Bowers At Home
The Bowers is thrilled to expand its connection to our community with the launch of BOWERS AT HOME.
Follow us on social media #bowersathome
Bowers Museum Virtual Festival of the Spring Equinox
Virtual Festival of Spring Equinox Trailer
Bowers Museum Virtual Chinese New Year Festival
Bowers Museum Virtual Chinese New Year Festival
Bowers Museum Virtual Family Festival of Chocolate
Bowers Museum Virtual Family Festival of Winter Holiday Celebrations
Bowers Museum Virtual Family Festival of Winter Holiday Celebrations
Trailer for Virtual Festival of Winter Holiday Celebrations
Digital Exhibition
Access Digital Exhibition Now
Muscles, ninjas and cyborgs; what do these three things have in common? All are depicted on the flour sack canvases of the Bowers’ first digital exhibition, Reel Art: Movie Posters from Ghana.
This premier digital show revisits one of the most beloved Bowers permanent collection exhibitions, bringing together a group of rugged, campy and visually astonishing posters. These colorful advertisements were originally created to promote movies made available for rent throughout Ghana by an industrious group of traveling entrepreneurs. Familiar celebrity faces and fantastical interpretations of B- and C-list movies from the 1980s and ‘90s make for a wonderful viewing experience. Microwave some popcorn, sit back, relax and enjoy Reel Art from the comfort of your home.
Additional Resources for Reel Art:
Download Lesson Plans in English | Preview
Watch Virtual Project Lesson, linked below!
Digital Guide
Inside The Walt Disney Archives
*Available by mobile device only.*
Use your mobile device to visit guide.bowers.org and see exhibit highlights alongside fun facts and staff favorites.
Don't forget to visit our Storytelling Portal to read and share your favorite Disney memories! Now available on desktop!
Bowers Podcast
Hear directly from experts in the fields of archaeology and more. This treasure trove of past lectures is being updated weekly for your listening pleasure!
Music Playlists
Tune-in and zone-out to the sounds of the Bowers Playlists. Inspired by our current exhibitions, new art projects, and the passing holidays - the Bowers will link new playlists below every week during our closure.
Click the links below to listen to:
- Reel Art Playlist, inspired by Bowers' digital exhibit
- First Californians Playlist, inspired by Bowers' permanent exhibition and timed to accompany our Kidseum Projects.
- Celebrating Mother's Day Playlist, timed to accompany our Kidseum Projects in honor of the holiday.
- Timeless Melodies Playlists: 1945: The Year in Song, Broadway in the 1950s
Audio Tour
Listen up everyone: this tour is for your ears only!
Visit bowers.org/audio to listen in on a virtual tour of the Bowers Museum, available in English, Spanish, and Mandarin.
HOME ART LESSONS
Mayan Glyphs
Introductions to the Indigenous People of Mexico
Exploring Highlights of Bowers' Taiwanese Collection
Educational Games Inspired by the Bowers Collection
Exploring Highlights of Bowers' Indonesian Collection
Introductions to Miao Silver and Textiles Inspired By The Gallery Miao: Masters of Silver
Exploring History Through Bowers Margaret and Cleo Key Courtyard
Exploring The South Pacific Inspired by the Exhibit Spirits and Headhunters
Introduction to Meditative Imagery Inspired by the Exhibit Sacred Realms
Exploring China Inspired by the Exhibit Ancient Arts of China
Exploring Mexico Inspired by the Exhibit Ceramics of Western Mexico
Drawing and Photography Inspired by the Exhibit California Bounty: Image and Identity, 1850-1930
Educational Projects Inspired by the NEW Virtual Exhibit Reel Art: Movie Posters from Ghana
Weaving Techniques Inspired by the Exhibit First Californians
2D & 3D Design Inspired by the Exhibit Inside the Walt Disney Archives
Introduction to Early California Inspired by the Exhibit California Legacies: Missions and Ranchos
Introduction to Gemstones Inspired by the Exhibit Gemstone Carvings: Masterworks by Harold Van Pelt
Introduction to Recycled Materials and Multimedia Inspired by Earth Day
Member Exclusives From Home
As extension of our new online portal "Bowers at Home" and its virtual offerings, Bowers Members have received exclusive access to premiere content, from live broadcasts and Q&A in our member-exclusive speaker series, "Friends of the Bowers," to videos of past lectures in our new "Best of the Bowers" video lecture archive, staff interviews and more. Click here for details.
