Who's in a family? 3 ways museums can welcome all families

If your museum doesn’t consider “families” its core audience group, it probably should. Now more than ever, most people coming to museums are visiting in family groups. Through research initiatives like the Family Learning Forum, we’ve come to know the benefits of inviting families into museums- for us and our communities. And if you didn't notice, the Family Learning Forum is a project of the USS Constitution Museum, a history museum. Catering to families is no longer solely the realm of children's museums. In an effort to serve families better, science centers are incorporating early childhood spaces and art museums are developing backpacks full of materials to engage children in their galleries.

Families are the units of our visitorship. When we offer family rates, family passes, and family memberships it’s important for us to think about what we mean by the word “family” and the assumptions we might make about what a family looks like, how many family members there are, and who’s who based on gender, race, and age.

Here are three ways to help make our museums more welcoming places for all families:

1. Define (or better yet, explicitly refrain from defining) your institution’s understanding of the word “family” in broad terms, somewhere prominent, like on your website or at the admissions desk. 

This is the easiest step to take in welcoming all families to your museum. Craft some language to let folks know that their family is welcome and won’t be scrutinized. Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco does this simply and elegantly on their Family Pass.

"You define family - not us!"

2. Use the word “grown-up” “caregiver” or “adult” instead of “parent” “mom/dad” “grandparent” etc.

This suggestion can be used in signage as well as in conversations between visitors and floor staff. You don’t know who is accompanying a child to the museum, so avoid alienating your visitor or embarrassing yourself by keeping your language neutral and not making assumptions about relationships between family members. 

Examples of non-neutral language: 

•  Family membership is limited to members of a single household.
• Are you lost? Let’s go find your Mom.
• Your granddaughter is so smart!
• Is Dad at home today?

Examples of family-inclusive language:

• All children must be accompanied by an adult caregiver. 
• Uh-oh! Where's your grownup? 
• Is this little-one with you? 
• You all look like you’re having fun today! 

Family-inclusive signage at Boston Children's Museum

3. Make your policies fit your philosophy, not the other way around. 

If you've decided to tell your visitors that you support and validate their personal definition of "family", you might be worried that you'll start losing money on family passes and family memberships. Don't let that deter you from continuing to offer them, just change the way you think about them. Try offering memberships at rates based on the number of adults and children they want to put on the membership card. Before changing your family pass policy, try the Yerba Buena model- you might be surprised at how few people try and take advantage. And if it doesn't work, you can always institute a cap number later.

"And how many people would you like to put on your family membership?"

How does your museum welcome all families?

Feature Friday in Emeryville hosted by Tom Franco

Friday, November 30, 6-8 pm at the Public Market in Emeryville
Art exhibit opening for Carol Jenkins and Ellen Zucker 

Curated and hosted by Tom Franco.

Meet: Ellen Zucker

Ellen Zucker's artist statement:  I arrived at painting late in life, through a mysterious process more like grace received than like a decision made. But of course there were also many decisions, seeking teachers, workshops, painting groups and finally a studio space to foster my painting practice.
I spend hour after hour lost in blue, wondering whether it's Prussian blue I'm after or is it really Payne's gray I want, or will a bit of white be just the thing that makes me say ah, it's finished. I wonder if the quinacridone burnt orange is way too thick in that corner? I must answer only to a visceral aesthetic, no other "reasons" make sense. I'm in the world of seeing not thinking, of silence not words. I love the painting one afternoon and hate it the next morning, and sometimes, happily, the other way around.
I am drawn, endlessly, to paint the human figure, sometimes seemingly against my will when I'm imagining I really want to paint abstractly. Lately I've been inspired by several of Michelangelo's famous statements:
"Carving is easy, you just go down to the skin and stop."
"The sculptor's hand can only break the spell to free the figures slumbering in the stone."
Since I've been thinking about Michelangelo, piles of stones have begun to appear at the base of my figures. At rare moments, with paintbrush instead of chisel, I find the figure rather than create it. And then the hours and hours of false starts and blind alleys vanish and I am at peace.
(Caveat: the next morning might produce an utterly different response)
I am drawn to mystery, to the unknowable, to the place before words. Cause and effect don’t answer my questions. I cannot fathom birth, death, breathing, love, forever, sunshine, an ocean, an elm tree, a woman crying in pain, a child shrieking with glee.
Philip Guston says
“I don’t know what a painting is; who knows what sets off even the desire to paint?”
Without knowing what or why, I am engaged for hours on end. No reason why I paint, no reason why this mark and not that one, no reason why the human form today or the feel of the sea tomorrow. Just the mysterious pull to have brush, rag, stick, knife dipped in color, to say no to one mark and yes to another. On a bad day I can’t tolerate not knowing what I’m doing; on a good day that mysterious uncertainty seems like life itself.
Since I'm not sure how I arrived at this wordless intersection of inner and outer experience, I can only hope that I get to stay for a long time to come.

