Well, we're hanging out at one of my favorite places.

And, of course, we have to be a little bit quiet.

But there's nobody here, right?

So, yeah, we get a little bit messy, a little bit noisier, but things are going to be getting noisy and loud here pretty soon.

You guys have an awesome performance concert series that's going to be starting here just this month.

Yes.

So the Merriman Playhouse at the Raclin Murphy Museum of Art is a jazz series we do every summer, once a month.

We have performances from amazing jazz groups around the country and sometimes around the world, all put together by Stephen and Mary Merriman, who are wonderful humans.

And the place to go for jazz at City.

Yeah.

So our first concert is actually May 8th.

Okay.

Starts at 530, goes to 730.

These are always free events.

I love that, and family friendly.

Very family friendly.

I love seeing the littles running around in the grass and they all take place outside.

Oh, that's good to know which given the weather is getting a lot nicer.

Yeah, as a very pleasant, experience.

So maybe, like, bring your lawn chair.

Definitely.

Something is definitely get comfy.

Whatever you need.

Yeah.

We also let's talk about the outdoor space because I feel like definitely that's fresh and new for you guys.

What does that look like?

What does it feel like people are going to be out there this year?

So I jokingly call it the back porch of the museum.

But it is actually officially the Hiller Family Terrace.

Okay.

And it's this amazing patio, that we set up with the, the group is in one section, the audience is in the other.

There's a little hill that folks can sit on.

Again, bring your own lawn chairs, bring your own kind of picnic blanket, and just really get comfortable.

Bring your friends, bring your family.

It's a really casual, really fun atmosphere out in the beautiful Charles Hayes Family Sculpture Park.

And as you do over here.

Yes, absolutely.

And I love that you can bring the family to this.

But, I would say, almost more importantly are important as well is the museum will be open.

That's next to the museum is open until 730 every Thursday night.

And so when we have these jazz performances, we really encourage folks to come in during a break or if they need a break.

We have a selected work of art for each performance.

So there's a way to kind of let the music influence your appreciation of the artwork and vice versa.

So each one is different every month.

We also, this is our 10th year of doing this program with Steven and Mary and so it's a great partnership.

Exactly that.

Again, wonderful humans, great, members of the community and really amazing champions of jazz, and the arts in general.

So we're doing a little bit of a celebratory kind of, vibe.

Yes, yes.

Okay, so a couple special things we have going on.

We have we will have refreshments obviously available for purchase from Ivan's Cafe, our cafe, so you can get sandwiches, caffeinated beverage, things like that.

We are also working with Perry Vine.

And they make amazing leads and wines.

And the really cool thing is they are making a specific wine for the series.

Oh my gosh.

So we are very excited about that.

You can buy it by the glass or the bottle.

So if you have other friends just different, but it's not a tailgate.

So so that's one thing.

And then oh, is, is we're working with them and they're creating special small charcuterie plates that you can purchase so you don't have to bring anything but your lovely self and maybe a picnic blanket, and you can pick up dinner and snacks and drinks and just have a really amazing time.

I love it, I love it.

What a great opportunity that's free here right in our community.

Definitely.

You know, you guys have been open just over a year now.

And you guys did this last year here.

Yes, yes.

Tell us more about that.

Like, what did that look like, what it feel like to have people come into this space?

It's amazing every time just seeing people's response to coming into the space, being able to, like I said, use kind of our backyard, which is the sculpture park.

It's nine acres, so it's a pretty nice backyard.

Dozens and dozens of sculptures.

So just seeing people kind of really settle in and, and treat this museum and the sculpture park like it's their museum and their sculpture park.

And so we really want folks to feel a sense of kind of connection and ownership to this museum.

I love that, absolutely.

And I know one of the questions that we had when we first talked to you guys, you know, last or when I first saw it last year, was a reminder that this museum is open for all.

It is not limited to just Notre Dame students and staff.

This is really a welcoming and yes, for everyone it is.

And we free admission at all times.

We have a ton of programs happening all the time for all ages, adults, young people, everybody in between.

All those are available on our website.

We have an amazing events calendar.

Oh, great.

And all of those are also free.

So we don't want anyone to feel that there are any barriers.

We truly believe that everyone belongs here.

And we love seeing familiar faces and we love seeing new faces.

That's great.

Now, are there any events that people might have to register ahead of time for?

There are a handful, some that are kind of multiple sessions.

But again, all that information is on our website.

We try to make it as easy as possible for folks, I love it.

I know you guys have other stuff that's going on this year too.

Yes.

Museum tours are fantastic.

I love having a guided tour because I can go through very quickly, or I can take my time and take for hours.

Yeah.

What does a guided tour look like?

So there's a statistic, in the museum field where the average visitor takes about 13 seconds looking at a work of art?

Usually, yes.

Which is you might as well be on roller skates at that point.

Okay.

So we try to slow things down.

We try to have conversations with the group, answer questions, ask questions.

So it's really much more of like you are touring or walking through a museum with your friends than it is like a tour guide standing up and telling us exactly what you should think.

So we try to make those again warm, welcoming, casual kind of experiences, but also fun and informative and and kind of hopefully eye opening to one of yours and mine.

Yes.

Faces.

Yes.

Right.

This is one of our favorite.

Reminds of my favorite.

It is definitely there.

It's so bright.

It's so colorful.

You guys have always done just a phenomenal job with how all the artists displayed in here too.

And of course, the rotating galleries, that come and go too.

Okay, there's other stuff that's happening as well.

Storytime.

Is that for kids?

Yes.

Okay.

But I think the adults that come with the kids also get a lot out of it.

Just kind of be honest.

So this is a partnership we've had with the Saint Joseph County Public Library for several years now.

And so a librarian, a children's librarian comes in and we read stories and sing songs and do hand games.

And then we go into the galleries and we look at a work of art, and then we go into our studios and we make a work of art, and it's all thematic based.

It's all about visual literacy and verbal literacy.

And it's just a really fun way for families to be together.

It's not just the kids listening to us and interacting with us, the parents and the families and the grandparents get involved, too.

So it's one of my favorite programs.

And yeah, it's just, one Saturday a month from 1 to 2, again, free.

Yep.

Definitely.

And you guys have do you have studios here?

We do have studios.

And a lot of our programs integrate art making in them.

So a family day or a workshop, there's a lot of hands on.

We try to get, give people opportunities to kind of physically kind of integrate those ideas or inspirations they got in the galleries into their own works.

And even just starting with the summer series, you know, having the performances out there is a great way to open it up to your family, bring them in and show them with that.

The museum is something that, okay, not everybody can touch, but everyone can see, right to do that.

Don't do that.

But come on in.

Yes.

And see what you guys have to offer here.

There's so much, so much to offer here, I love that.

Is there anything else you want to share with us?

I don't think so.

We just love to see everybody spend their summer, at the Raclin Murphy Museum.

Yeah, absolutely.

Well, you guys know where to find it.

Check out the website, get the details on the event calendar, and everything's free so you don't have a reason not to come.

We'll see you here.