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10/5/23 Interviews "Those early childhood moments planted the seeds that my art teachers later tended to, and from there I was able to really grow." Artist Kit Porter on learning to paint like Seurat and seeing Starry Night in person. Click to expand media gallery. Editor's Note: All of us at Children’s Museum of the Arts are deeply saddened to note the passing of Kit Porter, a South Carolina-based painter who contributed artwork to our fundraiser auction last year. Her generosity was noted by staff long after the auction and she will be missed by all of us here in New York City. Click here for more on Kit's life and legacy. Great artists make artists. And to prove that point, over 70 of today's greatest have contributed their work in support of Children's Museum of the Arts' Emergency Arts Education Fund , establishing utterly ambitious art programs in New York City schools that need them most. Bidding for the online auction concludes Thursday, October 19 at 12 PM EDT . Bid now. Bid often. Bid here. Below, meet auction artist Kit Porter . Kit as a young artist Do you have a favorite memory of making art as a child? I love love loved all of my incredibly talented and nurturing art teachers growing up. I remember having my mind blown at the introduction of pointillism, and trying so hard to utilize a new-to-me technique to make the little dots of color (in my case, marker on paper) combine and sing from a distance like Seurat. What advice would you give to young artists who wish to pursue an art practice? Try everything and recognize that everything can be a part of your art practice if it feels good. If drawing feels like a good way to express yourself, go for it. If observing shadows on a sidewalk makes you feel good, that is important too. Recognise what you like, what excites you, and just create because it is making your life feel better. How does working with children inspire you? As a mother, I am constantly inspired by the way my children see the world. I cherish the comments they make about colors, shapes, sounds, and textures in nature. I love seeing them draw simply whatever they are thinking about – the ability to create work from within their mind and heart, sans visual reference, is incredibly inspiring. When did you first know you were going to be an artist? My interest in art was certainly nurtured as a child by my mom. But I think perhaps it was my childhood best friend's mother, a painter, who made me aware that art could be pursued as a profession. I remember wandering into her studio as a child and just being consumed by her colors and smells. Those early childhood moments planted the seeds that my art teachers later tended to, and from there I was able to really grow. Can you describe a formative experience visiting a museum or gallery? Seeing Van Gogh’s Starry Night in person was an absolutely transformative experience for me, and it was the moment I started looking at art differently. I could picture the artist himself standing in front of this once blank canvas and stroke-by-stroke creating this image that now existed before me. Although I had looked at this painting a zillion times in print, this moment in real life truly changed me. Kit Porter fragmented floral, night 1 oil pigment stick on linen Bid Now NEXT Emergency Exhibition: New Training for Future Artists and Art Lovers Take a Virtual Tour on Bloomberg Connects Donate Now

Open Studio at Pier 57: Apparel Customization Workshop with NRS CustomX Free Community Artmaking Thursday, July 20, 2023 3 PM to 5 PM Pier 57 Pier 57, 11th Avenue, New York, NY, USA Media Inquiries: adam@culturalcounsel.com RSVP NRS CustomX joins Children's Museum of the Arts f or a free apparel customization workshop on Thursday, July 20 from 3 PM to 5 PM . Learn the art of custom apparel design while creating uniquely crafted shirts and hats alongside guest artist Alex Alpert and expert designers from NRS CustomX. This program is recommended for ages 7-12. About NRS CustomX Founded by Robert Gullery and Marc Scepi at the beginning of 2023, NRS CustomX is a community-driven, creative academy designed to elevate artists and creatives. NRS CustomX specializes in sneaker customization, 1-of-1 custom designs, and the education of the artisanal sneaker building process. Children's Museum of the Arts' Open Studio at Pier 57 is generously supported by the Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation, Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation, Ruth Foundation for the Arts, William Talbott Hillman Foundation, First Republic Bank, The LeRoy Neiman and Janet Byrne Neiman Foundation, Milton and Sally Avery Arts Foundation, Google Community Grants Fund, Amazon, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Harriet Ames Charitable Trust, The Cowles Charitable Trust, Hammitt, and the Viniar Family Foundation. Donate Now