Carol Jenkins: "Ellen and I have been work partners for 35 years, and now, as of March of this year, we are also studio partners at the Firehouse Art Studios on 1000 Gilman Street in Berkeley."

"We are planning to have materials available for an art project at the opening at Emeryville Public Market, November 30, 6-8 PM. Anyone ages 3 to 103 can make a collage. We will provide materials and examples of collages by Matisse for inspiration!"

Meet: Carol Jenkins

In my paintings I explore the awe and mystery embedded in our relationship with the spiritual as well as the natural world. Using acrylic paint, charcoal, pastels, ink and oil stick, I try to convey the way light breaks open along the horizon, glows quietly in dark spaces or shines from within. I am drawn to abstract painting because it so clearly reveals the visual language of contrast, texture, movement, color and form. It challenges me to live with uncertainty, to trust something within that exists before knowing: the risk of putting paint on canvas without knowing what will follow. 

In the rest of my life, I am a practicing psychotherapist, and my medium is largely words. I love finding words that open new perspectives to life’s experiences. But I also love expression without words. When painting, I am thrilled when words drop away and I find a visual depiction of the emotions, the longings and the sense of wonder that reside within the human heart.





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Holidays! Back to celebrate Art and Peeps

Time to count all blessings of the year closing, to celebrate family, neighbors, connections made, losses and gains, friends and frenemies, our East Bay environment, collective accomplishments and collaborative learning. The whole gamut it takes to make up life at the cutting edge of authentic artist living.
Tons of gratitude to all the currency it takes to stay sustainable, even thrive, and those who manage to continue to support in every large and smallest way.

Gracias = graciousness and gratitude to Youz.
Big Holla out to our interns and volunteers across the entire bay!
Go Cal students and thanks a bunch to help put our events on the map.

At the Firehouse Art CoLab we like to THANK ALL our collaborators, for a year full of healthy growth, some healthy pruning, tons of creative nourishment, stellar food supporting our events and artists artists artists everywhere we venue. You are such an inspiration, we've listed you all year and look forward to showing you off to what's next to come.

Here is what's up for the last weeks of 2012:

Friday, November 30, 6-8 pm at the Public Market in Emeryville
Sparkling live jazz and DJ music, art exhibit opening for Carol Jenkins and Ellen Zucker curated and
hosted by Tom Franco.

Gallery North Open Door hours for the holidays, on 1790 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley CA 94709.
Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays 4-8pm hosted by exhibiting artists Robert J Knight and Julia Lazar extended show through December 31, 2012.

Friday, December 14, 6-9 pm at the Public Market in Emeryville
Holiday celebration made easy, with an FAC curated Feature Friday event, hosted and curated by Tom Franco and Julia Lazar. Featuring artists Annie Lourie and Leo Zubritsky who have a lifetime of awe inspiring art to show, live only- no website peeps, gotta come see their awesomeness in person.

