Local circus artists fly through the air and mesmerize, a medieval baron makes giant bubbles, and shadows come alive in the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden. Local artist Nicole M. Smith presents a day full of magical surprises and art exploration.
Free First Saturdays feature free gallery admission on the first Saturday of every month, plus performances, games, art-making, and kids’ films from 10 am to 3 pm. Family friendly food options are available or bring something from home to snack on in the museum’s public spaces.
Performance: Aerial Acrobats
11 am, 12 noon, 1 pm
It’s a first ever for Free First Saturday: be mesmerized by a circus act in the Cowles Pavilion. Watch acrobats Nicolas Collard and Elena Garner (a.k.a. the Tortellini Cousins) fly through air on silk fabrics in this picnic-themed performance!
Playtime: Baron of the Bubble
11 am–1 pm
Join us for a magical playtime with Minneapolis’ very own Baron of the Bubble, Sir Sydney Soapington! You will be wowed by the giant bubbles that he can make–jump through them, learn his tricks, and blow your own giant bubbles.
Art-Making Activity: Shadow Tracing
10 am–3 pm
Kids and families are taking over the Garden with chalk! Search the for all seven parts of the Garden’s newest installation, Ta-coumba Aiken and Seitu Jones’s Shadows at the Crossroads. Be inspired by these unique sculptures, then use chalk to trace and design your own from the shadows that fall across the sidewalks. Led by teaching artist Katrina Knutson.
Art-Making Activity: Bubble Painting
10 am–3 pm
You know how to blow bubbles—did you know that you can also paint with them?! Bubble paintings are fun, messy, and the perfect outdoor summer activity. Come prepared to roll up your sleeves and
make your own bubble paintings with teaching artist Roman Feldhahn.
Minneapolis Sculpture Garden Tour
Discover a new favorite artwork in the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden on a participatory tour for kids with a Walker-trained educator. Meet at the Main Entrance to the Walker Art Center.
English, 12 noon
Spanish, 1 pm
Nicole M. Smith is a radical healing artist who works through lectures, performances, and teachings as well as workshop/residency design and partnership. She has recently partnered with the Rondo Community for an intergenerational storytelling project. Smith is a graduate and recent faculty of the Creative Community Leadership Institute and is recognized by Intermedia Arts as a Changemaking Artist.
Katrina Knutson designs and teaches workshops and classes to youth across the Twin Cities at galleries, art centers, libraries, and schools. She is an active community muralist and studio artist. The connection between justice, creating, building, teaching, learning, and sharing is central Knutson’s work.
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