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Enjoy a series of musical performances held in the Museum’s theater on select Saturday evenings at 5:00 p.m., and free with Museum admission. Event stickers are required for performances. Stickers are distributed in the Museum’s Entrance Gallery starting at 4:00 p.m., one sticker per person on a first-come, first-served basis. Norton Simon Museum members enjoy early seating between 4:30 and 4:45 p.m.; general admission seating begins at 4:45 p.m. Membership does not guarantee seating. Learn more
Debussy: The Painter of Sound
Robert Thies
Sat, August 4, 5:00–6:00 p.m.
In this program, pianist Robert Thies explores Debussy’s connections with various paintings and artists that had a direct impact on his musical creations, and the evocative titles he assigned them. Learn more
Baroque, Classical and Romantic Traditions of Two Guitars
Odeum Guitar Duo
Sat, August 11, 5:00–6:00 p.m.
The Odeum Guitar Duo returns to the Museum to perform works by J. S. Bach, Antonio Vivaldi, Antonio Soler, Wolfgang A. Mozart and Johann K. Mertz. This concert rounds out a decade of performances by the guitar ensemble at the Museum. Learn more
I See You, I Hear You: Santoor, Tabla, Raga
Kamaljeet and Jas Ahluwalia (Absolute Focus)
Sat, August 25, 5:00–6:00 p.m.
Kamaljeet Ahluwalia plays the santoor, an exquisite hammered dulcimer from Kashmir. Jas Ahluwalia plays the tabla, a pair of North Indian drums that produce a vast range of sounds. Together, this husband-and-wife duo… Learn more
GUIDED TOURS
Please note that space is limited to 25 participants. Sign up at the Information Desk no later than 15 minutes prior to the tour.
Highlights of the Collection
Fri, August 3, 6:30–7:30 p.m.
18th-century Views of Italy: Canaletto, Guardi and Panini
Sat, August 4, 1:00–2:00 p.m.
The Renaissance
Sat, August 11, 1:00–2:00 p.m.
Norton Simon the Collector
Sat, August 18, 1:00–2:00 p.m.
Verbal Description Tour for the Visually Impaired
Sat, August 25, 1:00–2:00 p.m.
Art of the Home
Sun, August 26, 1:00–2:00 p.m.
MINDFUL LOOKING
Assembly of Sea Forms
Thur, August 2, 1:30–2:30 p.m.
Join Education Coordinator Mariko Tu in a meditation on Barbara Hepworth’s Assembly of Sea Forms. Learn more
AFTERNOON SALON
Ellsworth Kelly: Nature Abstracted
Sun, August 5, 1:00–2:00 p.m.
Ellsworth Kelly’s abstract forms are rooted in his observations of the world around him. In his words, “I did not want to ‘invent’ pictures, so my sources were in nature, which to me includes everything seen.” Explore his print series Suite of Plant Lithographs and Suite of Twenty-Seven Color Lithographs, which, despite their apparent contrast, both emerge from Kelly’s distinct nature-based approach. Learn more
CREATIVE CONVERSATIONS
Impressionist Scents
Fri, August 10, 6:00–7:00 p.m.
Join herbalist and educator Emily Han on a tour of Impressionist paintings, and explore the scents that come to mind when viewing these works. Continue the conversation with fellow young professionals and take in the aroma of a few samples of botanicals inspired by these works. Learn more
DRAWING CLASSES
Join artist Jamie Sweetman for a six-session course focusing on various areas of the Museum, from the Sculpture Garden to the European and Asian art collections. Students will learn techniques like breaking down a composition into simple shapes, structuring a drawing using line and making gesture drawings.
Fri, August 10, 6:00–8:00 p.m. | Plant and Tree Forms
Fri, August 17, 6:00–8:00 p.m. | Animal Structure
Fri, August 24, 6:00–8:00 p.m. | Vanitas and Still Life
Fri, August 31, 6:00–8:00 p.m. | Botanical Illustration
Classes continue through September.
ART-MAKING WORKSHOP
Art and Design in Commerce
Explore the exhibition In Search of New Markets: Craft Traditions in Nineteenth-Century India with artist Chiaki Kanda and discover how Indian artisans created new forms of decorative objects to promote their crafts to buyers worldwide. Focusing on a selection of works, learn how traditional skills and materials were adapted for commercial interests…
The fee of $35 ($28 for members) includes all materials and admission to the galleries on the day of the class. Register
DROP-IN DRAWING
Saturdays, 11:00 a.m.–7:30 p.m.
Every Saturday afternoon, pick up a drawing board, paper and pencil at the Information Desk. Tap into your artistic side and enjoy drawing in the galleries and Sculpture Garden.
GAME NIGHT
Checkmate! Chess at the Museum
Sat, August 4, 11, 18, 25, 5:00–7:30 p.m.
Every Saturday in August and September, drop by the Museum’s Sculpture Garden and challenge a friend to a game of chess. Not a chess master just yet? Learn the rules of the game from a U.S. chess expert. Learn more
STORIES IN THE AFTERNOON
Library Lion
Sun, August 5, 2:00–3:00 p.m.
Sun, August 26, 2:00–3:00 p.m.
There are many rules at the library, but there aren’t any rules about what to do when a lion comes to the library. Fortunately this lion is a helpful story-lover, but what will happen when he has to break the rules in order to come to the rescue? After the story, look at the sculpture Guardian Lion and draw a picture of an animal that you would like to see at your local library. Learn more
Recommended for families with children ages 4–8
FAMILY DAY
Back-to-School Bookbags
Sat, August 11, 1:30–3:30 p.m.
The first day of school is just around the corner. In the spirit of going back to school, view works by artists who studied and took exams just like you. Then, using fabric pastels, draw designs on a small book-bag that you can take with you to class. Learn more
ART ADVENTURES TOUR
Color Mix and Match
Sun, August 19, 1:30–2:30 p.m.
Explore the abstract prints and paintings of Ellsworth Kelly and discuss the visual effects that occur when colors appear side by side. At the last stop on your tour, mix and match colored stickers to make your own colorful abstract creation. Learn more
TEEN ARTS ACADEMY
Tell Us What You Really Think: A Zine Workshop
Sat, August 18, 1:30–3:30 p.m.
Artist and graphic designer Mary Peterson leads a zine-making workshop focusing on select abstract paintings from the 20th-century collection. Students express their thoughts about the works through the creation of eight-page zines. Motivated by self-expression, zines take on many forms—prose, poetry, narrative, ode, song, graphic novel, criticism, self-help and more. Students choose which form best expresses their ideas and create their own zines.
Designed for students ages 13–18.
The course is free and space is limited. | Register
In Our Store
Print and Poster Sale!
Select prints and posters are 50% off through the month of August (while supplies last). In store only. No further discounts will apply.
Become a Member
Join today
Membership benefits include unlimited free admission, invitations to our exhibition previews, and much more.