Holiday Art Gifts will be available by some of our best diy Makers and Artisans coming to show & sell that day only. Experience a stellar line up under the coolest roof in Emeryville to date. Let's celebrate.
Also, bring your tiny peeps, as we will have our all time favorite face painter Tammy Artis on board again.
Located by the popular kid's play space ball pit by the back entrance.
Tip: Back entrance is also a great spot to park and enter.

ELLEN ZUCKER: Showing November-December

CAROL JENKINS: Showing November - December 2012

ANNIE LOURIE, in her 90s paints in her studio every day. Really. Showing December - January 2013

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2012 Nativity Exhibit Performing Groups

 

We are excited to welcome the following performing groups and individuals to the 2012 Nativity Exhibit and Music Festival:

Friday, November 30th:

4:30 pm  Greentree Gator Choir

5:00 pm  Community Music Teachers' Student Performers

6:00 pm  KHS Madrigals

6:30 pm  Pine Forest Elementary Choir

7:30 pm  KHS Orchestra
8:00 pm KPHS Madrigals

Saturday, December 1st:

1:30 pm  Eagle Springs Elementary

2:00 pm  Shane Hetherington, Pianist

3:00 pm  Timbers Elementary Choir

5:00 pm  Woodlands Harp Studio

7:00 pm  Atascocita HS Chamber Strings

8:00 pm  Kingwood Stake Choir
8:50 Silent Night

Click here for more details about the 2012 Nativity Exhibit & Music Festival!!

Share the 2012 Nativity Exhibit & Music Festival on Facebook!

Use this link (http://www.facebook.com/events/307375532708728/) to share the 2012 Nativity Exhibit & Music Festival on Facebook! 

Feel free to invite your friends and pass the link on to others!

November show open through December 1st

Thanks to everyone who came to the opening on Friday November 9th, Art Attack...we were packed to capacity at 9pm...Cool!
Stay tuned for the video, you can subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Betsy Franco read poetry from her book "Metamorphosis", Tom Franco debuted his live singing and guitar playing skills, Jimmy Dillon sang "Hold on to your dreams..." friends, neighbors, cal students, artists, live punk rock, DJs, peeps from our of town...made this the kind of party you smile for days about...we did.

Robert J Knight's sculptures resonate, especially with the men folk, in a big way. Every time we open the gallery door people stream inside and marvel at the symbolism, craftsmanship, tactility and authenticity of the Heart in Wood sculptures.

"To facilitate the Open Door times for the gallery, the exhibiting artists volunteer to host on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 4pm to 8pm through Saturday. 

December 1st, is closing night with refreshments, music and hopefully You."

Updates about daily and weekly events are easy to find on our facebook page.

ARTISTS
Julia Lazar
"Picture the Art of Life"
Photography

Robert J Knight
"Hearts in Wood and mixed Media"
Sculptural wall hangings

Tom Franco CoLab
"2012"
Sculpture and paintings

• Photography exhibit chronicles the art of life...in nature, travel, current culture and surroundings captured by Julia Lazar. 
• New exhibit of Bob Knight's amazing heart sculptures carved of wood with symbolic renderings in metal and found objects.
• Experience two new paintings from Tom Franco's Art Lab 2012

Robert J Knight "Hearts in Wood" sculptures

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2012 Kingwood Nativity Exhibit & Music Festival

Mark your calendars!  The 2012 Kingwood Nativity Exhibit & Music Festival will be held on the following dates:

Friday, November 30th: 1-9 pm

Saturday, December 1st:  1-9 pm

Sunday, December 2nd:  5:30-6:30 pm

You are also invited to join us on Sunday, December 2nd from 7:00-8:00 pm for a special Christmas Devotional from the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

For more details, visit our Nativity Exhibit and Music Festival Page here!

Feel free to share the good news with your friends and neighbors, on Facebook, or other social media sites!

