Virtual Family Day: Shine On!
Every second Sunday of the month, Mia hosts a free monthly event for families, kids, and the young at heart featuring hands-on art activities, live music, dance performances, artist demonstrations, family tours and more — all inspired by Mia’s incredible collection.
Family Day Major Sponsor: 
Family Day: Shine On!
Be dazzled by the strength and brilliance of metal arts in Mia’s collection, some made thousands of years ago. Hear music played on metal gongs and cymbals by the Sumunar Gamelan Ensemble, and learn how to shine together through complicated times from therapist parents Jamil and Sara from Creative Kuponya. Quiz yourself about metal arts, and use household items to make your own mirror inspired by ancient bronze mirrors.
Shining On by Creative Kuponya therapy
Learn how to shine together through challenging times from therapist parents Jamil and Sara from Creative Kuponya, a unique local therapy practice that combines art, body movement and the celebration of culture. The video is a guide for parents that are working on building resiliency in their children and families in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and the murder of George Floyd.
Metal Arts Quiz and Guide
Click the photo for the interactive quiz “A Closer Look: Metal Arts at Mia.”
Click the photo above or click here to test your knowledge about metal arts with this short interactive quiz “A Closer Look: Metal Arts at Mia.” Also, click here to view the Art Explorers Guide try exploring metal arts in 3 ways: in the galleries, online, and in the world around you!
Mirror to the Past
Italy (ancient Etruria), Mirror, 3rd-2nd century BCE, Bronze. Gift of Robert E. Hecht, Jr., 62.13
“What do I look like?” This is a question that people have been asking themselves for thousands of years. We know this because there are old mirrors from thousands of years ago that have survived to this day. Unlike the mirrors we use nowadays that are easily breakable, ancient mirrors were made of extremely strong and durable materials like bronze metal. At Mia, you can see many examples of bronze mirrors from cultures across the globe like this 3rd-2nd century BCE Etruscan mirror and 8th century Chinese mirror.
Click here for instructions on how to make your own mirror inspired by the bronze mirrors from the antiquities using aluminum foil and a cereal box.
Shine Your Sundials by WOW Mobile Metal Lab and Show
Meet Sara Hanson and her WOW Mobile Metal Lab and Show, a converted city bus where people can get their hands on metal arts! In the video, Sara explains how she created the metal sundial pieces that were included in the Family Day Artist Tote this month. Learn more about the sculpting, molding, and casting process and also how you can polish and personalize your own sundial!
Click here for specific instructions on how to polish your sundial and create a necklace!
Sumunar Gamelan and Dance Ensemble
Learn how Gamelan works and what it sounds like in this video prepared by the Sumunar Gamelan and Dance Ensemble. Gamelan is a metallic percussion orchestra indigenous to Indonesia made primarily from bronze.
Founded in 2002, the Minnesota based ensemble takes its name from the Javanese word that means “a glowing, brilliant light–one that is radiant and beautiful, illuminating and warming the soul.” For more information about community classes in gamelan and dance from Sumunar, visit www.sumunar.org.
Share Your Thoughts
We’d love to hear more about your experience and how we can continue to share activities that are meaningful and fun for your family. Click here to take our brief survey. Three responses selected randomly will receive a $10 gift card to the Store at Mia!