By: Daniela Pérez
If you are looking for an impressive way to introduce your kids to art, and get them to connect with the artist, a visit to the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis is a must. Pacita Abad family friendly exhibits radiate joy and bring colorful moments for the entire family. Her large pieces of art will have kids talking about it all Summer.
“I feel like I am an ambassador of colors, always projecting a positive mood that helps make the world smile.”
-Pacita abad
Pacita Abad (1946-2004) was from the Philippines, moved to the United States in the 1970. In San Francisco, California she found her love for the arts. She studied Political Sciences in the Philippines and then Arts at the Corcoran School of Art in Washington D.C.. Pacita is a very well known painter for the “trapunto” technique, a form of quilted painting, as well as mixed media.
She traveled to more than 60 countries which you will see reflected in her art pieces. Today her works are in public, corporate, and private collections in more than 70 countries. Each one of her pieces is very colorful, representing stories of the communities she visited or are a form of activism representing social issues of the time.
“I truly believe that, as an artist, I have a social responsibility for my painting, to try to make our world a little better.”
-pacita abad
At the Walker art center you can find large colorful pieces that will speak by themselves transporting you to far away places. This exhibition is a perfect example to kids of how our creations are a reflection of our lives. Your entire family will be surprised by the decorations in the pieces of “trapunto” as well as the sizes of the arts.
Kids will also learn about Pacitas Filipino-American heritage mixing both cultural backgrounds and her love for abstract shapes and colors as well as her art all over the world. If you have an artist they will talk about this exhibit for a very long time.
The exhibit has the right amount of art that will not bore some of our kids that don’t enjoy art in itself. You can ask them to look for the mini decorations in the pieces, that will keep them entertained. However, they will be so mesmerized by the colors and sizes of the pieces that you might walk out of the exhibit with a new art lover. they will love it.
Kids practicing Spanish with Pacita Abad
The exhibit has a Spanish guide for older kids to understand and explore the art of Pacita Abad. This guide is also available in other languages.
Things to consider if you go:
Please check the Walter Arts Center website for hours and tickets. The exhibit will be in town until September 3, 2023.