Open Studio: Immigrant Stories: Memories Through Printmaking Free Community Artmaking Thursday, February 8, 2024 3 PM to 5 PM Pier 57 Pier 57, 11th Avenue, New York, NY, USA Media Inquiries: adam@culturalcounsel.com RSVP Romare Bearden, Tomorrow I May Be Far Away, 1967, collage of various papers with charcoal, graphite and paint on paper mounted to canvas © Romare Bearden Foundation / Licensed by VAGA, New York, NY. Tonita Peña, Pueblo Parrot Dance,, gouache over graphite on wove paper, c. 1935. National Gallery of Art, Washington, Corcoran Collection, Gift of Amelia E. White. Carlos.jpg Many migrant families are arriving in New York City with nowhere to go. In this era of mass immigration, keeping family traditions alive is more important than ever. Artists will create mixed-media prints of family stories passed down through generations inspired by Romare Bearden , Tonita Peña , and Carlos Barberena , all of whom share their own immigrant stories through their art. About Open Studio Open Studio at Pier 57 invites children to explore hands-on projects across a wide range of artistic disciplines. Each session introduces children to the elements and principles of art while surveying artists across generations and continents. Specially designed for children on the Autism Spectrum but welcoming to all, each session is multisensory focused. Participants will explore art materials (such as clay, paper, or textiles) at their own pace alongside movement breaks and ample time for storytelling and social interaction. Open Studio is recommended for ages 12 & under. What To Expect This activity takes place in the Community Classrooms at Pier 57, located just beyond the food hall. The program’s curriculum is rooted in accessible artmaking practices and Children’s Museum of the Arts’ pedagogy of Look, Make, Share. Take a peek at one of our virtual Inclusives lessons, catered to children with Autism, that families can try at home: here ! Please be advised this is not a dropoff session. While caregivers are welcome to stay with their children, families are encouraged to enjoy the extraordinary setting of Pier 57 in the adjacent Family Living Room for the duration of the session. Caregivers are advised to remain on the premises while children are working. Image Credit: Romare Bearden, Tomorrow I May Be Far Away , 1967, collage of various papers with charcoal, graphite and paint on paper mounted to canvas © Romare Bearden Foundation / Licensed by VAGA, New York, NY. Children's Museum of the Arts' Open Studio at Pier 57 is generously supported by the Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation, Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation, Ruth Foundation for the Arts, William Talbott Hillman Foundation, The LeRoy Neiman and Janet Byrne Neiman Foundation, Milton and Sally Avery Arts Foundation, Google Community Grants Fund, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Harriet Ames Charitable Trust, The Cowles Charitable Trust, and the Viniar Family Foundation. Additional support is provided, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council and by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. Additional support is provided, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council and by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. Donate Now

Movement and Making Inspired by Joan Mitchell Art Class for Children With Autism Saturday, May 21, 2022 9:30 AM to 11 AM Virtual Media Inquiries: adam@culturalcounsel.com RSVP Joan Mitchell Weeds 1976 Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. Gift of Joseph H. Hirshhorn © Estate of Joan Mitchell Photo: Ian Lefebvre, Art Gallery of Ontario Explore the expansive relationship between movement and making through the work of abstract painter Joan Mitchell. Taking place on Saturday mornings, these live virtual classes led by veteran CMA Teaching Artist Emma Waldman provide a free opportunity for children of all ages with Autism spectrum disorders to participate in a variety of tactile art-making experiences. Classes are specifically designed to help children develop social skills, creative problem-solving strategies, and self-expression through art and storytelling. The program’s supportive environment also strengthens family ties and builds a sense of community for families affected by Autism spectrum disorders. Programs at Children's Museum of the Arts are supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council and by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. Children's Museum of the Arts' Inclusives Program is generously funded by the Rose M. Badgeley Charitable Trust. Additional support is provided by Liselotte and Robin Vince, the Barbara Hunt McLanahan Memorial Fund, the Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation, the Jennifer & Jonathan Soros Foundation, The Robert Lehman Foundation, the Louis Legacy Foundation, the New York State Council on the Arts with support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs. Donate Now

Devin Kenny Artist Devin Kenny is an artist, writer, and musician, and dPhil Candidate in Fine Art at the University of Oxford. Born on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, Kenny relocated to New York City as a teenager. Kenny went on to receive a Master of Fine Arts from University of California, Los Angeles, in addition to attending the Whitney Independent Study Program in New York. Kenny has participated in residencies at the Rauschenberg Foundation, SOMA Mexico, Bemis Center, MFAH Core, Shandaken Projects, and the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture. Kenny has exhibited, performed, and lectured across the United States and in galleries and institutions abroad. Select venues include MoMA PS1, The Kitchen, Performance Space, REDCAT, Queens Museum, Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara, and the IMT Gallery in London, among others. Kenny (as Devin KKenny) has a first official release “NY Lottery/CBD Kratom”, out now from PTP, a New York-based audio collective focused on sound art, noise, HipHop and more. Donate Now Since 1988