Enjoy archives of this series on the Bowers YouTube Channel, under the Friends of the Bowers Playlist!
New! Virtual Family Festivals
Our festivals may be virtual, but the fun is real!
Next Up:
Spring Equinox!
Spring signals a new beginning. Join us as we present songs and dance celebrating a season of hope and renewal, featuring a special performance by Orange County Ballet Theater
Tune in on Bowers' Facebook Page or Youtube Channel at 11 am on 3/28 to join the celebration!
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Watch the archive of our February Festival! Chinese New Year Festival was held on Sunday, February 28.
Download Festival Project Now and tag us in your artwork #bowersfestival.
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Watch the archive of our January Festival. The Festival of Chocolate was held on Sunday, January 31.
-MEXIKA “Music and dance of Ancient Mexico“ with Martin Espino and Tlalla Esparza
-Bungkus Artlab, Indonesia, and Deswin Hardiyanto
-Cantamerica
-Isla Café
Art project: Cacao Mola Art
Recipe: Chocolate Bombs
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Watch the archive of our December Festival. The Virtual Festival of Winter Holiday Celebrations was held on Sunday, December 27.
Download Festival Projects | Preview
Download Festival Flyer | Preview
December's Virtual Family Festival Includes:
- Kwanzaa Presentation by Ms. Imani Harris and Dwayne Roberts, Second Baptist Church, Santa Ana
- Selections from the Nutcracker Ballet by Orange County Ballet Theater, directed by and Jennifer and Dimitri Kulev
- Christmas songs by Gavin Braun
- Balloon Artistry by Teresa Williams
- Chanukah Presentation by Sarit Zorano
Art Project: Piñata
Recipe: Holiday Cookies
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Watch the archive of our November virtual festival, now available on the Bowers Museum's Facebook page. The Virtual Festival of International Dance was held on Sunday, November 29.
Download Festival Projects Now | Preview
November's Virtual Family Festival Includes:
Art Project: Uli-Uli Rattles
Food Recipe: Croquette Tapas
Live performances:
- Claudia de la Cruz Flamenco accompanied by flamenco guitarist Andres Vadin
- Bella Luna Dance Company Tribal dance
- Relampago del Cielo Folklorico
- Manea Dance Hawaiian and Tahitian
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Watch the archive of our October virtual festival, now available on the Bowers Museum's Facebook page. The Mexican Day of the Dead Festival was held on Sunday, October 25.
Download Festival Art Projects & Recipe | Preview and tag us on your artwork and food creations. @bowersmuseum #bowersathome #bowersfestival
October's Virtual Family Festival Includes:
Art Project: Day of the Dead Skeleton Puppet and Day of the Dead Sugar Skulls
Food recipe: Gorditas
Live performances:
- Joel Aceves, guitarist
- Victor Lopez, face painting artist
- Rythmo Mariachi Kids
- Xipe Totec Danza Azteca
- Martin Espino, Music of Meso-America
NEW! Checkout Bowers' Virtual Ofrenda at guide.bowers.org/ofrenda and submit your contribution by sharing a photo on social media with #bowersofrenda.
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Watch the archive of our September virtual festival, now available on the Bowers Museum's Facebook page. The Autumn Moon Festival was held on Sunday, September 27.