ART ATTACK

At GALLERY NORTH
1790 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley gourmet ghetto
7-9pm

Robert J Knight, Hearts in Wood and mixed Media
Bob Knight's heart sculptures carved of wood with symbolic renderings in metal and found objects

Tom Franco CoLab paintings

Julia Lazar Photography, life in pictures

Dj Kamyar Jarahzadeh and DJ Fish will create the vibe with eclectic sounds
Bevy bar open with sparkling, still and smooth smackings also for snacking hosted by the fabulous Pollyanna and her friends.

Celebrating November birthdays with friends and collaborators, this event promises to be stellar, and a heartfelt art attack...

Julia Lazar, Dragon kill at dawn

Robert J Knight wall sculpture

Tom Franco CoLab 2012

SAM RUBIN'S FILM CLUB LINEUP

Film Club creator and host Sam Rubin

Here is what we look forward to:

Sam Rubin's Film Club at the Firehouse Gallery North  

1790 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley

Door opens at 6:30pm. Free entry & pop corn
Bring a comfy folding chair 

For dates please check our facebook page under events and our calendar on this site.

NOVEMBER: Expressionist Month
Nosferatu (GERMANY: F. W. Murneau): Silent classic based on the story "Dracula." Vampire Count Orlok expresses interest in a new residence and real estate agent Hutter's wife. This film capitalizes on the use of shadow as a means to create the fear of monsters.

DR. STRANGELOVE or: HOW I LEARNED TO STOP WORRYING AND LOVE THE BOMB: (USA: Dir. Stanley Kubrick, 1964) A black comedy which satirizes the nuclear scare following the Cold War. An unhinged US Airforce general orders a first strike nuclear attack on the Soviet Union. The President of the United States, his advisors, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and a Royal Air Force officer try to recall the bombers to prevent nuclear apocalypse. It separately follows the crew of on B-52 bomber as they try to deliver their payload. A stellar cast including George C. Scott, Peter Sellers, Sterling Hayden, Keenan Wynn, and Slim Pickens.

DECEMBER: GRAND THEMES
The Russian Ark (RUSSIA: Alexander Sokurov): The longest uninterrupted shot in film history, and the first feature film ever created in a single shot. Sokurov embarks on a time-travelling journey through 300 years of Russian history.

Moliere (FRANCE: Ariane Mnouchkine): A look at the life of French playwright and actor Jean Baptiste Poquelin, who developed his stagecraft adapting Commedia dell Arte plots to please brutalized peasants and cynical townspeople and eventually the Court at Versailles. Poquelin would later become known to the world as Moliere, one of the greatest masters of comedy in Western literature.

JANUARY: WOMEN
My Blueberry Nights (CHINA/HONG KONG: Wang Kar Wei): Gorgeously filmed pure romantic sensibility. A big-hearted owner of a small New York diner tries to soothe the broken heart of one of his clients. After going on a year long odyssey, she realizes that love what right at her doorstep all along.

Women Without Men (IRAN: Shirin Neshat): Neshat’s directorial debut, a stunning adaptation of Shahrnush Parsipur’s best-selling magic-realist novel. Set within the turmoil of 1953 Iran, a pivotal period of civil unrest in which a British and American-backed coup e’etat subverted the country’s democratically-elected government. The film follows the intertwining lives of four Iranian woman as they struggle to find peace in the face of overwhelming political strife and crushing cultural oppression.

FEBRUARY: SAM’S PICKS
On the Waterfront (USA: Elia Kazan) A seminal classic of American film. When ex-prize fighter turned longshoreman, Terry Malloy, inadvertently participates in the murder of fellow longshoreman, he struggles to stand up to his corrupt union bosses.

Tetro (USA: Francis Ford Coppola): A visually lush cinematic fugue about love, ambivalence and two brothers fleeing the dark shadow of their domineering father. Bennie, a waiter on a cruise ship, seeks out his estranged brother, Tetro, when he has a layover in Buenos Aires. Thoughts of their father cast a shadow over both brothers. Who is he, and what past has Tetro left behind?

