Free Weekend Fun: Bach to Nature

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art is running a kids' art workshop called Free Weekend Fun: Bach to Nature on Sunday, October 11, and it's one of those low-pressure activities that's easy to drop into with the family. The whole thing is built around the work of artist Farhad Ostovani, who painted a series of pictures prompted by music. The workshop asks kids to do the same thing: listen to music and let it guide what they make.

While Bach's Goldberg Variations plays, participants rub rose leaves to create patterns and use collage to build their own creations. It's a tactile, hands-on way to think about how sound can turn into something you can see and touch, and since it's a drop-in activity, there's no need to sign up in advance. If you're there with kids, you can just show up and get started.

If you want to see where the inspiration comes from, Farhad Ostovani's Goldberg Variations is on view in Gallery 203. Museum Guide Volunteers are on hand to help visitors explore the work, so you can walk through the gallery and see the actual paintings that the workshop is based on before or after the kids get to work.

It's a free activity, and the session runs at 11 AM. You'll find it at the Fun Spot on the Lobby Level of the Bloch Building, 4525 Oak St., Kansas City, MO 64111.