Art for All

January 31st, 2026 - 12:00pm–4:00pm

Art for All is free with museum admission every Saturday from 12–4PM. All ages are welcome to participate.

Enjoy your visit to the museum and explore your artistic side with a hands-on project inspired by the museum's exhibitions and collections.

Participants will create a paper lotus flower in honor of a New Year's tradition practiced by the Ancient Egyptians. The Ancient Egyptian New Year occurred in early Summer because their new year aligned with the annual flooding of the Nile and the beginning of the agricultural season. The Egyptians ushered in the new year with the Wepet-Renpet Festival to bring about good harvests that year. One popular symbol of the Wepet-Renpet festival was the lotus flower, representing rebirth and the cyclical nature of life. This was a common offering given to gods during this festival. Using scissors, glue, and paper, participants will create their own paper lotus flower.

[Situla (detail), Egyptian, Late Period to Ptolemaic Period, ca. 664–30 BC, bronze. AIHA, gift of Heinrich Medicus, 2013.1.12]