Super Saturday is Back!

It’s been almost two years of COVID-19 related delays, cancellations, and modifications, but we’re finally back! Super Saturday, our once-a-month family-day, returns with all of the controlled chaos and epic fun that it is known for.  

We, being the optimists that we are, tried to get Super Saturday started up again last summer, with the June 2021 event. This program, titled “Super Saturday Strikes Back!” was a big hit, but with COVID infection rates fluctuating in the fall and winter, we went back to the self-serve event format to keep our guests, volunteers, and staff safe. 

But we are really back this time, and with a bang. The April theme was Super Saturday: Artspocalypse, a celebration of the unconventional, messy, or just different side of art. This is one of our favorite themes we do for several reasons: 1) Karen thinks it is one of the more brilliant titles she has come up with (she is, uh, rather known among the staff for inventing words), and 2) we really value this opportunity to showcase different artists and art styles.  

For example, long-time Museum volunteer and member of the Apache nation Stephanie McConnell ran an activity table where she demonstrated Native American loom beading techniques. She talked to guests about how these techniques are related to pieces on display in the Humankind Gallery. Stephanie is an awesome, dedicated volunteer and we are so happy she can share her heritage with our community through Super Saturday.  

Also happening at Super Saturday last month was our less-mess tie-dye activity. Using just wet wipes, washable markets, and rubber bands, guests were able to experiment with color theory by mixing colors together to create their own designs. Thank you to Docents Jan Carter and Julie Merritt for running this activity.  

We tried a brand-new activity last Super Saturday: painting with fabric. Instead of using paint, guests used fabric to create landscapes, still lifes, and abstract pieces by gluing pieces of fabric to canvases. It was a super cool challenge to come up with this activity, and it was so neat to see all the creativity on display, especially as to how guests incorporated the different patterns on the fabric into their artwork.  

We also did one of Karen’s favorite activities: cave art. Using the Toyota Indiana Learning Center as the basis for our cave, we placed recycled grocery bag paper on the walls, on the tables, and underneath the tables: this was the stone “surfaces” of our cave. Then, we turned off the lights, turned on some sound effects, and placed mini LED candles throughout the room. Guests were invited to use a mini LED candle to guide their way into the cave and decorate the walls using our oil pastel sticks. We also had on display a LiDAR scan of Lascaux Cave in Southern France; if you like to learn more about this cave, you can do so at https://archeologie.culture.fr/lascaux/en.  

We also want to give a shoutout to Museum education committee member, Deb Vannatter, who took all the amazing photos of Super Saturday.  

Barring any major catastrophes (knock on wood), we will continue with our mostly-monthly schedule. See you next month on May 28, 2022 for Super Saturday: Super Science!  

Karen Malone

The Ruby C. Strickland Curator of Education 

Tarrah Kopka  

Museum Receptionist