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Groundbreaking Exhibit Encourages Children and their Families to Explore Self-Expression and Identity through Art-Making

New York, N.Y., October 1, 2018 – The Children’s Museum of Manhattan (212 West 83^rd Street) today announced the arrival of four new artists-in-residence for its hugely popular, critically-acclaimed “Art, Artists & You” exhibit. Part interactive art studio, part art exhibition, the experience is designed to encourage children and their families to explore self-expression and identity through the delights of art-making. Families can create stop motion animation, craft a model of a favorite pet, or collaborate on a massive wall hanging.

The exhibition which opened in June and is scheduled to run through Dec. 31, 2018, features 39 original works of art by 20 contemporary artists and features four artists-in-residence selected on the basis of their work with specific materials. As both an exhibition and laboratory, “Art, Artists & You” invites artists to step outside their studio practice and individual processes in order to challenge, refine and share their work in a unique and open environment. The Museum’s newest artists-in-residence Amir Hariri, Antonia A Perez, Camille Hoffman and Jasmine Laura Murrell will work in studios located directly in the exhibit.

The artists, whose hours will vary, will demonstrate different practices and processes, and they will embolden children and adults alike to express their own ideas through art-making. Each artist engages with familiar materials such as fabric, paper and found objects, as well as technology. Families will be able to experiment with these same materials and explore similar methods in spaces adjacent to the artists’ studios.

Children will enjoy building paper-pulp sculptures, three-dimensional cardboard models, or found-object forts. As part of their exploration of fiber arts, they can try their hand at crocheting, weaving, knitting, beading, and stuffed-animal or soft-sculpture crafting. Families interested in making art with technology will have access to green screen video filming, makey-makey invention kits, three-dimensional printer pens, and more.

“We wanted to take a step back from drawing and painting to explore materials all children have access to, and to show them how these everyday materials can and have been used to create impactful works of art” said David Rios, Children’s Museum of Manhattan’s Director of Public Programs and curator of “Art, Artists & You.” “We hope this space and the experience provides fertile ground for each artist to explore new expressions and to experiment with new ways of creating.”

Works from contemporary artists Leo Castaneda, Delano Dunn, Tai Hwa Goh, Amir Hariri, Amber Heaton, Robert Hernandez, Juan Hinojosa, Firoz Mahmud, Natalia Nakazawa, Lina Puerta, daaPo Reo, Annesofie Sandal, Nyugen Smith, Adrienne Elise Tarver, Victoria Udondian, and Jennifer Williams are also on display.

Funding for the exhibit is provided by the Gray Foundation, Ford Foundation, Miyoung Lee and Neil Simpkins. Funding for programming is made possible in part by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature, the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council. Funding for programming with Amir Hariri and Firoz Muhmad is provided by the Building Bridges Program of the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art.

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About Children’s Museum of Manhattan

The non-profit Children’s Museum of Manhattan (CMOM)—a citywide resource for children, families, and educators—creates experiences at the intersection of the arts, sciences, and humanities to help children thrive at home, at school, and in the community. The Museum offers hands-on learning environments, programs, and curriculums built on evidence-based early childhood research and the museum sciences. It also provides tools and strategies for parents, caregivers, and educators to help children become lifelong learners. In addition to delighting more than 350,000 visitors annually at its 212 West 83rd Street location, thousands of New York’s children benefit from the Museum’s offerings through its outreach programs at schools, Head Start centers, homeless shelters, libraries, and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. In 2017, CMOM purchased 361 Central Park West. The new site is expected to open in late 2021. www.cmom.org