TAOS – The Harwood Museum of Art in Taos is hosting a number of art, educational and cultural activities for all ages to kick off the spring season beginning March 29 with a panel discussion of contemporary art in Northern New Mexico, and continuing through April 18 with a jazz concert.

“We’re thrilled that we could offer the community our popular children’s education programs, lectures, films and musical presentations,” said Rebecca Aubin, director of public programs. “Many of these events give us an opportunity to showcase our state-of-the-art Arthur Bell Auditorium. These programs have been gaining popularity throughout the years and we plan on continuing with this growing tradition. We want the community to know that the Harwood Museum of Art is the place to come in Taos for all your art, learning, history and cultural experiences.”

On Saturday, March 29, from 2-3 p.m., artists Jonathan Blaustein, Nina Elder and Debbie Long will focus on contemporary art in Northern New Mexico during a panel discussion. Their work is currently on display, and demonstrates a new trend in how artists are using their art as a medium to talk about planet earth and regional landscapes. Cost is $10 per person or $8 for Harwood members. Children 18 and younger are free.

Friday, April 4, from 5-7 p.m., the Harwood Museum of Art and Taos Academy will present an evening of teen art with the “Teens of Taos Digital Art” exhibit.

Saturday, April 5, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m., the Harwood Museum of Art presents a family friendly “Day of Wonder and Art,” where families can explore interactive gallery exhibits, create art in the education studio, see artist demonstrations, enjoy performances, live music, gallery treasure hunts and more. The free event includes the spring exhibition, “Ken Price: Slow and Steady Wins the Race,” featuring drawings by artist Ken Price from 1962-2010.

The “Day of Wonder and Art” is made possible through collaboration between UNM Taos Center for Early Learning, Inspire Bilingual Early Learning Center, and New Mexico Wonder of Learning Collaborative in coordination with the Harwood.

During the “Day of Wonder and Art,” parents can hear from guest lecturer Gigi Yu, who will discuss the Reggio Emilia approach to childhood learning. Yu will speak on the language of art and about the Wonder of Learning Exhibit coming to New Mexico.

The Italian town of Reggio Emilia has established a worldwide reputation for forward thinking and excellence in its approach to early childhood education. Reggio Emilia evolved this approach to child development that above all else, respects the rights of children and is based on the image of all children as capable and having tremendous potential.

The approach nurtures children’s intellectual growth and creativity through the development of their expressive, communicative, symbolic, cognitive, imaginative and relational “languages.” Much attention is given to detailed observation and documentation of learning; the learning process takes priority over the final product. There is no charge for the event.

Saturday, April 12, at 1 p.m., artist Marcia Oliver will share stories of her longtime friend, Agnes Martin, and talk about her work. Oliver’s work is currently featured on the Harwood Museum of Art Curator’s Wall. Cost is $10 per person; $8 seniors (65 and older); there is no charge for UNM students and faculty and Harwood members.

Friday, April 18, at 7 p.m., the Harwood Museum of Art presents “The Bobby Shew Quartet featuring John Proulx Play Chet Baker,” presented in collaboration with Victoria Rogers and Cal Haines. The performance celebrates the exhibition, “Ken Price: Slow and Steady Wins the Race.”

A student of jazz legend Chet Baker, Ken Price has incorporated jazz prominently in his work. Baker entered the jazz scene in the early 1950s, and was well-liked because of his simplistic lyricism in his trumpet solos as well as his higher-pitched singing style that varied from the popular bebop music. His legacy lives on in the world of jazz.

World-renowned trumpet player Bobby Shew chose Los Angeles-based vocalist/pianist John Proulx to provide the vocal content in bringing the Baker sound to life for Shew’s return performance at the Harwood.

Continuing his lifelong achievements as a performer with recent recognition on the scale of the “Bobby Shew Night” with the Czech National Symphony Orchestra in Prague, Shew enjoys sharing his talent in his native New Mexico.

Proulx, whose CD “Baker’s Dozen” demonstrates the similarity of his style and vocal tone with Chet’s, is the perfect combination with Shew’s warm tone. Together with Seattle bassist Michael Glynn and Santa Fe drummer Cal Haines, the quartet delivers arrangements by Shew and Proulx of favorites from the Baker repertoire.

Cost for the jazz event is $25 per person; $20 for members. The event is co-sponsored by the Taos Inn.

For more information, visit harwoodmuseum.org or call 575.758.9825. The Harwood Museum of Art is at 238 Ledoux Street.