Embrace the holiday spirit with friends and family at the Indianapolis Museum of Art, where traditions new and old create a memorable holiday experience.
Enjoy annual favorites such as Christmas at Lilly House: Holiday in Bloom, with a bright new touch of stunning floral arrangements throughout the historic mansion. Upon entering, guests will discover a wide array of blooming bulbs and holiday flowers. The house will come alive with spectacular displays of poinsettias, amaryllis, cyclamen and paperwhites. Your senses will be awakened with the aromas of evergreens that waft from room to room. Holiday lights will guide visitors from the mansion to the Madeline F. Elder Greenhouse, where the seasonal spectacle continues. Just outside, Karl Unnasch’s Playtime in Indy returns to light up the Great Allee in front of Lilly House. This whimsical 50-foot “tree” is filled with many bright toys, colors and lights, great for a family photo. At the annual Winter Solstice celebration on Dec. 22, portions of the tree will be disassembled and the toys will be donated to charity.
Don’t miss out on the perfect gift this season. Find something for everyone on your list at this year’s Holiday Hullabaloo shopping event, where members receive a 20 percent discount all day long. Looking for a one-of-a-kind creation? Purchase original artwork from local artists at the third annual Monster Drawing Rally. Or, DIY your gift and sign up for a workshop to learn how to create a seasonal wreath or centerpiece to add a personal touch to this year’s holiday décor. Give the gift of the IMA all year long with a purchase of an annual membership, which offers free admission, discounts on programs and more.
Bring the whole family to new seasonal celebrations at the IMA this holiday. Santa Claus is coming to town for the annual Winter Solstice celebration. Don’t miss the opportunity to meet the big guy in red! Also new this year, Winter Film Festival features an afternoon filled with short films selected by the IMA’s Teen Arts Council, followed by an evening screening of holiday classics such as Edward Scissorhands and Die Hard.
Seasonal highlights include:
Member Double Discount Week
Now–Nov. 14
Get your holiday shopping done early! IMA members receive a 20 percent discount all week long in the Museum Store, Gallery Shop and online at www.imamuseum.org.
Karl Unnasch: Playtime in Indy*
Now–Jan. 8
Lilly House Lawn
Included with general admission and free for IMA members
Minnesota artist Karl Unnasch’s 50 foot “tree” of toys will return as a centerpiece to this year’s Christmas at Lilly House. The whimsical holiday display is a must-see destination this holiday season.
Christmas at Lilly House: Holiday in Bloom
Nov. 19–Jan. 8
Included with general admission and free for IMA members
This winter, the IMA will take a greener approach to this beloved holiday tradition with various living floral arrangements throughout Lilly House and the Elder Greenhouse! The historic mansion will come alive with stunning displays of poinsettias, amaryllis, cyclamen and paperwhites. Explore the Lilly House on a docent-led tour Fridays through Sundays, or self-guided tours during regular Museum hours. This program is supported by the Indianapolis Garden Club and Lilly Endowment, Inc.
Nature Close at Hand
Nov. 19–May 2017
Included with general admission and free for IMA members
This exhibition features grouping of intricate artworks masterfully created for a wide array of materials including wood, lacquer, ivory, bone, horn, paper, metal and stone. These materials were used to make objects that served a variety of purposes across multiple cultures.
Forcing Bulbs Indoors: Paperwhites & Amaryllis
Nov. 30 / 1–2:30 p.m.
Elder Greenhouse
$30 Members / $40 Public
Don’t be without your favorite flowers during the cold winter months! Assemble containers of paperwhites and amaryllis to enjoy during the holiday season, and learn about their basic care requirements. All materials and supplies provided. Reservations required.
Holiday Hullabaloo
Dec. 1 / 11 a.m.–8 p.m. IMA Members save 20 percent / 4–8 p.m. Trunk shows and giveaways
Museum Store & Lilly House Christmas Shop
Free
The annual holiday shopping tradition returns this winter, with your favorite deals and discounts! IMA Members save 20 percent at the Museum Store and Lilly House Christmas Shop all day long. Continue your holiday shopping with a purchase of cozy scarves, one-of-a-kind jewelry, seasonal plants and flowers, elegant home décor and hand-blown glass ornaments. During the evening, enjoy live music, trunk shows by local and national artists and luminaries throughout the gardens. Enjoy complimentary gift wrapping during this joyful shopping experience.
Monster Drawing Rally*
Dec. 1 / 6–9 p.m.
Deer Zink Special Events Pavilion
Free ($35 per artwork)
Watch local artists create original works of art and purchase your favorites on the spot at the third annual Monster Drawing Rally. Nearly 100 artists will work in three, one-hour rounds at 6, 7 and 8 p.m. to produce as many drawings as possible in their allotted time. Each of the completed drawings will be available for sale as soon as it hits the wall (first come-first serve) for a flat price of $35. New this year, have your drawing framed and gift wrapped to complete your holiday shopping. All proceeds support ARTx programming at the IMA.
Evergreen Wreath Workshop
Dec. 3 / 10 a.m.–noon
Elder Greenhouse
$55 Members / $75 Public SOLD OUT
Using a mix of fresh, fragrant greens, make your own evergreen wreath that will last the entire season in this “get your hands dirty” workshop. All materials and supplies provided. Reservations required.
Family Day*
Dec. 3 / 11 a.m.–3 p.m.