MARCH: SCIENCE FICTION WAR
District Nine (SOUTH AFRICA: Neill Blomkamp) This film pivots on the themes of humanity, xenophobia, and social segregation. The title and premise of District 9 were inspired by events that took place in District Six, Cape Town, during the apartheid era. An alient spacecraft is confined to District 9, a government camp just underneath the hovering and disabled ship. Wikus van de Merwe, an Afrikaner bureaucrat, is appointed to lead the camp relocation. But he becomes infected with a virus from the ship and slowly becomes one of them. Hunted and hounded, he discovers what it means to be an outsider on your own planet.

Stalker (FORMER SOVIET UNION: Tarkovsky): A haunting meditation on the themes of science, healing and faith. An unseen alien force has taken possession of an area of Russian wilderness dubbed The Zone. Few who enter ever return. Three men become desperate pilgrims walking a desolate trail as they penetrate the dangers outside in search of the power and transcendence rumored to exist inside. This film has one of the most enigmatic and tantalizing endings in the history of cinema.

APRIL: SECRET AGENTS
Breach (USA: Billy Ray): Inspired by the incredible true story of the greaetst security breach in U.S. history. Eric O’Neill is assigned to work with renowned operative Robert Hansenn. Determined to draw this suspected double-agent out of deep cover, O’Neill finds himself in a lethal game of spy versus spy.

Tokyo Drifter (JAPAN: Seijun Suzuki): A 1966 Japanese yakuz (mafia) film. The story follows Tetsuya Watari as the reformed yakuza hitman "Phoenix." Tetsu who is forced to roam Japan avoiding execution by rival gangs. Suzuki’s stylized cult film pokes fun at the serious business of ganster life.

MAY: LIFE IN AND UNDER THE STREETS
In Darkness (POLAND: Agnieszka Holland) The true story of Leopold Socha who risks his own life to save a dozen people from certain death. Initially only interested in his own good, the thief and burglar hides Jewish refugees for 14 months in the sewers of the Nazi-occupied town of Lvov (former Poland).

L'Haine (FRANCE: Mathieu Kassovitz): A gripping reflection of its country’s ongoing identity crisis. A Jew, an African, and an Arab have grown up in the dead-end suburban ghetto-- the banlieu district--of Paris’s suburbs where racist sentiment and an oppressive police force have reached the boiling point. The film follows these three young men through 24-hour aimless spree of resentment at their social marginalization.

JUNE: VIRTUE
Red (FRANCE: Kieslowski): Dense and mysterious, ineffable patterns shape the characters' lives. Coincidences, missed opportunities, overbearing visual clues and strange, haunting parallels: all of these contribute to a gradually emerging sense of destiny between two characters who appear to have little in common. Stories develop like photographs in a darkroom. They are sharply defined only in retrospect, when the process is complete.The final film of The Three Colors Trilogy (Red, White, Blue), which examines the French Revolutionary ideals of Liberty, Equality, and Brotherhood, the national motto of France.

Dates will be posted on our Calendar as well as Firehouse.Art.Collective facebook page under events

Evolutions Installation

Karla Way
Evolutions

Oct 9 – Nov 17, 2012

Taking inspiration from Darwin’s research on the Origins of Species, we travel to a primeval archipelago to contemplate theories of evolution, variation and diversity.

Referencing the three Linnaean Kingdoms of animal, vegetable and mineral, jeweller Karla Way evokes rough forms, rocky textures and seed-like scaled and furry entities. All three exist in isolation, yet as they island hop and jump ship, new interactions take place and adaptations occur. New species emerge.

Way’s maiden voyage of precious pieces brings together her interest in natural history and anciently revered precious metals and gems. Evolutions reflect her ideas of connection and transformations, and these moments of union and growth are captured tangibly, in time.

More Evolutions...