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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
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)
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