Toying with Fine Arts at the Arizona Museum for Youth
"Toys connect us to our own past, providing meaningful memories of childhood interests, traditions and relationships continue into adulthood," explains Arizona Museum for Youth (AMY) Curator Jeffory Morris.
It is only fitting, therefore, that the Arizona Museum for Youth is wrapping up the TOYS exhibit by collecting toys for the annual Toys for Tots Charity Drive. Visitors bringing a new or gently used toy to the AMY front desk during the month of November will receive $1 off the price of admission to one of only two fine arts museums created especially for kids in the nation. The toys will be distributed by the Mesa Fire Department in December.
Toys are more than just diversions. They play a key role and have a profound influence on most facets of life, including the arts. Every child, and many grown-ups, has a favorite toy whether it's a fire truck, a baby doll, marbles, jacks or something else. The TOYS exhibit features paintings, sculptures, photographs and other artwork depicting playthings and games.
And it doesn't stop there! Along with viewing photographs of classic Troll dolls in playful settings and nostalgic paintings by the late Bob Luby of Apache Junction, visitors can learn an ancient African strategy game, create an original board game or make and decorate their own spinning top.
The Arizona Museum for Youth is a refurbished grocery store located at 35 N. Robson (that's a block North of Main St. between Center St. and Country Club Dr.). Admission is $5 a person regardless of age, unless you come bearing gifts, then it's $4 per person. The museum is open between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m Tuesday through Saturday and noon to 4.p.m. on Sundays. The Museum will be open on Veteran's Day and the day after Thanksgiving, but not on Thanksgiving Day itself.
Have you been to the Arizona Museum for Youth? Tell me about your experience at this unique facility that was voted the best place to have a birthday party in 2005.
