New Formations Process Gallery

Dive deeper into deCordova’s exhibition, New Formations, in our newest hands-on learning environment as we explore some of the major themes of this exciting exhibition that celebrates movement, gathering, and the human form. Share a memory of a parade, protest, or march, write a love letter to the strength of your body, and play with the stacking form of the human pyramid. And transport yourself to 19th century seaside photo studios by playing with mirrors, optics, and multiple reflections in our human-sized photo multi-graph used by one of the artists in the exhibition.

The Lab: Rivers

It is said that one never steps in the same river twice, that the water is constantly moving and changing with the world around us. Water is a fundamental building block for life on Earth, and we rely on rivers to move water throughout our lands much like veins move blood throughout our bodies. Rivers are used for transportation, recreation, sustenance, and irrigation. They provide drinking water to people and animals, and while clean water is an essential human right that most of us take for granted, many people don’t have access to it. Today in The Lab, we share our appreciation for rivers and water, allowing ourselves to play on the floor of the riverbed, build waterways with blocks, learn about the water cycle, and manipulate the flow.