Wonder. When was the last time you felt it – that butterflies-in-the-stomach amazement?
Maybe it was when you were a kid, falling with your whole heart into a new interest. Or maybe it was just last week, waking up to a view of Manchester transformed by snow.
Wonder is a portal to something bigger, a way of experiencing a larger slice of what it means to be human. However, it often feels like wonder is rare. It’s all too easy to convince ourselves that it belongs to childhood, the witnessing of spectacular moments, or, at the very least, vacation. What does wonder have to do with this life, where it’s dark, and you’re one ingredient short of dinner, and your phone won’t stop pinging?
Everything. Art reminds us that wonder is made up of the stuff of daily life. Someone like us – human, flawed, limited – made something where before there was nothing. They saw the world a little differently and had the courage and talent to give us a window into their vision. Then, across time and space, people dedicated themselves to protecting and sharing these works of wonder.
Now, we can walk into the Currier and see it: our capacity to create and connect at a higher level, even with our feet firmly planted in this ordinary life. This December, we’re coming together around wonder at the Currier. The theme of the museum’s fourth annual December Days is Winter Wonders: Pattern and Play. On Friday, December 26 and Saturday, December 27, we invite visitors of all ages and abilities to make, share, and enjoy art in a peaceful environment.
Wonder shows up when we slow down with art, spend time with loved ones, and make something with our hands. That’s what December Days are all about. There will be artmaking inspired by the museum’s latest exhibitions, family-friendly tours, storybook nooks, and, of course, sweet treats. Consider the Currier your joyful refuge right in the neighborhood.
Whatever way you spend the season, art offers a space for wonder. Linger in downtown Manchester after dinner and see the festive window illustrations – all created by local artists – amidst the twinkle of snowflake lights. Stop by a gallery to behold the remarkable talent of artists and artisans in New Hampshire. Bring your family to December Days to connect around creativity.
Wonder is here. All you need to do is meet it. Step inside.
December Days at the Currier
- Friday and Saturday Dec. 26-27
- 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
- Activities are included in the cost of general museum admission.
- Kids under 12 always get into the Currier for free.
Ali Goldstein is a writer who first fell in love with art museums on a French class field trip to see a Degas exhibition at the Detroit Institute of Arts. Today, she is the Director of Marketing and Communications at the Currier Museum of Art, where she helps others take their first step into the arts. She can be reached at agoldstein@currier.org.