Stark Museum to host Fiesta Family Day

The Stark Museum of Art, invites families and visitors of all ages to Fiesta Family Day on Saturday, May 4, between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. A highlight of Family Day will be performances by Mexican Heritage Folkloric Dancers (Ballet Folklorico Herencia Mexicana). The Family Day is free to the public, although a ticket is required to attend. Tickets will be available at the door on the day of the event.

Mexican Heritage Folkloric Dancers are a part of the Mexican Heritage Society, based in Port Arthur, a non-profit organization that has been promoting Mexican heritage culture in southeast Texas since 1968. The Folkloric Dancers will perform traditional Mexican dances at the following times: 10:00 - 10:45 a.m .; 11:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m .; and 1:00 - 1:45 p.m. The performances will take place on the lawn by the Stark Education Center, located at 812 Green Avenue, next to the Museum public parking lot.Visitors are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets for seating during the outdoor performances. In the event of inclement weather, the performances will take place in the Museum Lobby.

During Family Day, visitors will have an opportunity to create fiesta-themed art, such as maracas, mini-piñatas and more. Visitors may also take part in a scavenger hunt and win a prize by searching through the galleries for images of dance and celebration. Story time in the galleries will include reading fromJuan and the Jackalope by Rudolfo Anaya and Abuela by Arthur Dorros. Complimentary light refreshments will be available.

Especially for older students and adult visitors, docent Judy Taylor will give 10-minute gallery spotlights throughout the Family Day. The presentation will focus on the painting, Christmas Eve Procession, Leaving the Church, by John Young-Hunter. The spotlight presentations will take place at 9:30 a.m .; 10:30 a.m .; 11:30 a.m .; 12:30 p.m .; 1:30 p.m .; and 2:30 p.m.

Hannah Fuller, Education Intern, welcomes the public, saying, "We are very excited to presentFiesta Family Day and to give our visitors the opportunity to create art inspired by Fiesta traditions. We invite the public to come to the Museum to create art, explore the Museum and experience the dances and costumes of Ballet Folklorico Herencia Mexicana." Fuller reminds families that all ages are welcome, but children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. All activities will take place rain or shine.

Fiesta Family Day is presented in conjunction with the current exhibition Wild Beauty: The New Mexico Setting. Both are events of the Southeast Texas Big Read. The Big Read is a project of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), designed to revitalize the role of literature in American culture and to encourage citizens to read for pleasure and enlightenment. The Stark Museum of Art is a non-recipient partner.

Located at 712 Green Avenue in Orange, Stark Museum of Art is open to the public Tuesday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m.

- 5:00 p.m.

Admission is free for STARK Cultural Venues members.

Admission fees for the Stark Museum of Art are $6.00 for adults; $5.00 for seniors (age 65 and up), students (with ID), and youth (age 10-17); $2.00 for children (age 4-9); and free for toddlers (age 3 and under).

Group tours are available by advanced registration.

For more information, call 886-2787, or visit www.starkmuseum.org.