Studio Arts Programs

Unwind with a relaxing evening at the Minnesota Marine Art Museum at our Craft + Cocktail: Suminigashi Marbled Paper workshop with Dawn Tevis. You'll craft your own marbled paper while enjoying a beverage from MMAM’s own Waterbar Cafe + Provisions alongside good company, perfect for a date night or gathering with friends!

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Deep-mapping is the process of exploring a place in a physical, emotional, and creative way. This two-day workshop will lead participants on a deep-mapping experience of the Upper Mississippi River, facilitated by instructor Hannah Demma, that includes canoeing, papermaking, sketching, printing, and storytelling. 

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Spend a summer evening experimenting with the magic of sunlight in this hands-on, outdoor workshop during our July Third Thursday Craft + Cocktail night. Over the course of three relaxed, creative hours, participants will explore sun-printing techniques using vibrant turmeric-based processes using found materials in the MMAM Gardens.

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Join acclaimed plein air artist Bob Upton for a two-day outdoor workshop exploring the expressive potential of gouache, a luminous and versatile medium that bridges watercolor and oil. Working along the banks of the Mississippi River, participants will learn to see and paint with clarity, confidence, and spontaneity.

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Experience the rare opportunity to work hands-on with a MMAM exhibiting artist. Join Tanya Aguiñiga in a one-day immersive workshop, Weaving in Community. Traveling from Southern California, Aguiñiga brings her internationally recognized practice that spans sculpture, installation, performance, and community-based work, into an intimate, accessible learning environment rooted in making and exchange.

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In this hands-on workshop, participants will explore the “Crown of Thorns” construction technique—a hallmark of Tramp Art characterized by carefully notched and interlocking wooden pieces. Guided by woodworker Nathan White, students will learn the fundamentals of knife work, joinery, and hand-carving while crafting a star-shaped ornament or small decorative object. Along the way, Nathan will share insights into the cultural history of the form and its enduring spirit of reuse and creativity.

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Dive into the world of sculptural form, Mexican folk art, and water-inspired storytelling in this two-day cartonería workshop for adults. Over the course of the workshop, participants will create a sculptural axolotl, Mexico’s iconic “smiling” salamander, while exploring its cultural, ecological, and symbolic significance.

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Making Pająki, or mobiles from straw and paper, is a Polish tradition that goes back hundreds of years. Often made in the late Autumn in time for the Christmas season, and known for their eye-catching hues and ornate paper pompom techniques, they are made to decorate, protect, and bless the rooms in which they hang. Come be a part of this colorful craft revival and learn to make your own mobile to adorn your space!

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In this workshop, participants will learn Peterson’s storytelling approach to image-making alongside foundational papercutting techniques. Students will design and construct their own delicate, translucent paper lanterns, layering imagery and light to create luminous, narrative-driven forms.

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Includes a beverage from MMAM’s Waterbar Cafe.

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