Art Exhibition Family Day: Fabricating Fun

Art enthusiasts of all ages are invited to Sunnylands Center & Gardens to celebrate the exhibition, Variations to a Theme: William Haines at Sunnylands. This exhibit spotlights the custom-made interior furnishings and décor that legendary decorator William Haines created for Sunnylands, the historic winter home of Ambassadors Walter & Leonore Annenberg from 1966 to 2009, in his signature Hollywood Regency style, rife with intricate textile work, from trapunto (or raised embroidery) quilting and biscuit tufting on chairs and stools to leather-bound tables with gold tooling embellishments.

On Sunday, February 25, enjoy a day in the Sunnylands gardens with local textile artists and other community art partners. Participate in family-friendly crafts while learning about fabric and fiber arts, inks and dyes, sewing and embroidery, and much more.

Admission and parking are free. All Family Day activities are free. Reservations not required. Most activities are held outdoors throughout the gardens. Sun protection and water are recommended.

From 9 am to 2 pm, guests can enjoy the following activities:

• Artist Adrienne Wiley will be teaching Sashiko, an embroidery style that dates back to Japan’s Edo period, used for mending and repairing textiles. At her booth, create beautiful fabric art from creatively recycled materials. Program times: 10:00–10:30 am, 11:00–11:30 am, 12:00–12:30 pm, 1:00–1:30 pm
• Artist Rebecca Saylor will guide participants through the art of fabric dyeing and the use of indigo in fiber arts. At her booth, use dyes to create beautiful tapestries with unique patterns. Program times: 10:30–11:00 am, 11:30 am–12:00 pm, 12:30–1:00 pm, 1:30–2:00 pm
• Artist Nikki Virbitsky will be exhibiting her custom-made fiber art, inspired by Sunnylands. Grab an art kit to take home and pursue your creative passions.
• Artist Paul Chevallier will be teaching sustainable sewing and upcycled embroidery at his activity station. Participants will learn how to sew using different textiles and techniques.
• Artist Kyla Biba will be facilitating a fabric makerspace enabling guests to create DIY fabrics. Visit her crafts stage to join in on the art form and learn the creative process of out-of-the-box embroidery.
• The Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art is offering an embroidery embossing activity station. This fiber makerspace will be available all day in the Center’s studio classroom.
• The Palm Springs Art Museum’s Architecture & Design Center will be facilitating a craft station to engage visitors with the art of midcentury modern aesthetics. In conjunction with the museum’s Education Department, participants will explore midcentury modern architecture through a color theory activity.
• Tools For Tomorrow is providing the public with a stylized watercolor painting activity station. Participants will learn how to paint with midcentury modern art techniques and influences.
• Sunnylands activity bags, books, and toys will be available to check-out, free of charge, at the reception desk inside the Center.

Program changes may require the cancellation or rescheduling of some events. Outdoor programs may be canceled or modified due to weather conditions, including rain, lightning, or strong winds.

For more information, please call 760-202-2254 or email education@sunnylands.org.