Ackland FAM: Woodruff's Landscapes
2022-02-27 13:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York) | Ackland Art Museum, 101 S. Columbia Street, Chapel Hill, NC, 27514, United States
Join the Ackland as Ackland F.A.M. (Families at the Museum) focus on one of the Harlem Renaissance’s leading artists, Hale Aspacio Woodruff and his piece, Landscape (Mississippi, Soil Erosion), seen on the right.
We will be considering the variety of ways that humans depict and interact with their environments by looking closely at Landscape (Mississippi, Soil Erosion), featured in the Ackland’s Close Looks initiative.
Activities marked with an asterisk will be available following Family & Friends Sunday while supplies last!
Family & Friends Sunday
February 27 | 1-5 p.m.
Storytime | 1:30 p.m.
Join the Ackland’s Public Program Team as we read Harlem Renaissance Party by Faith Ringgold! Meet in ART&. Book is appropriate for ages 3 and up.
Woodruff Inspired Yoga | 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Wear comfy clothes and meet in ART&. Mats are provided and instruction is provided by Ona Hawk via a Spelman Museum of Fine Art recorded Yoga session (60 mins). It is appropriate for all ages and skill levels.
Video Courtesy of: Spelman College Museum of Fine Art, 2021
Landscape Scavenger Hunt*
Search the Ackland’s collection for more examples of how artists choose to represent the environment.
Family Art Kit*
Pick up a kit to use in the galleries or at home to make your own layered landscapes inspired by Hale Woodruff’s Landscape (Mississippi, Soil Erosion).
Kids’ Compare and Contrast*
Stop in Gallery 14 and discuss the similarities and differences between Hale Woodruff’s Landscape (Mississippi Soil Erosion) and Jean Metzinger’s Landscape.
Virtual Landscape Tour
Explore other works by artist Hale Woodruff. Consider how he uses color, shape, and line to create his art.

Ackland FAM: Make It with Metal
2022-03-27 13:00 - 17:00
Explore the dazzling world of art made with metal for March’s Ackland F.A.M. (Families at the Museum). Activities marked with an asterisk will be available following Family & Friends Sunday while supplies last!
The Ackland Art Museum is operating under the guidelines of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. As of March 7, 2022, masks are optional in our galleries.
Family & Friends Sunday
March 27 | 1-5 p.m.
Blacksmithing Demo
Live blacksmithing demonstration by Robert Bemis on the Terrace (blacksmith and historic trades education specialist at North Carolina Historic Sites)
Explore Culture Kits
Borrowed from Carolina Navigators, discover more about everyday life in Burkina Faso, Ghana, and Mali. All three countries have pieces on view in Peace, Power & Prestige
Family Art Kit*
Pick up a kit to use in the galleries or at home to make your own metal jewelry inspired by Peace, Power & Prestige
Kids’ Self-Guide to Peace, Power & Prestige*
Explore the exhibition with a special family-friendly self-guided tour
Metalwork Scavenger Hunt*
Search the Ackland’s collection for more examples of artworks made in metal
*Available for families through April 3 while supplies last.

Ackland FAM: Fishes and Dishes, Plates and Plants
2022-04-24 13:00 - 17:00
Join the Ackland as Ackland F.A.M. (Families at the Museum) focus on Clare Leighton, an American who was known for her engravings, and her piece, Whaling, seen on the right.
We will be considering the variety of ways that humans depict and interact with their environments by looking closely at Leighton’s Whaling, featured in the Ackland’s Close Looks initiative.
Activities marked with an asterisk will be available following Family & Friends Sunday while supplies last!
Family & Friends Sunday
April 24 | 1-5 p.m.
Storytime | 1:30 p.m.
Join the Ackland’s Public Program Team as we read a book all about whales! Meet in ART&. Book is appropriate for ages 3 and up.
Nautical Scavenger Hunt*
Search the Ackland’s collection for more examples of the sea, sun, and sailors!
Family Art Kit*
Pick up a kit to use in the galleries or at home to make your own set of nature-themed plates inspired by Clare Leighton’s Whaling and others in the Ackland’s collection.
More to be added – check back soon!

