Monthly Extended Evening Hours Offer Free Admission, Art Activities, Tours, Live Music, and More!

MONTCLAIR, N.J. - Oct. 26, 2018 - PRLog -- Enjoy a night out at the Montclair Art Museum (MAM) with free general admission, live music, art activities and tours, dynamic seasonal programming, and a full-service bar at Free First Thursday Night, November 1, 5–9 p.m.! Free First Thursday Nights are made possible by TD Bank.

November's event focuses on engaging the public beyond our gallery walls, with opportunities to reflect, engage, and create.

Visitors will discover the art of leading contemporary artist, Kara Walker in Kara Walker: Virginia's Lynch Mob and Other Worksand experience pieces from MAM's permanent collection like never before in Constructing Identity in America (1766–2017). Take FREE docent-led tours of the exhibitions at 6:30 and 7:30 p.m.

A highlight of November's program is Open Book/ Open Mind: B.A. Shapiro in Conversation with Caroline Leavitt, in partnership with the Montclair Public Library. Award-winning, New York Times best-selling author B. A. Shapiro will debut her latest and eighth novel The Collector's Apprentice. She will be in conversation about art, fiction and creativity with Caroline Leavitt, best-selling author of eleven fiction novels. The talk will begin at 7 p.m.  Book signing to follow the program sponsored by watchung booksellers.

Free First Thursday Night presents a variety of programming including:

·       A Kara Walker Community Conversation with Mayor Robert D. Jackson, 6–7 p.m.

o   The work of leading contemporary artist, Kara Walker, candidly looks at issues of

race, gender, and violence in contemporary American culture. Free First

Thursday Night visitors are invited to discuss the exhibition at an informal community conversation.

·       Pop-up meditation with Qwell

·       Check out the new Yard School of Art Instructor Exhibtion, Celebrating 20 Years of Excellence, on view now

·       Enjoy live music in the galleries with the Joel Zelnik Trio

·       Teen Artists can bring their projects to MAM to work in a professional studio setting, Teen Open Space Studio runs every Thursday, 6–8 p.m.

·       Draw from a live model at one of Free First Thursday's most popular programs, Drop-In Draw Along Studio

·       Take a selfie at the MAM Selfie Station

·       Get ready for winter with a Knitting Group and Yarnia

·       Check out the League of Women Voter's community table

The New Jersey GLBT Chamber Meet Up is happening at November's Free First Thursday Night! We encourage everyone to bring groups to Free First Thursday Nights. We ask that groups of 10 or more RSVP to thursdays@montclairartmuseum.org. In return, we'll give your group a special mention on the Free First Thursday Nights webpage!

Grab drinks at the MAM Art Bar! Museum members receive a discount on drinks at the bar. Guests can also grab a bite from October's featured food vendors Bro-Ritos and The Empanada Guy.

Free First Thursday Nights take place the first Thursday of the month (October–June) from 5 to 9 p.m. For an up-to-date schedule of upcoming Free First Thursday Nights, visit montclairartmuseum.org/thursdays.

Free First Thursday Night Sponsorship

Free First Thursday Nights are made possible by TD Banks

More: www.montclairartmuseum.org/thursdays