New Whimsical Art Trail
at the National Museum of Play^®
February 18–May 20

Pick up a trail guide and discover amazing glass flowers, imaginative playscapes, vividly colored African animals, and teeny tiny puppets and soft sculptures when you take the Whimsical Art Trail at the National Museum of Play from Saturday, February 18 through Sunday, May 20. The continuing series of displays offers fresh and original works by contemporary artists on view at various locations throughout the museum galleries.  On Saturday, February 18, from 1 to 4 p.m. guests can meet the artists, learn about their craft, and purchase art.

Among the participating artists along the trail:

Nancy Gong (www.nancygong.com), a notable Rochester glass works artist, says her creations are inspired by the temperament of her Asian background. As she describes it, her curving, graceful steel and glass flowers fuse “line, color, texture, balance, and the silent beauty of glass and metal.”

Ingrid Hess (www.Ingrid-hess.com), an illustrator and designer, uses flattened, simplified shapes to create bright and happy monkeys, hippos, zebras, and other African animals. She says that the simplicity of her work comes from her Amish/Mennonite roots and the bright colors and patterns are inspired by art from Costa Rica, her childhood home.   

David Carlson (www.jdavidcarlson.com), a Southern California native, has watched the famous orange grove landscapes killed off and replaced with suburban neighborhoods. These themes fuel the creativity of his ongoing body of work called “Play-Scapes,” imaginative scenes created from old toys, small motors and gears, wood, wire, clay, and objects headed for the trash.

Amy Brand, the artist behind Sweet Pea Felts (www.flickr.com/photos/sweetpeafelts), creates one-of-a-kind art toys using earth-friendly wool. Brand brings her puppets and soft sculptures to life through needle and wet felting and says she strives to create playful toys that provide a connection to the natural world.  

Whimsical Art Trail displays are included with general museum admission fees.

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Museum Hours: Monday–Thursday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to
8 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.

Admission Fees: General Admission (does not include admission to Dancing Wings Butterfly Garden^®): Adults $13, Seniors $12, Children (2–15) $11, Children younger than two free, Museum members free.

Admission to Dancing Wings Butterfly Garden: General Admission fee plus $2 for members, $4 for nonmembers; children under 2 free. Entry is by timed ticket only.

Parking: Free parking is available at the museum for all guests on a first-come, first-served basis. Please note that, on high visitation days, the museum lot may reach capacity early in the day. If space is not available on site at the time of your visit, additional parking is available at neighboring municipal garages for a fee. The Strong is not responsible for fees incurred at off-site locations.