“Art, Artists & You,” a new exhibition at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan (CMOM), has opened. 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.
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.
“Art, Artists & You” features four artists-in-residence selected on the basis of their work with specific materials: Sara Jimenez (found objects), Deborah Morris (fiber), Ezra Wube (technology/new media), and Yeon Ji Yoo (paper). Working in their medium of choice at home-away-from-home studios in the Museum, each artist will use these familiar materials to examine their world and create art. A curated selection of their works will also be featured in the exhibit.
The artists, whose hours vary, demonstrate different practices and processes, and they intend to embolden children and adults alike to express their own ideas through art-making. Families will be able to experiment with various materials and methods in spaces adjacent to the artists’ studios. Artists-in-residence will change in September.
“By offering families the opportunity to observe and interact directly with contemporary artists in ‘Art, Artists & You,’ we hope the mystery of how art is made will begin to be revealed,” said David Rios, Children’s Museum of Manhattan’s Director of Public Programs and the exhibit’s curator. “We want visitors to consider what it means when art is made of familiar object and materials, and how they can use these everyday items to make something new that expresses their thoughts, aspirations, and personal perception of the world.”
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.
“The Children’s Museum’s past art-related exhibitions, like ‘The Art of Andy Warhol,’ ‘Sunday Morning Breakfast: the Art of Romare Bearden,’ and ‘Art Inside Out,’ introduced our young visitors to great modern artists,” noted Andrew Ackerman, Executive Director, Children’s Museum of Manhattan. “Unlike these earlier exhibits, ‘Art, Artists & You’ gives children an active role in the artistic process. They will be able to chart their own adventure in art-making.”
Funding for the exhibit is provided by the Gray 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, and by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.
“Art, Artists & You” is scheduled to run through December 31, 2018.
