On June 12, the Leonardo da Vinci Museum of North America & STEAM Center will honor the polymath himself through education and exhibits that bring his creative process to life.
Adrianne Hamilton, the museum’s director of education, said it honors an appreciation for Leonardo da Vinci’s subject-blending work.
“He was an inventor. He was also a scientist in the sense that he loved to experiment and that he learned from experiments, whether they were failed experiments or successful. So, we’re really celebrating that approach to connecting to the exterior world, whether it’s through nature, or through science or through art,” Hamilton said.
Da Vinci was a significant source of inspiration for Joe Arrigo, the museum’s president and founder.
Hamilton shared that Arrigo visited France, where da Vinci spent his last days; he also connected with the team behind a temporary da Vinci installation in Pueblo, which led to community conversations about state and regional access.
“A lot of different local and regional political agencies had to come together in the hopes of building a museum that could host a permanent collection of da Vinci’s designs of his machines,” Hamilton said.
Hamilton said establishing North America’s first permanent da Vinci exhibition in Pueblo will help draw in tourists and scholars.
Education-wise, she said the museum will provide accessible opportunities for school districts, families and homeschooling communities to experience STEAM education without travel.
Exhibits form the backbone of the museum’s education plans.
The da Vinci Museum will display copies of his design manuscripts and recreations of the machines he invented.
Hamilton explained that the Artisans of Florence, a 20th-century family business out of Florence, Italy, has authentically created working and static 3D models using the materials da Vinci used in the originals.
In the museum, these are split up by theme; visitors will get to explore civil, simple and compound machines, many of which they can operate.
In addition to hands-on machine exhibits, the da Vinci Museum’s walls will feature work from three local artists.
One of these visual displays is Joel Carpenter’s modern re-imagining of “The Last Supper”; Hamilton described it as the gift-shop area’s “living exhibit” because it will still be a work in progress when the museum opens.
“There’s a scaffold in place so that he’ll be up there working when the museum opens, and people can actually watch the progress of that large mural come to life before their very eyes,” she said.
Bonnie Waugh and Sherry Hunt will contribute motifs and Trompe l’oeil murals to the space, which contain eye-tricking illusions.
Hamilton added that there will also be a mural depicting da Vinci’s countryside birthplace, which the museum imported from a French artist.
On its own, the museum’s setup prioritizes multi-sensory engagement. However, their offerings don’t stop there. They are also preparing to host community events.
Mia Gilbertson, the museum’s creative director, shared their lineup, which features a special event every month following the launch date.
Here are the museum’s plans so far:
- The grand opening on June 12 will feature speakers, presenters and a ribbon cutting. Gilbertson added that there will also be a mini market, face painters, live music, food vendors and caricature artists at the celebration, with many returning the following day.
- July 25 will be Dress for the Renaissance Day; those who dress up in their Ren Faire best will receive $2 off their general admission.
- Aug. 15 is the Ferragosto Celebration, acknowledging a spirited Italian summertime of culture, community and relaxation.
- Sept. 19 invites grandparents and grandchildren to embark on a curiosity quest together that mixes museum offerings with guiding activities.
- Oct. 30 is Leonardo’s Trick or Treat Quest, featuring a Halloween adventure full of goodies and themed activity stations.
- Nov. 28 is when the museum will host a Couple’s Curiosity Quest, pairing museum fun with date-night prompts.
More information will become available as each event draws closer.
Hamilton noted educational events and workshops are also in the works. Many of these revolve around da Vinci’s sense of problem-solving, focusing on inquiry and experimenting through a hands-on Renaissance lens.
“He is a huge source of inspiration for our young students as they think about potential ways to solve problems for their own communities and for themselves,” Hamilton said.
Their programming will focus on solving real-world problems through design. “We’ll be doing a series of classes, after-school clubs [and] summer camps, that really focus around that design thinking process,” Hamilton said.
Starting in September, homeschool families will be able to participate in a free year-long homeschool enrichment program.
Hamilton said students spend six hours a week in classes at the museum, centered on STEAM-based activities and projects.
“Access is really important to me as the Director of Education, so also thinking through how we’re going to be able to provide accessible opportunities for students and families in our communities,” she said.
Those who would like more information on, or to sign up for, summer camps or the homeschool enrichment program can email education@davincisteam.org.
Hamilton noted that the museum is starting to see how they can make an impact and is in its growing stages; she mentioned some opportunities for those wanting to help them in their growth beyond a museum visit.
Those interested can volunteer as docents, tour guides, class assistants and more by emailing hello@davincisteam.org. They can also email education@davincisteam.org to inquire about available internships.
Information on memberships, admission, hours of operation and more is available on the DaVinci Museum & STEAM Center’s website.
They are also active on Facebook and Instagram for those who want to keep up with their announcements.
Cover photo credit: https://davincisteam.org/
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