DISCOVERY PARTIES & FAM JAMS

September 2015 to present

THE PROJECT

Each season, Des Moines Performing Arts offers affordable Saturday matinee family friendly shows as part of their Wellmark Family Series. Prior to each performance, the entire Civic Center is transformed into a Discovery Party where guests can explore the themes of the show to enhance the performance through art, music, movement, animal interactions and button making stations. Starting in the summer of 2018, DMPA began programming a free family friendly concert series in Cowles Commons, a public space operated by the organization.

MY ROLE

As a visiting artist for DMPA, I have planned, created step-by-step instructions and facilitated 2 art stations for each Family Series show since 2015. The challenge of each art station is that it should be accomplished within 15 minutes, should be minimal in mess, and targets the ages between 5-11. Additionally, I designed colorable buttons, program maps, and helped oversee the entire event for the 2015-2017 seasons. As of 2020, I continue collaborating with DMPA by designing the buttons.

Here is a full listing of shows and the art stations created for them:  

2018-2019
Ugly Ducking
1- Duck Hat
2-Duck Finger Puppet

Peter & the Wolf in Hollywood (Symphony)
1- Robot Puppet
2- Wolf Mask

Golden Dragon Acrobats
1- Lantern
2- Paper Cutting

Jazzy Ash and Leaping Lizards
1- Banjo
2- Streamer

2017-2018

Mr. Popper’s Penguins
1- Penguin Puppet
2- Penguin Mask

Feathers of Fire
1- Shadow Puppet
2-Silhouette mask

Airplay
1- Kite
2- Cloud Streamer

SHH We Have a Plan
1- Goldfinch coloring sheets
2- Hat

Tetris
1- Geometric stackers

2016-2017

A Year with Frog and Toad
1- Frog Eyes Mask
2- "Toad in the Hole" Fly Catcher Game

Brown Bear, Brown Bear
1- "What Do You See?" Telescopes
2- Very Hungry Caterpillar Puppet

Hypnotic Brass Ensemble
1- Kazoos
2- Shakers

Mother Goose
1- Mother Goose puppet
2- Witch Mask

2015-2016
Cat in the Hat
1- Fish + Bowl Puppet
2- Thing 1 & Thing 2 Kite

Goodnight Moon
1- Bunny Ears
2- Bunny Finger Puppet

Peter and the Wolf
1- Wolf Puppets
2- Bird, Duck, Cat or Wolf Mask

San Jose Tako
1- Koinobori Streamers
2- Traditional Japanese Bound Notebooks

Photos by Dan Welk