The Recognizing Women Project is a monthly community workshop that uses dance, theater & music to illustrate our stories & experiences of the women in our lives. Join us every first Friday in November, December and January to discover our common understandings, while co-creating them into a live culminating performance that illustrate the wisdom, power and passion of the women that have touched our lives.

Who can participate? Daughters, sons, mothers, fathers, grandmothers, grandfathers, great-grandmothers, great-grandfathers… anyone who knows a woman is invited to participate.

How do you participate? Share your stories, experiences and perspectives through our monthly workshops on November 3, December 1 and January 5.

Want to be a part of the culminating March 22, 2024 performances? Join the monthly workshops and our rehearsals.

November Workshop

The next community workshop & creation process is Friday, November 3 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in Kresge Reception.

Space is limited and registration is required.

Kelly Church is a Pottawatomi / Ottawa / Ojibwe artist and educator whose work is in the DIA’s permanent collection. Participants in this workshop will meet Church, learn about her practice, and have a black ash + cedar mat making session led by Church. The mat will be yours to keep! Other objects in the DIA’s Native American collection will be discussed.

All educators welcome. SCECHs pending.
 

Dr. Daniel Jaquet, an internationally recognized educator, curator, and swordsman, will lead six 30-minute mini-lessons, each open to six participants. Participants will learn the basic stances and foundational movements of Renaissance longsword fencing, using blunt training swords modeled after historical longswords. These exercises will emphasize careful and precise movement and will be practiced individually, with no sparring or swordplay between participants.

This fun and informative hands-on experience is suitable for families and young visitors ages 10 and up! Participants under 12 must be signed up with a parent or guardian.

Those interested in a mini-lesson should register for their preferred time and get a free ticket for admission to the temporary DIA fencing academy in the Great Hall.

Arrive early to enjoy Dr. Jaquet’s lecture and Q&A at 12:30 p.m.

Sign up soon, as tickets are limited!

All educators are welcome to experience a rejuvenating yoga or mindfulness session in historic Rivera Court. Art-making opportunities and a complimentary smoothie bar will be provided.
 

All educators are welcome to experience a rejuvenating yoga or mindfulness session in the historic Rivera Court. Art-making opportunities and a complimentary smoothie bar will be provided.

No experience necessary.

Participants will learn about everything the DIA offers educators, including workshops, learning resources, field trips, and more! Joe Leach, Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Buddhism Public Scholar, will join us to discuss the importance of teaching about religious traditions with art objects. A new learning resource exploring Buddhist traditions will be introduced, and a forthcoming field trip, Objects of Devotion, will be previewed.

Objects of Devotion: Engaging with sacred objects can reveal complex stories about the devotional practices from which they emerge. This tour gives students opportunities to broaden their understanding of diverse devotional and religious traditions across the world.

All educators welcome. SCECHs pending.
 

Educators working with pre-K through second grade groups are invited to learn more about how the DIA can support young learners. Learning resources and engagement strategies will be modeled and discussed.

All educators welcome. SCECHs pending.
 

Participants will learn about what the DIA offers educators, experience a model field trip highlighting the work of women in the DIA’s collection, and experience a guided art-making session in the DIA Studio. Dr. Chassica Kirchhoff, the DIA's Assistant Curator of European Sculpture & Decorative Arts, will give a presentation. 

All educators welcome. SCECHs pending.
 

Participants will experience the Africana field trip and explore the special exhibition Regeneration: Black Cinema, 1898–1971. Learning resources designed to support Regeneration will be discussed and a guided art-making session in the DIA Studio will be offered.

All educators welcome. SCECHs pending.
 

All educators are welcome to experience a rejuvenating yoga or mindfulness session in historic Rivera Court. Art-making opportunities and a complimentary smoothie bar will be provided.