Together with your family, enjoy a guided tour of the Smart’s current exhibition, Expanding the 50th: Shared Stories. With our team of museum educators, families will receive an insider’s look into the exhibition as they view the artwork from a fresh perspective, listen to stories about the art and artists, and make connections between objects.

Select among the special tour topics below:

10:15-10:45 AM / The Old & Ancient – Discover the oldest objects in the exhibition, learning about their vast histories that span across cultures. Families will discuss the ways that artists practice both traditional and modernized methods of artmaking as they explore strange relics, ornate vessels, and centuries-old paintings.

12:15-12:45 PM / Defying Dimension – Look beyond works on paper and explore three-dimensional objects made from a variety of materials such as metal, ceramic, stone, wood, and glass. Families will be invited to view these objects from every angle, considering both the constructive properties and creative choices an artist must navigate when crafting dimensional artwork. Outdoor sculptures will be included, weather permitting.

2:15-2:45 PM / Sweet Home Chicago! – Learn about Chicago-based artists whose art practices span across disciplines of painting, sculpture, and photography and are deeply inspired by places and people from their community. Families will engage in discussions that juxtapose historic and contemporary artists, whose work, though created in different time periods, share roots to “the Windy City”.

Tour sizes will be limited to 15 participants and will begin promptly at the start time, so please plan your visit accordingly. Registration is required; Please be sure to reserve a ticket for each participant in your group.