The Springfield Museums invites the community to an imaginative evening of art, storytelling, and hands-on creativity at Play by the Books: A Novel Night of Creative Crafting on Thursday, May 7, from 5:30 to 7:30 pm at the Michele and Donald D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts.
Inspired by the immersive exhibition Book of Wonder, Cover to Cover: A Hands-On Journey with Donna Castellanos, this special after-hours event transforms the museum experience into a lively celebration of books as art. Guests will have the opportunity to meet the artist, enjoy a guided gallery tour, and explore their own creativity through interactive crafting stations.
“Play by the Books is about unlocking creativity in ways that feel both playful and meaningful,” says Larissa Murray, Director of Education. “Donna shows us that even discarded materials can become something extraordinary, and this event invites our community to experience that transformation firsthand—through artmaking, conversation, and shared inspiration.”
A celebrated mixed-media artist, Castellanos (American, born 1966) works across painting, sculpture, jewelry, and clothing, often giving overlooked materials new life. Her sculpture Bertha, I’d like to know where you got the notion was featured in THE OUTWIN 2022: American Portraiture Today at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery and earned the People’s Choice Award when the exhibition traveled to Springfield in 2024.
Throughout the evening, participants can turn repurposed book pages into costume collages, handcrafted bookmarks, and whimsical origami creations, embracing the exhibition’s theme of giving new life to old materials. Complimentary hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar will be available, creating a relaxed, social atmosphere ideal for a night out with friends or a creative date night.
Admission to Play by the Books is $15 for Springfield Museums members and $20 for nonmembers, with reservations suggested at SpringfieldMuseums.org/programs. The program is designed to deepen engagement with Book of Wonder, an exhibition that invites visitors to step inside a world where storytelling and visual art intertwine through hands-on exploration and imaginative environments.
Book of Wonder, Cover to Cover is sponsored by PeoplesBank and supported by the Springfield Cultural Council and the Massachusetts Cultural Council.
MassMutual is the season supporter of the Springfield Museums.