Ackland F.A.M.: Juneteenth Celebration
2022-06-19 13:00 - 17:00
Our June Ackland F.A.M. (Families at the Museum) theme celebrates Juneteenth with several activities available in person on June 19, the final day of our current exhibition Modern Black Culture: The Art of Aaron Douglas.
Juneteenth Celebration
June 19| 1-5 p.m.
Interactive Family Tour | 2:00 p.m.
Join Ackland docents in a family-friendly close look at Aaron Douglas’ 1931 mural Harriet Tubman.
Storytime | 3:00 p.m.
Join the Ackland’s Public Program Team as we read books about the significance of murals! Meet in ART&. Books are appropriate for ages 5 and up.
Mural & Graffiti Wall | All Afternoon in the Ackland courtyard
Make your mark on our temporary mural wall with spray paint and inspiration from the art on view at the Ackland. Hosted by Chapel Hill Arts and Culture
Free Family Activity Kits | Available in the Ackland Lobby beginning May 18
Pick up a kit to use in the galleries or at home to make your own “mural sketch” using stencils and textured paper, inspired by Aaron Douglas’s vibrant Harriet Tubman mural.
Self-Guided Art Walk to Chapel Hill-Carrboro Juneteenth Celebration at Hargraves Community Center
Explore Chapel Hill’s vibrant public art on a self-guided art walk between the Ackland and Chapel Hill-Carrboro’s 2nd Annual Juneteenth Celebration at Hargraves Community Center from 2-6 p.m. on June 19. Pick up a copy at the Ackland or view a PDF of the Mural Walk here.
Find out more about the performances, poetry, and more at the Chapel Hill-Carrboro Juneteenth celebration of Black community and culture by visiting their event page: https://www.chapelhillarts.org/calendar/juneteenth-celebration/.

Ackland F.A.M.: Play at the pARC
2022-07-24 18:00 - 21:00
Celebrate summer and the spirit of play at pARC by The Urban Conga, the Ackland’s newly opened Terrace installation, with interactive art-inspired movement workshops!
6-9 p.m. | pARC Movement Workshops
Join a pARC-inspired movement workshop led by choreographer Killian Manning, with special musical guest Daniel Levin on cello. Workshops begin at 6 p.m., 7 p.m., and 8 p.m. All ages and abilities are welcome! Wear comfortable clothing for a July evening and rubber-soled shoes.
More to Explore:
– Pick up a F.A.M. Activity Kit and make your own reflective suncatcher inspired by pARC. Available while supplies last during our regular hours.
– Take a Summery Scavenger Hunt through the galleries to cool off. Available at the Front Desk.
– Read about art in unusual places in this PDF Kids’ Reading List inspired by pARC

This project was supported by the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

Ackland F.A.M.: Food and Art
2022-08-24 - 2022-09-04
In late August, explore our F.A.M. (Families at the Museum) theme connecting food and art! Pick up a F.A.M. art kit to use at the Museum or at home, search for hidden food in works on view in the galleries, and be sure to check out Houseguests: American Art from the Art Bridges Collection Loan Partnership, the inspiration for this month’s theme! The exhibition is on view through Sunday, September 4.
Hidden Food Artwalk
Take a walk around the Ackland and see if you can find the hidden food in each of these artworks! View the Hidden Food Artwalk PDF here.
F.A.M. Kit: Abstract Breakfast
Be inspired by the colorful and cubistic style utilized by Stuart Davis in his painting, Breakfast Table, to create your own Abstract Breakfast! Pick up a F.A.M. Kit in the Museum lobby to use while you’re here or take one home. Available through September 4 while supplies last!
Stuart Davis Timeline
How does Stuart Davis’s Breakfast Table, on view in Houseguests, fit into his larger body of works? Explore our timeline on Padlet.

Ackland F.A.M.: Dutch Drawingfest
2022-09-25 13:00 - 17:00
An all-ages celebration of drawing to mark the opening weekend of the Ackland’s newest exhibition, Drawn to Life: Master Drawings from the Age of Rembrandt in the Peck Collection at the Ackland Art Museum. Events include:
The Living Line: watch as animator Stella Rosalie Rosen, MFA ’22, brings pieces from Drawn to Life into conversation with one another through frame-by-frame animation using graphite on paper. Viewers will see how the images are animated in real time under a camera, as the camera’s visual feed is projected on the wall. The end result will be a short film incorporating imagery from the exhibition as it was originally perceived by the artists — moving through time and vibrating with life.
Sketching in the Galleries: all are invited to learn the fundamentals of classical drawing at drop-in drawing stations in the galleries with instructor Daniel Hammer, artist and Ackland Drawing for Tweens teacher.

F.A.M. Activity Kits: pick up an art kit with drawing supplies to use in the galleries or take home with you! Available beginning Sept 25 and while supplies last.

