Events

#artsafariALX

An Alexandria family tradition, Art Safari returns for the 20th year with a full day of hands-on activities for kids and families.

Resident and visiting artists lead young visitors in creative projects across a variety of media, including clay, papier-mâché, fiber, and printmaking. Children should wear clothing that can get a little dirty. All activities are free with most appropriate for children age 5 – 11 with some activities requiring parental assistance.

Being the 20th anniversary of Art Safari, there will be even more special programming to celebrate this milestone.

The City of Alexandria’s Mobile Art Lab will be on-site to help celebrate. Artist Lisa Schumaier (studio 16) will create a giant papier-mâché giraffe, inspired by the Art Safari logo. Children will help her construct it by layering decorative adhesive-soaked paper to an oversize wireframe base. Visitors can enjoy a special birthday treat and leave special greetings and memories on a giant birthday card. At 2 pm, hundreds of children and their families will sing Happy Birthday together.

Tens of thousands of people across the region have attended Art Safari during its two-decade history. Leading up to the special day, the public is invited to share their own stories and photos of past Art Safaris with hashtag #artsafariALX.

List of Activities:

• Studio 15 – Origami treasure boxes – Led by Tanya Davis and Gloria Barbre
  Children create simple origami animals triangle boxes or try a more complex square treasure box and lid.
• Studio 21 – Gallery scavenger hunt – The Art League Gallery and School
  This year, The Art League’s scavenger hunt explores the Superstition & Belief exhibition. Each completed scavenger hunt can be shown at the gallery desk to receive a special prize.
• Studio 22 – Clay Experience – Led by Susan Greenleaf
  Children play and experiment with a piece of wet clay to mold and shape into any form they can imagine. Potters will demonstrate their technique for throwing clay on a pottery wheel.
• Spiral Staircase – Fiber demonstrations – Fluff & Nonsense
  Artists transform fluff into beautiful fiber art with interactive hands-on demonstrations for spinning, felting, weaving, knitting, and crocheting.
• 2^nd2nd Floor Hall – Easel stations – Led by Christine Cardellino
  With acrylic paint and paper, children paint anything they can imagine at the open easel stations located along the 2nd floor.
• 3rd Floor Hall – Shopping bag animal masks – Led by Carolyn Romano
  Children create animal masks by decorating paper bags with magic markers and tape.
• Studio 325 – Silk screen printing – Led by Patrick Sargent
  Children progress through four different color stations to create their own full-color silk-screen image.
• Studio 327 – Potter’s Art – Alexandria Archaeology Museum
  The traditional gift for a 20th anniversary is china. The Alexandria Archaeology Museum will have a selection of china and pottery from their collection on view. Children create their own sketches and learn to identify 19th-century Alexandria potters from the designs on stoneware pottery.

Special thanks to Amy Joseph Photography and Multimedia for supporting this event.