Download Art Projects Now | Preview and tag us on your artwork and food creations. @bowersmuseum #bowersathome #bowersfestival
September's Virtual Family Festival Includes:
- Mr. Zhong, Changing Faces and Tea Pot Juggling
- Sophia Chan, Explains Chinese Opera Tradition
- JC Culture, Lion Dance, Traditional Dance and Kung Fu
- Viet Cam, Traditional Vietnamese Dance
Art Projects: Spiral Lanterns
Food recipe: Almond Cookies
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Watch the archive of our August virtual festival, now available on the Bowers Museum's Facebook page. The International Drumming Festival was held August 30.
Download Festival Flyer Now | Preview
Download Art Projects Now | Preview and tag us on your artwork and food creations. @bowersmuseum #bowersathome #bowersfestival
August's Virtual Family Festival Includes:
- Robin Sakhadia plays the Indian Tabla drums
- Redboy Productions with Ba'ac & Jorge on drums as Nanabah dances the sacred Hoop Dance.
- Makoto Taiko with Hunter Loyd and Kristen Hayashi
- Willy Souley with Dafra West African Drums and Dance
Art Projects: Chinese rattle drum and Coffee can drum
Food recipe: Navajo Indian Fry Bread
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Watch the archive of our July virtual festival, now available on the Bowers Museum's Facebook page. The Roots of American Music Festival was held July 26.
Download Art Projects Now | Preview and tag us on your artwork and food creations @bowersmuseum #bowersathome #bowersfestival
July's Virtual Family Festival Includes:
- Bolillo y su Conjunto performing Chicano and East Los soul, Tejano and Tex Mex
- Third Degree Blues Band performing Rock and Roll
- Party of Three + John Bowman on sax performing Blues
Art Projects: Instruments including African Thumb piano, Mbira, and Membranophone
Food Recipe: Soul Food Peach Cobbler
Download Festival Flyer | Preview
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Watch the archive of our June virtual festival, now available on the Bowers Museum's Facebook page.
Download June Virtual Festival Art Projects | Preview and tag us on your artwork and food creations @bowersmuseum #bowersathome #bowersfestival
June's Virtual Family Festival includes:
- Bon Family and California All-Star Cloggers
- Shan the Candyman
- Franklin Haynes Marionettes
Art Projects: Pinocchio marionette and Fingerprint doodles
Food Recipe: Candy Apples
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Thanks to everyone who joined us for the first FREE virtual family festival by Bowers at Home on May 24! With more than 2.7 thousand views from around the globe, this was a community celebration we can all be proud of.
Watch the archive of our virtual festival, now available on the Bowers Museum's Facebook page.
Download festival project pdfs and tag us on your artwork and food creations @bowersmuseum #bowersathome #bowersfestival
May's Virtual Family Festival "Celebrating Mexican Heritage" includes:
- Martin Espino and his collection of indigenous wind and percussion instruments of ancient Mexico
- Joel Aceves classical guitarist plays the romantic music of Mexico
- Ballet Folklorico Raíces de Mexico performs traditional dances from the Mexican states of Guerrero and Oaxaca
- Dr. Gloria Arjona sings “La Llorona,” a song of loss and longing based on a folk tale with many interpretations
Art Projects: Huichol Indian God’s Eyes and Paper Flower head piece
Food experience: Homemade flour tortillas!
Art Projects
Serving our Community
Early in the recent health crisis, Bowers Museum partnered with Mariners Church to cook, prep, and deliver meals to local hospitals for healthcare workers including Hoag Hospital, CHOC and more. Later added to this program's recipients are the families of the children in our Kidseum After School Program, all of whom are Santa Ana residents, as well as the seniors of our Anne's Treasures Program.
This program has now grown to include funding from Bowers' supporters. In total, thanks to our partners, donors and members, the Bowers has been able to provide important services for our community in 2020, including:
• 23,193 free meals for front line medical and emergency services workers, low-income children, families, and seniors, and the homeless
• 1,527 art kits for low-income children and seniors
• 1,148 bags of groceries for low-income children and seniors
If you haven’t already, please join us in raising funds for this program, as well as free art programs for children, families, and seniors, and exhibitions that showcase the world’s finest art. Click here to learn more.