Downtown's Taft Museum of Art typically decks its halls in vintage fashion for the holiday season, but this year they're offering something more modern.
As part of their "Home for the Holidays" line-up, they'll be creating livestreams of their historic fireplaces — cozy and flaming — which you can access via YouTube. It's a riff off of the Netflix virtual fireplace concept, except "this work will feature the iconic fireplaces found throughout the 200-year-old Taft historic house and replicate the charming sound of the crackling fires that once were — all set to holiday tunes for audiences to play on repeat," says the Taft.
The virtual fireplaces won't debut until 6:30 p.m. Dec. 24, but you can experience plenty more holiday cheer before that.
Instead of their traditional Antique Christmas show, fiber artist Cynthia Lockhart is transforming the Taft's Music Room with a "site-specific Joyful Expressions holiday tree (to offer) a renewed sense of hope this holiday season," says the museum, calling her work "unique and timely."
Per a press release: "Lockhart hopes that her work 'encourages us to seek joy despite the challenges we have faced in 2020,' and 'believes this holiday season will have a deeper meaning, perhaps more so than ever before,' including 'a greater love and understanding for families across our nation and the world.'"
Lockhart, a former professor at the University of Cincinnati’s College of Design, Art, Architecture, and Planning, has previously displayed her art at the YWCA Greater Cincinnati Women’s Art Gallery, the Weston Gallery and the Taft. She's also been featured in publications including Encyclopedia of African American Artists and Women’s Wear Daily.
You can also still check out the Taft's bicentennial shows: A Splendid Century: Cincinnati Art 1820-1920 and Built to Last: The Taft Historic House at 200.
The Taft is open Friday through Sunday and tickets for both virtual tours and in-person experiences are available at taftmuseum.org/tickets.
All tickets — purchased either at the museum or online — include a timed entry to ensure safe capacity limits. There are also special hours on Friday and Saturday set aside for vulnerable populations. Masks and social distancing are required.
UPDATE: The Taft is temporarily closed due to COVID suggestions Gov. Mike DeWine.
The Taft Museum of Art is located at 316 Pike St., Downtown. Learn more at taftmuseum.org.