We’ve had plenty of experience with being a “museum without walls.” Since losing our physical home in the 2008 flood, we’ve found new ways to help art lovers continue exploring and learning from our collections. Now, COVID-19 has challenged us to expand this “museum without walls” concept even further and embrace the idea of being a “museum from home.”

Since March, our curators and educators have been creating programs for people to experience from home. Live art talks, video lessons, and hands-on activities help students, arts patrons, and university friends stay connected with us while practicing social distancing.

On Tuesdays at 7 p.m., Director Lauren Lessing is live on Instagram for her 45-minute program “Dive in With the Stanley.” Each week, she and her husband, Uri, explore a singular work of art from our collection. Lauren provides a historical context for the piece and encourages viewers to participate in the discussion. Uri, a film buff, provides commentary and insights, often referencing the cinematic world. The featured works are often relevant to the unusual times we currently are experiencing together.

Our museum also is on YouTube. Steve Erickson, manager of design, preparation, and installation, has created a series of “Behind the Scenes at the Stanley” videos, in which he demonstrates how to hang a picture in your own home, along with a number of techniques he uses to prepare an exhibit and care for the museum’s collection.

Art enthusiasts who prefer to sit back and relax can enjoy the Emmy award-winning documentary Jackson Pollock's “Mural:” The Story of a Modern Masterpiece while they attend our museum from home. Kevin Kelly, a retired creative media producer at the University of Iowa, produced and directed this film in 2017.

In addition to video resources, our Learning and Engagement team has put together a variety of hands-on activities for art lovers of all ages. Resources range from art-themed word puzzles to instructions for creating prints using produce. A collection of coloring pages uses works in our museum, by artists such as Pablo Picasso and Elizabeth Catlett, as its inspiration.

“Our team is excited to share new activities and videos online,” says Kim Datchuk, curator of learning and engagement. We know that it’s a hard time for everyone right now, and we hope these tools will provide a starting point for people to explore our collections, learn more about art, and create art at home.”

These resources and more can be found on our “Museum From Home” resource page. Patrons who take advantage of any of these hands-on activities should share their finished projects with us on social media—using the hashtag #StanleyFromHome#—and we’ll reshare the work!