Toledo Museum of Art Invites Public to Contribute to New Bead Installation

The Bead Goes On Project Seeks 10,000 Handmade Beads

Feb. 1 , 2010: Bring on the beads! The Toledo Museum of Art is collecting handmade beads from artists, enthusiasts and community members as part of the Bead Goes On, a project culminating with the installation of a 10,000-bead curtain at the Museum.

Contributors are invited to give as many as five original beads made of glass, metal, felt, kiln-dried wood or other non-organic materials. The completed work of art will be unveiled at the Museum’s Starting Place Gallery, and later permanently installed in the Museum’s internationally renowned Glass Pavilion.

“I wanted to find a way to show off even the smallest forms of art,” says glass artist Robin Schultes, who teaches at the Museum and who came up with the idea for the community art project. According to Schultes, bead making is not only one of the oldest art forms known to man, but also a popular hobby for people of all ages.

“The ideal beadmaker is anyone and everyone,” says Schultes. “It doesn’t have to take a lot of time and effort, only as much as one wants to put into it.”

The Bead Goes On has already collected a wide variety of unique beads. Strands of the beaded curtain are hung in the Glass Pavilion Flameworking Studio as they are completed, and visitors are encouraged to come see the curtain’s progress. Visitors can also make beads of their own in one of the many hands-on activities, workshops and studio sessions at the Museum.

For complete guidelines, submission information and an entry form, download the prospectus at www.toledomuseum.org/events/community.

The Museum is providing visitors with a number of opportunities to make their own beads and take part in The Bead Goes On. Here is a list of upcoming activities. “Family” designates activities open to all ages. Other activities are open to those 14 and older.

FREE HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES

Animal Beads

Jan. 29: 7-9 p.m., Libbey Court

Search the galleries for animals in our collection, and then make your own animal-inspired beads.

Gordon Parks Inspired Beads

Feb. 5: 7-9 p.m., Libbey Court

View powerful photographs by Gordon Parks in the Canaday Gallery, then create beads influenced by his work.

The Bead Goes On at the Family Center

March 7: Noon to 5:30 p.m., Family Center

March 9 and 11: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Family Center

Make your own good luck charm using Model Magic ™ and add a bead to The Bead Goes On!

Batik Beads

March 26: 7-9 p.m., Libbey Court

Use fabric, watercolors and crayons to make dyed, batik-like beads.

Whistler Watercolors on Wooden Beads

April 11: 2-4 p.m., Libbey Court

Using the Whistler exhibition for inspiration, decorate wooden beads with watercolors.

Bead a Butterfly, Bead a Bee

April 23: 2-4 p.m., Libbey Court

Boxer Muhammad Ali–one of the subjects in our Gordon Parks exhibition–was said to “float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.” Create insect-shaped beads.

CLASSES AND WORKSHOPS

Art Evening Studio Sessions

April 19, 20, 21: 5:30-8:30 p.m.

Spend three consecutive evenings making glass beads, pendants and swizzle sticks. ($150 for Museum members/$200 for nonmembers)

The Bead Goes On Workshop

Saturdays (March 27, April 24): Noon to 4 p.m.

Make unique glass beads using a torch and soft glass. ($60 per session for Museum members/$75 for nonmembers)
 

The Bead Goes On Mardi Gras Workshop

Saturday, Feb. 13: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and repeated at 2-6 p.m.

Use molds to create glass beads in vibrant shapes and colors. ($60 for Museum members/$75 for nonmembers for each workshop)

Bean Cast Beads

Friday, Feb. 19: 6-9 p.m.

Combine dried beans with melted bronze, then buff to a shine for unique, Swiss cheese-like patterned beads. ($50 for Museum members/$60 for nonmembers)

Beginning Glass Beadmaking

Ten Wednesdays beginning Feb. 20: 6-9 p.m.

Get comfortable with a flameworking torch while learning bead designs, shapes and techniques. ($375 for Museum members/$400 for nonmembers)

Metal Beads Part II

Five Tuesdays beginning Feb. 23: 6:30-9:30 p.m.

Fabricate more complex beads from sheet metal and wire. Metal Beads Part I is a prerequisite. ($105 for Museum members/$120 for nonmembers)

Metal Bead Casting

Five Thursdays beginning Feb. 25: 6:30-9:30 p.m.

Shape wax into a bead shape to make a mold, and then inject the mold with liquid bronze. Polish and voila! ($105 for Museum members/$120 for nonmembers)

Felt Beads

Friday, Feb. 26: 6-9 p.m.

Make unique beads out of wool felt. ($50 for Museum members/$60 for nonmembers)

Family Fun: Clay Animal Beads

Friday, April 1: 7-9 p.m.

Make Japanese Netsuke beads with clay after a tour of the Museum’s collection of these intricate miniature wonders. ($20 for Museum members/$25 for nonmembers)

ART HOUR STUDIO SESSIONS

Purchase tickets ($15 members/$25 nonmembers) in person or by phone during Museum hours starting the Tuesday before each of these sessions. Call 419-254-5771, ext. 7448.

Glass Beads

Fridays at 6, 7 and 8 p.m.

March 12, March 26 and April 23

Mardi Gras Beads

Friday, Feb. 12 at 6, 7 and 8 p.m.

Editor’s Note: Events are subject to change. Consult the Museum’s online calendar at www.toledomuseum.org for the latest information about activities related to the Bead Goes On community art program.

The mission of the Toledo Museum of Art is based upon the belief in the power of art to ignite the imagination, stimulate thought, and provide enjoyment.  Through our collection and programs, we strive to integrate art into the lives of people.

Admission to the Museum is free.  The Museum is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Friday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.– 6 p.m.; Sunday, Noon-6 p.m.; closed Mondays and major holidays.  Friday evening hours are made possible by Fifth Third Bank.