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Tools as Art: Work and Play

Featuring a selection of more than fifty works from the Hechinger Collection, this exhibition celebrates the transformation of common industrial objects into extraordinary works of art exploring tools as icons of labor, labor as a component of creativity, and creativity as a form of play. The showcased works illustrate how artists manipulate their subjects to forge entirely novel forms. They feature artists who embrace tools as a hallmark of civilization or for humor and social commentary.

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when

June 13, 2025 @ 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

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cost

Free

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Featuring a selection of more than fifty works from the Hechinger Collection, this exhibition celebrates the transformation of common industrial objects into extraordinary works of art exploring tools as icons of labor, labor as a component of creativity, and creativity as a form of play. The showcased works illustrate how artists manipulate their subjects to forge entirely novel forms. They feature artists who embrace tools as a hallmark of civilization or for humor and social commentary.

Event Website Add to Calendar

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On Thin Ice: Alaska’s Warming Wilderness

On Thin Ice: Alaska’s Warming Wilderness transports visitors to the Arctic to confront the startling impacts of climate change. Remarkable animals from the Bruce’s natural history collections are paired with scale landscape models that showcase Alaska’s diverse ecosystem. The installation highlights both subtle and dramatic shifts occurring across the Alaskan landscape, bringing attention to the impact of rising temperatures.

Bruce Museum

Isamu Noguchi: Metal the Mirror

“Here is where finally opposites come together, I see a surprising purity. Stone is the depth, metal the mirror. They do not conflict…” —Isamu Noguchi While the renowned sculptor Isamu Noguchi (1904–1988) is best known for his work in stone, he consistently explored new materials and methods during his wide-ranging career. He first experimented with aluminum in the 1950s and later with galvanized steel, creating a series of twenty-six sculptures in collaboration with Gemini G.E.L. in Los Angeles in 1982–83.…

Bruce Museum

Open Arts Studio

Drop into the Arts Studio for a facilitated series designed by artists, curators, and educators that invites families to play, create, and experiment with sensory-rich materials and different modes of artmaking. For ages 4–11 with adult caregivers.

Grace Farms

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