5/29/24 Classroom Visits In the Classroom with Niousha Kiarashi CMA Resident Artist Niousha Kiarashi shares how she fosters freedom of expression in special needs students. Click to expand media gallery. As part of CMA's Residency for Experimental Arts Education, Niousha Kiarashi leads art classes for elementary school students at Sid Miller Academy , a District 75 school serving students with disabilities in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. Below, visit Niousha in her studio and get a glimpse at her artistic process. On the Freedom of Expression. My students know that it’s art class when they walk in the room. Some of them will enter the room and immediately give me a hug. One or two will even say “art class.” They have so much more freedom in my class compared to their other classrooms. I try to explain this to the paraprofessionals as well. Of course students need discipline and routine, but I want to give them the freedom to get creative and choose what they would like to do in my class. Sometimes the paraprofessionals will stress to students that they need to follow certain steps to complete an assignment. I always let them know that the steps don’t need to be followed exactly; it can be looser, they can experiment with different materials to see what fits their vision. The big takeaway that I want my students to get out of this school year is freedom of expression. As students with special needs, there are innumerable rules that they must follow, every minute of the day. I want them to learn that even though their days are very disciplined, there is always time for freedom of expression. With art, they don't have to stick to the rules. They can get outside of that framework and create works on their own. Sometimes my students come up with great ideas that I had never even thought about. I’m in awe of how free and creative my students are, even though many of them are not verbal. They may not make eye contact, but they can create amazing things. On Students Helping Other Students. It’s very satisfying to see students become really engaged in a project. Sometimes they go even further with the assignment than I could have expected. I have students who clean up all by themselves or help me without having learned about it. My heart melts when that happens, because even my youngest students will do it. They’ll come up to my table and just say “help.” I’ll give them the art materials and they go around to other students’ tables and hand out the supplies. They want to get involved; they want to help. It’s great. On Students' Favorite Materials. One of my students is non-verbal and doesn’t interact much with others. But when he makes art, it’s magic. Today he made a beautiful abstract sculpture that looked like marble. I was shocked by how well he mixed the clay to get a smooth and dreamy color combination. When I give students crayons and markers, most of them just scribble on the paper, but a few of them will actually draw a face, a character, or creature from their imagination. I’ve noticed that when I give the students sensory materials, like play doh, they’ll start to make realistic sculptures. The puppet project was very exciting to me. At that point in the school year, students already learned the fundamentals of art and completed assignments where they had to follow specific steps to get to the outcome. With the puppets, it was the first time that they were free to use whatever material they desired, and that produced a lot of interesting work. I also enjoy assignments where students don’t have to create the same thing as others. For example, these flowers are all different from each other, even though they came from the same lesson. Or how the fish differ in color composition, but have the same form. With the snowflake project, they came up with compositions that I could not have even imagined. On Relating Her Art Practice to Her Students. In my own art practice, I’m very focused on the details, so it’s interesting to see the students pick up on small details as well. One student had glue on his hands and was squishing his fingers together to see textures that had been imprinted on his skin. He was fascinated by it. Similarly, many of them spend a lot of time focusing on how glue and sponges create patterns that you don’t notice unless you look very closely. On Paraprofessionals. When I explain the lesson to my students, the paraprofessionals get to learn about it too. For example, the paraprofessionals were amazed to learn about mixing primary and secondary colors to get complimentary colors. It was new to them as well. They had some fun mixing the colors and then transferring what they observed to students. It was amazing to see. Interview and photography by Kerry Santullo for Children's Museum of the Arts NEXT Emergency Exhibition: New Training for Future Artists and Art Lovers Take a Virtual Tour on Bloomberg Connects Donate Now

Open Studio [May 1] Free Community Artmaking Monday, May 1, 2023 3 PM to 5 PM Pier 57 Pier 57, 11th Avenue, New York, NY, USA Media Inquiries: adam@culturalcounsel.com RSVP Open Studio invites children to explore hands-on projects across a wide range of artistic disciplines. Each month, CMA artists will bring special programming geared for children while caregivers are welcome to enjoy the extraordinary setting of Pier 57 in the adjacent Family Living Room. This program is recommended for children ages 7-11. Registation opens each Friday for the following week's classes. Children's Museum of the Arts' Open Studio at Pier 57 is generously supported by the Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation, Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation, Ruth Foundation for the Arts, William Talbott Hillman Foundation, First Republic Bank, The LeRoy Neiman and Janet Byrne Neiman Foundation, Milton and Sally Avery Arts Foundation, Google Community Grants Fund, Amazon, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Harriet Ames Charitable Trust, The Cowles Charitable Trust, Hammitt, and the Viniar Family Foundation. Donate Now