Celebrate the life and work of artist Pacita Abad with a day of artist-led activities, immersive textile artworks, and vibrant colors wherever you look. In honor of Abad, you’re invited to come to Free First Saturday wearing your brightest hues and boldest patterns.
Free First Saturday also includes free gallery admission from 10 am to 5 pm on the first Saturday of every month. Gallery admission tickets are available on-site on the event day from the Main Lobby desk; quantities are limited.
Activity Information
Art-Making Activity: Color and Shape Parade, 10 am–3 pm
Work with teaching artist Alexandra Beaumont to create a bold, celebratory garland inspired by artist Pacita Abad’s use of shape, color, and embellishment. Finished garlands can be taken home or added to a collaborative installation that will grow and evolve throughout the day.
Art-Making Activity: Interactive Weaving with Kao Lee Thao, 10 am–3 pm
Join artist Kao Lee Thao as she channels her Hmong ancestors by embroidering and cross-stitching an interactive weaving wall to create a one-of-a-kind story cloth.
Art-Making Activity: Underwater Worlds, 10 am–3 pm
Pacita Abad learned to swim as an adult and became an avid scuba diver, creating large artworks inspired by her underwater adventures. Imagine the vibrant and mysterious worlds you might encounter underwater, then create your own miniature diorama filled with sea life!
Tour for Families, 11:30 am
Tour for General Audiences, 1 pm
Join a Walker educator for a family-friendly guided tour of artworks on view in the galleries at 11:30 am (40 min.), or take a guided tour for general audiences at 1 pm (60 min.). Tours meet at the Main Lobby desk, five minutes before the tour start time. Tours explore a selection of artworks across current exhibitions and include interactive discussion.
Visit the Walker Art Center Library, 10 am–3 pm
The Walker’s library is open! Cozy up with an artful book or work with your family and friends to complete a fun word game for a prize. The library entrance is through the Art Lab.
Watch a Short Film, 10 am–3 pm
At the Conservator’s Bench: Pactia Abad’s Flight to Freedom follows the progress of a team of conservators at National Gallery Singapore as they prepare Abad’s monumental painting Flight to Freedom for exhibition. This behind-the-scenes documentary lasts 13 minutes and will loop between 10 am and 3 pm. Capacity is limited to 10 people at a time. This relaxed screening is appropriate for all ages.
Bios
Alexandra Beaumont is a textile artist and dancer. She was born and raised in South Carolina to a Jamaican father and American mother, both working musicians. After working in New York City as a menswear designer, she returned to a fine arts practice, incorporating her love for fabrics and hand sewing. She now lives in Minneapolis, where she makes work centering themes of personal reconstruction, community, and celebratory display. Her first solo exhibition Version was presented at Ridgewater College in Minnesota in 2022. She is a 2022 recipient of the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council Next Step Fund grant and a 2023 Forecast Early Career Project grantee. She is a member of PF Studios in Minneapolis and contributes to the development team of Public Functionary, a gallery, performance space, and café supporting BIPOC and LGBTQ artists in the Twin Cities.
Kao Lee Thao is a visual/public artist and 3D animator behind Inner Swirl, where she taps into the subconscious and releases hidden inner swirls in paintings. All her inspirations come from dreams and personal experiences. With every stroke she leaves behind a window into her soul, hoping to spark inspiration in others and transport viewers to a world of fantasy, reminding us not to forget what imagination can accomplish in life.
Accessibility
The short film will be captioned.
For visitors who need to plan accessible transportation to the Walker, please email access@walkerart.org or call 612-375-7564 to inquire about reserving timed admission.
To request accommodations for this program or for more information about accessibility, call 612-375-7564 or email access@walkerart.org.
For more information about accessibility at the Walker, visit our Access page.
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