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RENOWNED ARTIST LEAH TINARI’S ONE-OF-A-KIND PRESIDENTIAL PORTRAITS TO BE DISPLAYED IN CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF MANHATTAN’S “I APPROVE THIS MESSAGE” EXHIBIT OPENING OCT. 1

New Interactive Exhibit Features The Fred B. Tarter Collection of Presidential Autographs Including a 2-Page Legal Document Handwritten by Abraham Lincoln and Richard Nixon’s Resignation Letter

New York, NY – Sept. 26, 2016 – The Children’s Museum of Manhattan is pleased to announce that noted artist Leah Tinari’s “A President Project” will be on display in

I Approve This Message, an interactive new exhibition featuring a 40-foot display of framed historical documents with authentic autographs from the American presidents. The exhibit at the museum (212 West 83rd Street) will run from October 1 through December 31, 2016.

Tinari’s “A President Project” features contemporary portraits of each U.S. president with a splash of color and whimsy. Readers may recognize her work from the illustrations in the popular children’s book. “The Magical Fantastical Fridge” (Penguin Random House – Dial Books). This is the first time “A President Project” has been publically displayed.

“Working on “A President Project” was a challenge, as well as labor of love. I knew I wanted all of the portraits to feel fresh and modern. I gave all the presidents equal value, using a gouache grey scale before adding a splash of vibrant, florescent color to accent each portrait for a graphic, playful feel,” said Leah Tinari.

She added: “I also wanted the text included in the portrait to be hand painted, so I decided to I used old fashioned stencils. It was fun to put a modern spin on the old, while also embracing an old technique to create the modern. Much like the project itself, it was a walk thru history from past to present.”

“Tinari’s portraits capture personal insights into each President and, in some cases, historical context. The use of traditional stenciling and black and white shading create a welcoming entrée for adults and children alike. The portraits are a wonderful complement to the original historical autographs and images of I Approve This Message.” said Andrew Ackerman, the Children’s Museum’s executive director. “We believe the juxtaposition of the autographs and the portraits will pique children’s curiosity in both our history and the arts.”

The centerpiece of I Approve This Message is The Fred Tarter Collection of Presidential Autographs including two original pages of Abraham Lincoln’s handwriting covering a legal settlement, Richard Nixon’s letter of resignation, personal checks signed by Harry Truman, Calvin Coolidge and Theodore Roosevelt and more! The exhibit, which opens just weeks before the U.S. elects its 45th president, also includes autographs from several First Ladies.

The interactive exhibit is designed for children ages 2-10 and their families. Using the historical documents for inspiration, children can practice their own signatures, sit at a child-sized Oval Office Desk, learn the joy and practice of collecting, participate in mock elections, and engage in election- and American history-related activities.

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About Children’s Museum of Manhattan

The Children’s Museum of Manhattan – a citywide resource for children, families and educators – works to ensure children thrive at home, at school and in the community. Based on West 83rd Street, with over 350,000 visitors annually, the Museum creates hands-on learning environments, programs, and curricula through an alchemy of fun, research and museum science. In addition to its commitment to delight and educate visitors, the Museum offers resources and strategies for parents, caregivers, and educators to help children become lifelong learners. Thousands more New Yorkers also benefit from the Museum’s offering through its outreach programs at schools, Head Start centers, shelters, libraries and hospitals. For more information, please visit www.cmom.org