Included with general admission and free for IMA members
Join us for a holiday-themed Family Day celebration and make homemade gifts for loved ones. Enjoy an afternoon filled with holiday music and a ballet performance and workshop from The Nutcracker by the Indianapolis School of Ballet. Families can also enjoy a special Cereal Cinema screening of The Muppet Christmas Carol in the morning.
Cereal Cinema: The Muppet Christmas Carol*
Dec. 3 / 10–11:30 a.m.
The Toby
$5 Members and Public / FREE for children 5 and under
Cereal bar and coffee are included with ticket
Parents and little ones are invited to experience Cereal Cinema, a unique family-friendly event created by Indy Film Fest. Cereal Cinema features the two things that every family needs on a Saturday morning—a fun-for-all-ages classic movie and a cereal bar! In this festive holiday screening, The Muppets perform Dickens’ classic holiday tale, featuring Kermit the Frog as Bob Cratchit and Michael Caine as Ebenezer Scrooge. (1992, dir. Brian Henson, 85 mins., G)
Holiday Centerpiece Workshop
Dec. 3 / 6 p.m.–8 p.m.
Elder Greenhouse
$30 Members / $40 Public SOLD OUT
Arrange you own seasonal centerpiece based on an aromatic assortment of evergreens that will bring character to your table. Learn simple techniques with fresh flowers, candles and accents that will allow you to change the look for different occasion. All materials and supplies provided. Reservations required.
B-Movie Bingo: I Come In Peace*
Dec. 15 / 7 p.m.
Deer Zink Special Events Pavilion
$8 Members / $12 Public
Started at the Hollywood Theater in Portland and now franchised to the IMA, B-Movie Bingo makes an interactive game out of the most awesome movie clichés ever committed to celluloid. Grab a drink, compete for prizes and partake in banter with fellow movie-nerds at these one-of-a-kind screenings. I Come in Peace stars Dolph Lundgren as Detective Jack Caine, a cop who refuses to go by the book, and Matthias Hues, as a drug dealing alien named Talec. Talec comes to Earth to extract endorphins from human brains, in order to make a fake movie drug to sell in space. Kind of like Lundgren, he is not fluent in English, and has a weapon that’s like a razor-sharp pizza cutter boomerang.
Winter Film Festival*
Dec. 17 / Noon–9 p.m.
The Toby
Single Film: $6 Members / $10 Public
All-Day Pass: $12 Members / $20 Public
Enjoy an afternoon filled with short films selected by the IMA’s Teen Arts Council, followed by an evening screening of holiday classics such as Edward Scissorhands and Die Hard.
Chemistry of Color
Dec. 17, 2016–Dec. 31, 2017
Included with general admission and free for IMA members
The final of the three exhibitions in the IMA’s CSI: Conservation Science Indianapolis series, the Chemistry of Color explores the relationship between chemistry and art by discussing the discovery of colorants used by artists from pre-history to the present day, through relevant examples from the IMA collection. This project is supported in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts.
Winter Solstice*
Dec. 22 / 5–8:30 p.m.
Free (Suggested donation to Mid-North Food Pantry)
Snap a family photo next to Karl Unnasch’s “tree” of toys and with Santa. At this festive celebration visit Christmas at Lilly House, sing along with carolers, create winter art, meet arctic creatures and watch blocks of ice transform into sculptures at this all ages family event. Warm up by the fire with sweet and savory treats from General American Donut Co., Pi Indy pizza and Sun King. In the spirit of the holiday season, please bring a donation of a new toy or non-perishable food item for the IMA’s community partner, Mid-North Food Pantry.
A year of gifts
Give the gift of membership with an annual pass for your loved ones. IMA members receive unlimited free admission to the galleries, special exhibitions and Gardens; express entry and exclusive member preview times for special exhibitions; discounts and advance registration for IMA programs; and discounts in the Museum Store and the IMA Café. To purchase a gift membership, visit www.imamuseum.org/join, call (317) 920-2651, or visit the Guest Services Desk at the Museum.
For more information about the holiday lineup, please visit www.imamuseum.org. Please note that the IMA is closed on Christmas Day.
*Denotes programs from the IMA’s ARTx series, made possible by a gift from the Efroymson Family Fund.
About the Indianapolis Museum of Art
The Indianapolis Museum of Art (IMA) is located on a 152-acre campus of lush gardens, historic homes, outdoor sculptures, inspiring performance and gallery spaces. Founded in 1883, the IMA is among the 10 oldest and 10 largest encyclopedic art museums in the United States and features significant collections of African, American, Asian, European, contemporary art and design arts that spans 5,000 years of history. With innovative programming to engage guests of all ages, the IMA offers a variety of interactive experiences inside the galleries, throughout the campus and within the local community. From gardening demos in the Madeline F. Elder Greenhouse to outdoor film screenings in the IMA Amphitheater to community celebrations in The Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park: 100 Acres, guests are invited to engage with art and nature in exciting new ways at the IMA. Along with the Indianapolis campus, the IMA also owns the Miller House and Garden in Columbus, Ind., one of the nation’s most highly regarded examples of mid-century Modernist residences. For more information visit www.imamuseum.org.
About the Efroymson Family Fund
The Efroymson Family Fund, a donor-advised fund of the Central Indiana Community Foundation, continues a long legacy of charitable commitment by the Efroymson family in central Indiana. The Efroymson Family Fund was established in 1998 by Dan and Lori Efroymson to promote the viability of communities and to date has awarded more than $88 million in grants in central Indiana and beyond. For more information about the Efroymson Family Fund, visit www.efroymsonfamilyfund.org.
