Make Your Mark, Junior Circus Skills, Science, Art, and Cooking, and Art by Nature. Summer camp brochure.
Camp Curtain Call at The Magic House
Children ages 8-11 can experience the magic of live theater during a weeklong drama camp at The Magic House. Through activities and games, campers learn about putting on a theatrical production including basic theater terms, line readings, projection, stage directions, rehearsing, props, scenery, and dress rehearsal. Participants present their theatrical production to a live audience and then give a special performance for their families on the last day of camp.
Community Music School of Webster University
Summer opportunities for infants through high school students include a family “zoo train” session for children and their caregivers, band camp, flute camp, low brass week, chamber music camp, strings camp, composing camp, and individual instruction.
Opera Theatre of St. Louis Youth entering grades fourth through eighth spend a week singing, dancing, writing words and music, making instruments, and learning about costumes and makeup, lighting, and set design. They tour backstage, work with Opera Theatre of St. Louis professionals and leading music educators, and see a performance of Unsuk Chin’s Alice in Wonderland. Located in Webster Groves. Summer camp brochure.
Piwacket Theatre for Children
Located in Maplewood, this delightful children’s theater offers week long camps for children ages 6 to 15. Participants create an original show through games, music, dance, theater, and play.
Craft Alliance These summer camps are packed with creative art experiences for 4 to 18 year olds. Activities may include working with clay, glass, graphics, metal arts, wearable art, fiber materials, and more. Camps are held at the Delmar studios or the Grand Center studios.Summer camp brochure.
Dave Simon’s Rock School
Band rehearsals, recording studio, private lessons, music appreciation, rock history, song writing, and/or improvisation is offered for students ages 9 to 18. Youth should have at least one month of instrument instruction prior to the beginning of a camp session. Beginners and advanced students are welcome. Located in Olivette.
ArtsINTERsection at New City School Metro Theater Company’s ArtsINTERsection summer camp is for children ages 4 to 11. The camp offers kids a great place to experience art, music, movement, and drama in a safe and warm environment. Classes are taught by experienced, professional artists and are located near Forest Park.
It’s Mother’s Day weekend! Okay, so I had to make my own Mother’s Day lunch reservation and send my husband a link to a gift I had my eye on… but I will take whatever bit of relaxation I can get over the weekend, even if it was self-initiated. Here are some family friendly places and events to experience May 7 and 8:
1. Art Fair at Laumeierisa fun family event where you can view a wide variety of art for sale and talk with the artists. While you are at the fair, enjoy the live music, children’s activities, concessions (lines can be long), and of course the sculptures throughout Laumeier Sculpture Park. Head into the Eastern Woodland area for a quiet break from the Art Fair mania. Parking can be tough and far away from the entrance, so consider being dropped off with the kids (and have your loving husband go park) or bring your stroller/baby sling. $8 for adults, $5 children ages 6-11, and children under age of 6 are free. May 6, 7, and 8. Read more about enjoying the Laumeier Sculpture Park with kids in my St. Louis Sprout & About article.
2. St. Louis Storytelling Festival. On Saturday, May 7, the annual festival presents many free, family storytelling events throughout the day. No reservations required. By the St. Louis Arch.
3. Cinco de Mayo Celebration on Cherokee Street. Saturday, May 7, 11 am to 9:30 pm. Floats, minstrels, puppets, Elvis impersonators, drag queens, Mexican wrestlers, robot makers, live music, art demonstrations, mask making, and more, are sure to generate some wide eyed kids. Go celebrate the vibrancy of Cherokee Street and the neighborhood’s Mexican heritage.
4. Citygarden. Free and open daily from sunrise to 10 pm, Citygarden is a beautiful spot to interact with outdoor art (touching is okay), play with water on a warm day, climb stairs, skip, hop, and run. Bring snacks or lunch (the cafe food is just okay and kind of overpriced for what you get).
5. Grant’s Farm is open for the season! The park is open this Saturday from 9 am to 4 pm and Sunday from 9:30 am to 4 pm. Enjoy a fun tram ride while viewing the animals, see giant turtles, watch the elephants, ride the carousel, feed the crazy baby goats, and sample a beer. Also don’t miss the famous Clydesdales on your way out near the parking lot. $11 for parking and free admission. Fees for feeding the ravenous goats, riding the carousel, and concessions.
Laumeier Sculpture Park presents its 28th Annual Art Fair on Mother’s Day weekend, May 8–10, 2015
