Mississippi Museum of Art: Up All Night

The Mississippi Museum of Art is excited to present a unique museum experience, Museum24, Friday, January 2, 2015. This all-night, twenty-four-hour celebration coincides with the final weekend of two impressive exhibitions, Spanish Sojourns: Robert Henri and the Spirit of Spain and Robert Henri and Spain, Face to Face. From 10 a.m. Friday to 10 a.m.

Saturday, the Museum will offer a full slate of programs, exhibitions, games, guided tours, and other activities, from the educational to the whimsical.

"Part of being a community-supported institution is thinking genuinely about the visitor experience," said Betsy Bradley, director of the museum. "It means creating a diversity of opportunities for arts engagement that reflects the diversity of the public. It is in this spirit that we host this year's Museum24, where we open our doors for a full twenty-four hours in celebration of the final weekend of Spanish Sojourns. We welcome visitors to experience the breadth of our programming and exhibitions on their schedules—whether it be at two o'clock in the afternoon or at two in the morning—to energize and activate the space at all hours of the day and night."

 The schedule includes a variety of guided exhibition tours at all hours, including an afternoon tour by artist Bebe Wolfe, late-night tour by celebrity painter Wyatt Waters, and a 3 a.m. insomniac comedy tour led by local comic Jimmy Quinn. Oil painter Jerrod Partridge gives a spirited talk during Museum24 on his experience painting a copy of a portrait by John Singer Sargent that hangs in the galleries of Robert Henri and Spain, Face to Face, continuing a centuries-old tradition of artists painting inside museums.

Other games and activities include a "selfie" booth with one of the exhibition's most imposing portraits, Queen Marianna of Spain, painted by artist Robert Henri, complete with Spanish props and costuming. Traditional Spanish games, bull roping, a "Prove it with a Picture" scavenger hunt, and more are ongoing throughout the day and night. The evening includes a full cash bar, "Art Bar" pub quiz, and a "Spanish Fly" dance party with local DJs (sponsored by Significant Developments, LLC). At 2:30 a.m., the "Last Call Giant Piñata Bust" provides an opportunity for visitors to participate in a showering of candy, prizes, coupons, and other gifts. Early that following Saturday morning, visitors can participate in a sunrise yoga session inside the galleries, centering themselves in the presence of incredible artworks. Partnership with Mississippi Modern Productions and screenings of local independent films will bring additional excitement.

Executive Chef Nick Wallace has put together a "midnight snack" menu that will be available during all twenty-four hours, including fresh new takes on childhood favorites. In addition, The Palette Café by Viking will be open from 11 a.m. – 2: p.m. for lunch, and a cereal bar breakfast will be offered the following Saturday morning in conjunction with a children's Spanish story time and scavenger hunt.

All activities are free with the price of a 24-hour exhibition ticket (re-entry welcome): $12 adults, $10 seniors, $6 students, free for children five and under, and free to museum members.

The Museum is located at 380 South Lamar Street in Jackson. Museum hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m. The Museum is closed Monday.

For more information about the Mississippi Museum of Art's exhibitions, programs, and special events, please call 601.960.1515 or 866.VIEW ART (843.9278), or visit www.msmuseumart.org.