This program is supported by the Orange County Arts Commission and by the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

Ackland F.A.M.: Art's Aliiiiive!
2022-10-20 - 2022-10-31
It’s spooky season at the Ackland. Pick up a F.A.M. (Families at the Museum) Activity Kit in our lobby with instructions and materials for an art-inspired skeleton craft, plus an Art’s Aliiiiive Scavenger Hunt in the galleries.
Need more scary good art in your life? Check out our online Community Favorites list for the month and add your own finds to the list!
https://ackland.emuseum.com/favorites/20094/ackland-fam-arts-aliiiiive/objects

Ackland F.A.M. Kits
2022-11-04 - 2022-11-30
Pick up November’s F.A.M. (Families at the Museum) Kit in the lobby to enjoy in the galleries or at home. Every free kit includes all the instructions and materials you need to create a work of art. This month, we’ll use collage and crafting to explore abundance. “Feast your eyes,” on the Ackland’s many works about food and sharing, and reflect on all the bounties in your life during this Thanksgiving season. Kits available while supplies last.
Looking for more inspiration? Check out our online favorites collection for extra “food for thought.”
https://ackland.emuseum.com/favorites/20096/ackland-fam-scenes-of-abundance/objects
Visit us again on November 20 for this month’s F.A.M. Fun in the Galleries! We’ll explore themes of gratitude with a story time, communal art-making, and thematic scavenger hunt.

F.A.M. Fun in the Galleries
2022-11-20 13:00 - 17:00
Enjoy this month’s F.A.M. (Families at the Museum) by celebrating gratitude and community. All ages are invited to participate in this festive event. Join us for the following activities:
Thankful Tales Storytime: listen, laugh, and learn along with a special storytime led by the Ackland’s Scott Frawley. All ages welcome – with a target audience of toddler – kindergarten. Times will vary.
Communal Crafting Banquet: everyone is invited to contribute to a collective, crafty masterpiece! Together, let’s draw, sculpt, and collage a beautiful feast of foods to celebrate the season.
Thematic Scavenger Hunt: see if you can find artworks that help connect us all. Are there artworks that show how we can be thankful? What about works that make you think of friends or family? Get creative, and explore how art can teach us about gratitude.
This program is supported by the Orange County Arts Commission.

Ackland F.A.M. Kits
2022-12-02 - 2022-12-18
Pick up December’s F.A.M. (Families at the Museum) Kit in the lobby to enjoy in the galleries or at home. Every free kit includes all the instructions and materials you need to create a work of art. This month, the artwork will depict your favorite December celebrations while reflecting the winter solstice’s perfect balance of lightness and darkness. Kits available while supplies last.

F.A.M. Fun in the Galleries: Family art-making workshop with Mitzie Jokich-Feltch
2023-02-26 13:30 - 15:00
Artist Mitzie Jokich-Feltch will lead a family art-making class in connection with Good Object / Bad Object. Plan to make create playful sculptures and stretch your imaginations when your objects start to “misbehave.” Jokich-Feltch believes that the arts are foundational for all learning, and she specializes in teaching for autistic- and intellectual disabilities-centered arts programs. Families can expect this workshop to explore the ways that art-making helps to make sense of how we see the world and other perspectives.
*Pre-registration required*
This program is supported by the Orange County Arts Commission and by the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

Ackland F.A.M. Kits: "We put the A in STEAM"
2023-03-31 - 2023-04-30
In connection with the North Carolina Science Festival’s theme “Full STEAM Ahead,” find out how the Ackland puts the “A” in STEAM. Color and take home your own set of bookmarks featuring four artworks on view at the Ackland that highlight the connections between Art and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. Bookmark templates and coloring supplies are available throughout the month on the Ackland’s F.A.M. (Families at the Museum) cart in the lobby.

F.A.M. Fun in the Galleries: Exploring "Unsettled Things"
2023-06-25 13:00 - 17:00
This Sunday, families are invited to explore Unsettled Things: Art from an African American South at a very special afternoon of art-filled activities. Throughout the afternoon, pick up a F.A.M. activity kit with materials to make your own art inspired by quilts on view in the exhibition. Pick up the F.A.M. Zine for more ways to explore the Museum.
TICKETS NOW AVAILABLE: From 1:30-3:00 p.m., families can register to participate in a quilt-making workshop with local quilter Kimberley Cartwright.
This program is supported by the Orange County Arts Commission and by the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

