Meet at Mia
Connect, create, kick back! Meet at Mia is a series of free Thursday evening events for adults. Get to know us—and each other—with live music, art making, special programs, and unique food and drink (for purchase). No registration or secret handshake required.
Fall and Early Winter Programs
October 16 Panoramic Presence
Celebrate Mia’s exhibition “José María Velasco: A View of Mexico” during Meet at Mia! Experience the work of one of Mexico’s most renowned artists and make the evening an adventure with live music from quartet Son de Cuerdas. Enjoy a special DJ set by Miguel Vargas and Terrell Lamarr, create your own artwork inspired by Velasco’s masterpieces, and take a guided tour of the exhibition.
Tour “José María Velasco: A View of Mexico,” 6 and 7:15 p.m.
Listen to Son de Cuerdas, 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. in Regis Court
Get groovy with DJ Miguel Vargas and Terrell Lamarr
Make artwork inspired by José María Velasco’s iconic landscapes with Silvana Agostoni
Eat at Burrito Mercado, 6–8:30 p.m.
October 30 Gatsby Get Up
Let the ghost of The Great Gatsby guide you this Halloween! Don your Halloween costumes* and head to Mia for a night of Jazz Age fun and Mia’s second annual costume contest. Eat, make, explore the museum, and more, all with a little F. Scott Style.
Tour “Gatsby at 100,” 7:15 and 7:45 p.m.
Get groovy with DJ Sci-Fi, 5–8:45 p.m.
Tune in to The Object LIVE!: The Ghost of Gatsby, 7 p.m.; free registration required
Make Art Deco wall art with teaching artist Laura Wennstrom
Show off at the costume* contest hosted by Mica Grimm, 8:15 p.m.
Visit open houses at the Library, Photo Study Room, and Print Study Room, 5–7 p.m.
Eat at Del Sur Empanadas, 6–8:30 p.m.
Cheers with sparkling cocktails at Agra Cafe
*Costume rules at Mia: Wings and tails cannot be worn in the galleries; face paint cannot be worn at all. Wings and tails can be worn in the lobby, and/or put on for the contest at 8:15. No non-medical face masks. No large props (i.e. swords).
November 6 Weaving Time
Meet at Mia celebrates Native American Heritage Night! DJ Bleak Roses provides the soundtrack to the evening. Take a tour of Mia’s collection of works by Indigenous artists and enjoy delicious bites from Trickster Tacos.
Listen to DJ Bleak Roses
Make Birch bark accessories with Mashkiki Studios
Eat at Trickster Tacos, 6–8 p.m.
Watch a film screening of A Winter Love and Q&A with director Rhiana Yazzie, 6:30–8:30 p.m.
Tour Mia’s collection celebrating works by Native artists, 6 and 7:15 p.m.
November 13 Divine Figures
Celebrate Mia’s new special exhibition “Royal Bronzes: Cambodian Art of the Divine.” Wattanak Dance Troupe graces the galleries with performances of traditional Cambodian Dance, and local artist Narate Keys shares original poetry. Create artwork inspired by the bronze sculptures with Chicago Avenue Fire Arts Center and learn about the process of metal casting. Enjoy free access to the exhibition all night and dive deeper into the artwork on a special tour.
Tour “Royal Bronzes: Cambodian Art of the Divine,” 6 and 7:15 p.m.
Enjoy traditional Cambodian Dance from Wattanak Dance Troupe
Create pewter metal casting and demonstration with Chicago Avenue Fire Arts Center
Listen to original poetry readings by Narate Keys
December 4 Pioneers of Abstraction
Dare to dive into the abstract! DJ TaliaKnight provides the soundtrack for this Meet at Mia. Make your own artwork with Laura Brown and enjoy a free screening of “Beyond the Visible: Hilma af Klint” to learn about one of the pioneering abstract artists. Get up close and personal with artwork from Mia’s collection during special tours of the contemporary art galleries.
Groove with DJ TaliaKnight
Watch “Hilma af Klint: Beyond the Visible,” 7 p.m. (run time is 1 hour, 33 minutes)
Create abstract-inspired artmaking with Laura Brown
Tour Mia’s contemporary art galleries, 6 and 7:15 p.m.
January 8 Got Hygge?
The winter months are peak hygge (pronounced HUE-guh) season. This Scandinavian word encourages us to tap into the cozy side of life, so we’re bringing those chill vibes to Meet at Mia. Make colorful, geometric art with Tia Keobunpheng and bring some “ahhh” to your senses with hand-crafted simmer kits. Roam Mia’s galleries to find the perfect wintery landscapes and bask in the glimmer of Norwegian silver artworks.
Create geometric artwork with Tia Keobounpheng
Make spice kits with Laura Wennstrom to bring some hygge-friendly aroma home with you
Explore “Crowning the North: Silver Treasures from Bergen, Norway”
Tour Mia’s winter-inspired art collection
January 22 New Views
This Meet at Mia is all about photography! DJ BleakRoses provides the tunes for you to explore Mia’s photography exhibition “Containing Multitudes.” Get your aura portrait taken with Vivid Violet Photography.
Listen to DJ BleakRoses
Discover Coggins cameras and get your own aura portrait with Vivid Violet Aura photography
Explore Mia’s photography galleries
More details coming soon!
