Art Break

Black text that reads "ART BREAK Drop-in Activities & Refreshments" over a cream background with a purple bar across the top half. Black digital drawings of scissors and a pencil with a sharpener are below the text.

Art Breaks are drop-in periods scheduled during finals season for students to stop by and take a break as a form of self-care during a stressful time of year. Art supplies and calming beverages are placed in the List Center atrium as an invitation for students to take a moment, tinker, and get creative. 

For each Art Break, the List Center education team has created an activity to tie in with our current exhibitions or permanent collection. Included are instructions and prompts that can be utilized to recreate the activity with the proper materials. 

Stitching and Weaving Activity - Spring 2026

View Prompt

Swatches of fabric, spools of yarn, thread, and periwinkle fabric with yellow french knots in an embroidery hoop are scattered on a gray table.
Swatches of fabric, spools of yarn, and thread are scattered on a gray table. Hands sew yellow french knots on a periwinkle fabric swatch in an embroidery hoop.

Origami Rocket Activity - Fall 2025

View Prompt and Instructions

Overhead view of two hands folding colorful geometric paper. There is a white mug of tea to the left side and a stack of unfolded paper to the right.

Kinetic Wire Activity - Spring 2025

Made in collaboration with MIT’s AeroAstro Department Resources for Easing Friction and Stress (dREFS), the List Center created this semester’s Art Break activity with Jasmine Jerry Aloor, a PhD candidate in the Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics. It featured infused waters, snacks provided by dREFS, and supplies to create a wire object with two balanced counterweights.

View Instructional PDF

Plastic sign holder, a QR code to the right of the sign and a plant to the right of that on a table with a black tablecloth. The text reads "Art Break At MIT List Visual Arts Center"
Aerial view showing the hands of two people making kinetic sculptures out of wire and beads. There is a black tray with more supplies on the table in between the two people.
Two hands folding a red piece of paper. There is a small mobile with a green paper lantern to the left side of the hands, a group of paper clips and a stack of unfolded paper in front of the hands, and scissors with another wire mobile to the right of the hands.

Origami Cube Activity - Fall 2024

Featuring hot MEM tea and origami, this drop-in period invited students to create an origami cube or try their hand at other folds.

View Instructional Video

Two hands folding colorful geometric paper. There is a white mug of tea to the left side of the hands and a stack of unfolded paper in the foreground.
Overhead view of two hands folding colorful geometric paper. There is a white mug of tea to the left side and a stack of unfolded paper to the right.
Aerial view of four cubes made out of origami paper sitting on a pile of origami paper on a light wood table.