The Columbus Museum of Art (CMA) is renovated and showcasing an all new interactive style for kids and adults.  CMA is located downtown at 480 E. Broad Street with parking found in the rear. The museum is always FREE on Sundays!  My family visited the museum on 1st Saturdays which is a relatively new program that the museum is launching to help draw in families.  On this particular Saturday, the FREE workshops were split into 2 sessions and with different themes.  My family attended the second session of making our own Tumbleweeds.  What is a tumbleweed?  Well, I think of the Wild West and big dust balls and debris rolling down the dirt road.  What do you think of?  We visited the Tumbleweed exhibit first so my kids could see one first hand before creating one in the workshop.   As we were looking at the Tumbleweeds, I heard someone say, "Sir, please do not touch the tumbleweeds, they are art".  Any guesses who was touching the art? MY HUSBAND.  How embarrasing!

We decided to see ALL the exhibits and make Tumbleweeds last so we did not have to carry them throughout the museum.  First thing I noticed about the museum was every room had an interactive station.  This could be a puzzle, a riddle, an opinion poll or a hands on activity.  I think my favorite was the Wish for Peace Tree.  The tree was whimsical and I found myself drawn to the tree and all of the tags floating around for one to read.  My kids were so kind hearted and asked why we have to wish for peace?  The answer to that would make a great Mom-pinion blog.

My family enjoyed sitting down and putting together one whole puzzle, which was a replica of the painting we admired in front of us (left here).  I also added my own little game for our family, which was everyone got to pick one favorite piece of art and the whole family would take a look at the other person's favorite.  CMA was kind enough to provide me images of the works of art as pictures of art work are not permitted.  The only favorite not here is my husband's.  My husband picked "Seated Man with Pipe" by Pablo Picasso.  CMA would have to pay a fee to distribute an image.  I have never seen my husband so intrigued by a piece or art.  He tried to find the man for nearly 30 minutes.  I may have to save money for my own Picasso as an in home meditation focal point.  

Do you see me in this picture?  I wish!  I could lay on a blanket with grapes, cheese and wine stare at the horizon forever.  After everyone picked their favorites, we headed down to the workshop.  The corridor to the workshop had all kinds of hands on stations for kids.  A fun one was the plastic fruit where you arrange your own still life and then sketch your still life.  It was HARD for my kids to walk past the Wonder Room, but I was saving that for last so Mom and Dad could rest their tired feet!  The staff in the workshop were very bubbly and excited about the Tumbleweed project.  We did see on display the earlier 1st Saturday activity which was art with fruit sculpting (image in slide show).  Tumbleweed materials were plentiful (wire, fabric, glitter, pipe cleaners, paper, straw, yarn, glue, paint, markers) and we all had our own idea of what our Tumbleweed creation would look like when finished.  The staff kindly gave us bags for our finished Tumbleweeds and we headed off to the Wonder Room.  The Wonder Room is just that a WONDERFUL ROOM.  First thing I saw was a giant semi circle shaped modern couch. I sat down and could see my kids anywhere they went in the room.  I wondered if a Mom helped design the room?  In the Wonder Room, kids can build a fort, create modern art with trial and error of weighted shapes, make magnetic sculptures, watch educational programs of how to be creative with art at home and read books.  My husband and I actually had a conversation.  My only reccomendation for the Wonder Room was the lighting was a little low and I would have loved inspiring Classical music softly in the background.    My family had a wonderful time and I look forward to many more visits to CMA.  SMAC Approved!  http://www.columbusmuseum.org/

SOCIAL MOMS AROUND COLUMBUS WAS COMPENSATED FOR THEIR TRIP TO CMA