Hey, Cola – Kayla here. Before COVID, I got to visit one of my favorite places – the Columbia Museum of Art – to tour their exhibition It’s Alive! Classic Horror and Sci-Fi Art from the Kirk Hammett Collection. While we patiently wait for the CMA to reopen its doors, here's the good news: You can experience what the museum has to offer – for free – from the comfort + safety of your living room. Here’s a peek into Museum from Home + why you should #TryThis.

Experience:

Museum from Home virtual offerings from the Columbia Museum of Art

Museum from Home features art demos, artist interviews and more | Image via Columbia Museum of Art

What we tried:

A virtual gallery tour of It’s Alive!, which features 100+ pieces of graphic art, hailing back to the heyday of Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi + beyond. Bonus: Your tour guide? Kirk Hammett, collector of horror and sci-fi film art, also known as lead guitarist for a little band called Metallica.

Kirk Hammett with the prop axe from The Shining | Video produced by James Serpico

In addition to the classic posters + custom guitars on display, the exhibition includes several iconic movie props, like the axe wielded by Jack Nicholson in The Shining. Heeere’s Johnny!

Don’t miss:

#WalworthWednesday, when the museum’s curator, Dr. Catherine Walworth, takes viewers (virtually) into the museum’s vault and shares a treasure that’s been stored away from public view for some time.

What we’re still talking about:

The art activities for kids + adults range from leaf rubbings to making your own marbled paper. As I was low on supplies, I tried my hand at leaf rubbings – needing only crayons (colored pencils, in my case), a piece of paper + a handful of leaves from my backyard.

BRB while I mail this to my mom to hang on the fridge | Priceless artwork by Kayla Machado

Other notable Museum from Home online features include interviews with artists Phillip Mullen + Joseph Norman; ‘How It’s Done’ videos on topics like glassblowing + lithography; access to the multimedia performance Harlem South and more.

How you can experience this:

Charge up your laptop + start exploring. 🧑‍💻

Things to know if you go:

Experience: Museum from Home with the Columbia Museum of Art
Price: Free
Website: https://www.columbiamuseum.org/visit/museum-home
Hours: Available online 24/7
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