F.A.M. Fun in the Galleries
2023-09-24 13:00 - 17:00
Drawing activities for the whole family inspired by the Ackland’s current exhibition Reform to Restoration.
No ticket needed; drop in all afternoon!
ABOUT THE EXHIBITION
Reform to Restoration: French Drawings from Louis XVI to Louis XVIII (1770-1830) presents over eighty master drawings from The Horvitz Collection, the preeminent private collection of French art in the United States, and showcases some of the most well-known artists of the period, including Jacques-Louis David, Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres, and Pierre-Paul Prud’hon. Working in a time of tremendous political and social upheaval in France, artists looked to the art, architecture, and literature of ancient Greece and Rome for inspiration and used stories from antique history and mythology as well as current events and contemporary theater to convey moral and civic values during a period of great uncertainty. Arranged in thematic groupings devoted to the concepts of patriotism, love, honor, conflict, and despair, the works on display demonstrate the intellectual curiosity of late eighteenth- and early nineteenth-century French artists as well as the expressive versatility and powerful immediacy of drawings.
Image credit: Jean-François-Pierre PEYRON (1744-1814), Standing Draped Man and Child, ND, Pen with black ink and brush with gray wash, heightened with white gouache, on blue wove paper, 380 x 275 mm. (Framed: 23 x 17 ½ x 1 ½ ), L2023.6.39

F.A.M. Fun in the Galleries: Picturing Portraiture in "The Outwin"
2023-11-19 13:00 - 17:00
Visitors of all ages are invited to explore The Outwin: American Portraiture Today through a variety of hands-on portrait-making activities and take a self-guided tour of portraiture in the Ackland’s galleries.
The Outwin: American Portraiture Today has been organized by the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery. The competition and exhibition are made possible by the Virginia Outwin Boochever Portrait Competition Endowment, established by Virginia Outwin Boochever and sustained by her family. The Ackland’s presentation is supported in part by Caroline and Arthur Rogers.
Organized by:

F.A.M. Fun in the Galleries: Exploring "Past Forward"
2024-02-25 13:00 - 17:00
Spend an art-filled afternoon at the Ackland with family-friendly events and self-guided activities inspired by our current exhibition Past Forward: Native American Art from Gilcrease Museum. Local storyteller Ryan Dial (Lumbee; American Indian Center) will lead a storytime session for kids and their families at 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. A special close-looking activity sheet will be available for young art-lovers to explore Past Forward. Be sure to take home a F.A.M. kit with everything you need to make a woven artwork inspired by a Split Rivercane Basket featured in Past Forward.
This program is made possible by a Spark the Arts Grant from the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.
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Past Forward: Native American Art from Gilcrease Museum is co-organized by the American Federation of Arts and Gilcrease Museum.
The Ackland’s presentation of this exhibition has been made possible by the William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust, the Arthur F. and Alice E. Adams Charitable Foundation, and Jeff and Liesl Wilke ’92 (JD).
Exhibition-related public programs are supported by a Spark the Arts Grant from the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.
Additional support for the Ackland’s presentation of Past Forward: Native American Art from Gilcrease Museum is provided by Kerry D. Bird & Ken Gahagan.

Ackland F.A.M. Day: "Dürer to Matisse"
2024-09-29 13:00 - 17:00
An afternoon of print-making fun featuring a hands-on stamp-carving workshop with artist Raj Bunnag, do-it-yourself “dry” printing technique tables in the Museum, and self-guided scavenger hunts in Dürer to Matisse.
Free; no registration required.
Public programs for Dürer to Matisse: 400 Years of European Prints are supported by the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

Ackland F.A.M. Day: "Triple Take"
2025-02-23 13:00 - 17:00
An afternoon of art-inspired activities for the whole family with inspiration from our exhibition Triple Take: Dialogues with the Terra Collection-in-Residence featuring American art from the Terra Foundation and works from the Ackland’s collection that complement one another in imaginative ways. Craft paper dolls, a close-looking kaleidoscope, abstract crinkle art, and more.
Free; no registration required.

Ackland F.A.M. Day: "Color Triumphant"
2025-11-16 13:00 - 17:00
Activities for the whole family inspired by the Ackland’s current exhibition Color Triumphant: Modern Art from the Collection of Julian and Josie Robertson.
No ticket needed; drop in all afternoon!

Ackland F.A.M. Day: Growing Up
2026-03-22 13:00 - 17:00
Activities for the whole family inspired by the Ackland’s current exhibition Bill Bamberger: Boys Will Be Men.
F.A.M. (Families at the Museum) Day is a free, walk-in program for all ages; drop in all afternoon!
