Well, we’re getting close now: 9×9 is nearly upon us. Everyone at the Museum has been hard at work to make sure that our visitors have plenty of wonderful experiences at the DMA this July. To help you prepare for the nine nights when we will stay open until 9:00 p.m., I thought I would share some insight into the preparation.
9×9—What is that?
9×9 is simply this: nine days in July when the Museum will be open until 9 p.m. (or later!), beginning this Thursday, July 14. On these Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights, we will bring you all kinds of new activities, tours, and performances to experience with your friends and family members. Expect the unexpected!
Planning this month’s programs at the DMA has been a huge collaborative effort between everyone at the Museum. One of my favorite alliances is between Seventeen Seventeen and the Education Department. The Education team designed several “Provocative Comparisons” tours to show us some interesting connections between works of art in our collection. Chef Coulter followed suit and created three new menus for the 9×9 evenings that were “provocatively” inspired by the collection as well. The mouth-watering offerings are inspired by American and European art and the arts of Africa, Asia, and the Pacific. Visit the Dine page on the website for more information.
Chef James Coulter showcases three of the 9x9 small plates.
Antelope Sliders inspired by the Arts of the Americas collection.
Something I’ve been working on is the new DMAzing Race. If you love scavenger hunts and problem solving, this is something you don’t want to miss! The race will take place on Friday, July 22 and July 29. Teams of two will compete in a race through the Museum’s collection, completing challenges along the way. Racers will be given a packet with clue cards and materials to complete the tasks. Along the way, they will document their race experience through photography (so after it’s all over check Facebook).
This sounds like fun! What should I expect?
Each team will be given a race packet filled with clues and materials to complete the challenges. Each clue card includes a clue in the form of pictures and riddles to guide you to a work of art in the Museum and then a challenge, which could be as simple as taking a picture of what you found to something more elaborate, like re-creating the work of art using people in the galleries. Some challenges will ask you to create something using the materials in your bag. Along the way, you and your partner will document your discoveries through photography.
My DMAzing Race Clue Book.
How do I sign up? Do I need to bring anything?
The night of the race, come by our check-in table in the Concourse anytime between 6:00 and 6:30 p.m. to sign up your team. Space is limited, so come by sooner rather than later. If you have one, you’ll want to bring your smartphone or camera so you can document the race. The race will begin at 6:30 p.m. You may take as long as you like to finish the race, but our top finishers will receive a prize. Someone’s got to win, and it might as well be you!
Two racers fighting for the win! If you join the race you too will recieve your own set of headbands and wrist bands in DMA colors.
I look forward to seeing you at the DMAzing Race and at many other programs during 9×9!
Hayley Dyer is the Audience Relations Coordinator at the Dallas Museum of Art.