On Saturday, February 10, the Minnesota Marine Art Museum (MMAM) will hold its Winter Seasonal Saturday event focused on the theme The Most Beautiful Thing, inspired by MMAM’s new literary arts exhibition Across a Wide Ocean: Remarkable Stories about the Origins of Identity. Newly opened in January of this year, this exhibition features two books including The Most Beautiful Thing by Kao Kalia Yang, illustrated by Khoa Le (Lerner Publishing, Carolrhoda Books, 2020), and reminds us how water shapes personal, familial, and historical stories across cultures and time.
Seasonal Saturdays strive to reduce intimidation and increase comfortable access to the arts for everyone by offering fun-filled, inviting days, with $1 admission, free transportation, artist-led programming, and 30-minute guided tours. Activities at the Winter Seasonal Saturday’s event include a HMong Paj Ntaub (flower cloth) demonstration with Mama Suzanne from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m., and a Nkauj HMoob dance performance at 3 p.m. by four college students who are passionate about Hmong dancing and showing their love of the Hmong culture and language.
Visitors can enjoy live music in the MMAM galleries by Meredith Mihm and Heidi Bryant (piano and flute) from 11 a.m. – 12 p.m., and from Kerry Klungtvedt (classical guitar) from 3 – 4p.m. Visitors are invited to make their own artwork by carving a stamp and using it to print a pattern. This art-making activity is for all ages and abilities.
Project FINE will be at the museum from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. to offer interpretation for Spanish and Hmong speaking participants. MMAM is also pleased to offer free rides to and from the museum with the Winona Transit Service Dial-a-Ride. Please call 507-454-6666 to schedule a ride. The Winter Seasonal Saturday event runs from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. on Saturday, February 10, at MMAM, which is located at 800 Riverview Drive in Winona, MN. For more information, please visit mmam.org/seasonal-saturdays.
Seasonal Saturdays are made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund. Seasonal Saturdays are also supported by our generous sponsors, WNB Financial, BNSF, and Coca-Cola of Winona.
The Minnesota Marine Art Museum is a nonprofit art museum that creates meaningful art experiences that explore our relationship with water. Located in Winona, Minnesota, the purpose-built museum is located on the banks of the Mississippi River and boasts six galleries, an educational and events space, and a destination retail shop on its seven acre riverside campus. It is through this surprising diversity that MMAM is not only describing what marine art is, but pushing the boundaries of what marine art can be.