12 Reasons to Holiday at the CMA

Cleveland Museum of Art
CMA Thinker
Published in
4 min readDec 23, 2021

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Winter at the CMA

The holidays are here, and the Cleveland Museum of Art has a million reasons why you should already have a visit on your to-do list this winter. A million may be an exaggeration, but here are 12 of our favorite ways to make the CMA part of your holiday traditions.

1. Experience a first-of-its-kind art exhibition. Take a journey through Revealing Krishna, where exquisite sculptural masterpieces meet the latest in technology and experiential design.

2. Did you know? The CMA has one of the most exceptional collections of Odilon Redon’s work. Dive deep into juicy pastels and crisp charcoals by “the prince of mysterious dreams.”

The Thinker in winter

3. See The Thinker sprinkled with snowflakes and Wade Lagoon’s frozen, shimmering surface when you bundle up for a stroll through the Fine Arts Garden after a snowfall. You may want to bring your camera to capture the magic!

Baldachin Reliquary of the Mother of God, c. 1400–1410. France: ivory carving; Münster: baldachin. Ivory: carved, polished; silver: chased, cast, engraved; overall: 27.2 x 15.3 x 9.7 cm. Hohes Domkapitel der Kathedralkirche St. Paulus, Münster. Photo: Stephan Kube, Greven, Germany

4. Soak up the sparkle and shine of gold and silver objects courtesy of the Cathedral of Saint Paul in Münster, Germany, on loan to Cleveland for a limited time. Relish in rare treasures like jeweled crosses and illuminated manuscripts in the FREE exhibition Medieval Treasures from Münster Cathedral.

5. Have you seen the stars twinkle in the atrium? Spend a night at the museum during late hours every Friday until 9:00 pm. Bonus: CMA Insider and Leadership Circle members receive FREE parking during late hours (after 5:00 p.m.).

6. Give the gift of CMA. Current members receive 20% off gift memberships with the code PERFECTGIFT. Experiencing the museum as a member offers so many perks — free exhibition tickets, exclusive discounts, and access to members-only programs. It’s a gift to enjoy all year.

7. Learn something new on a docent-guided tour. Collection tours are held every day at 1:00 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. Find the ever-changing list of topics on the calendar.

8. Have fun interacting with art in the CMA collection using award-winning technology in the ARTLENS Gallery. It’s a memorable experience for the whole family!

9. Bring a group of friends to Picturing Motherhood Now, a contemporary art exhibition that reimagines traditional ideas of motherhood. This exhibition will surely stimulate thoughtful discussion and revelations, so plan time to grab a snack or glass of wine in Provenance Café. We highly recommend trying a bakery item — they’re SO GOOD.

10. Brighten up your days with vibrant Mola textiles. Created by Indigenous Guna women of Panamá, these cotton panels feature a wide array of colorful compositions, with designs ranging from geometric abstraction to imaginative scenes. They are on view through January 9 in gallery 234.

11. Shop the museum store, in person and online for the most unique and meaningful gifts for a friend — or for yourself! We hand select every item in the store to give you a variety of options and an enjoyable shopping experience. We offer FREE curbside pickup and FREE shipping on orders over $75.

Armor Court. Photo: Scott Shaw

12. The CMA is Cleveland’s jewel! Show it off to your out-of-town guests. Create a tour using the ArtLens App and explore favorites like the armor court and the galleries of Chinese paintings and contemporary art. Watch their jaw drop as they gaze upon Calaude Monet’s Water Lilies or marvel at The Stargazer.

Have something to add to the list? Share it with us in the comments or post a picture of your visit on social media. We hope you have wonderful, warm, and safe holidays with loved ones, and we wish you all the best in the New Year. CMA Thinker will be back in 2022!

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