Open Studio: Our Many Selves Free Community Artmaking Thursday, May 23, 2024 3 PM to 5 PM Pier 57 Pier 57, 11th Avenue, New York, NY, USA Media Inquiries: adam@culturalcounsel.com RSVP Faith Ringgold, For the Women’s House, 1971, oil on canvas. Courtesy of Rose M. Singer Center, Rikers Island Correctional Center 2017 © Faith Ringgold / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. Children will examine Faith Ringgold ’s 1971 work, For the Women’s House , which provided inspiration to female inmates on Rikers Island by depicting women in nontraditional roles, such as basketball players and bus drivers. After considering their many different “selves,” they’ll create a painting that encapsulates the unique aspects of their identity. 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: Faith Ringgold, For the Women’s House , 1971, oil on canvas. Courtesy of Rose M. Singer Center, Rikers Island Correctional Center 2017 © Faith Ringgold / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. 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. Donate Now

8/18/23 6 Abstract Paintings From CMA's Collection of Children's Art Click to expand media gallery. Unknown Artist Untitled USA Joseph Solman Collection Karina Figures In Space Age 10 Denmark Kennedy Knight We Look Age 6 USA Tina Steffanatos Rainbow Over Ulster County Age 5 St. Agatha Home New Rochelle, New York Malcolm Johnson Sesame Street Age 4 USA NEXT Emergency Exhibition: New Training for Future Artists and Art Lovers Take a Virtual Tour on Bloomberg Connects Donate Now

5/31/24 Arts Education Resources Learning Resource: Abstract Art by Noormah Jamal, CMA Artist in Residence 2023-24, in collaboration with 5th graders at Children’s Workshop School, NYC Click to expand media gallery. View , Download , & Discover More! Young artists discover Russian artist Wassily Kandinsky , a pioneer of Abstract Art and founder of the Der Blaue Reiter group (The Blue Rider.) Kandinsky regularly explored the theme of the horse and rider - sometimes realistically, but other times by breaking down the familiar image to pure colors and flattened perspective. Through repetition, Kandinsky created abstract compositions that captured the spirit of a subject, rather than its likeness. Learning Objectives: Confidently blend primary colors well to make secondary colors. If you mix the primary colors together, you get more colors: red and yellow make orange, red and blue make purple/violet, and yellow and blue make green. Compose the artwork with intention. Engage spatial awareness of the paper. Materials: Drawing paper Primary colored jumbo crayon Black jumbo crayon Ruler Looking at Abstract Art: Piet Mondrian (Dutch, b. 1872 – d. 1944) Broadway Boogie Woogie .1942-1943, oil on canvas, Museum of Modern Art, NYC. (LINK) Jack Whitten (American, b. 1939 –d. 2018) Apps for Obama, Detail. 2011, acrylic collage, courtesy Zeno X Gallery © Jack Whitten, courtesy Zeno X Gallery, Antwerp / John Berens. ( LINK ) Carmen Herrera (Cuban, b.1915– d.2022) Iberic. 1949, acrylic on canvas on board, © Carmen Herrera; Courtesy Lisson Gallery, Metropolitan Museum of Art, NYC. (LINK) Ruth Asawa (American, b. 1926 - d. 2013) Untitled (BMC.93, In and Out), circa 1948–49. Oil and graphite on paper. Private collection. Artwork © 2023 Ruth Asawa Lanier, Inc./Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. Courtesy David Zwirner. ( LINK ) Step 1: Looking at history Following the principles of Look, Make, Share, introduce the class to the art of Wassily Kandinsky and the concept of abstract art - art that does not aim to represent an accurate picture of reality as we experience it but instead uses shapes , colors , forms, and gestural marks to achieve a specific effect or spirit. Looseness and repetition are techniques often used by abstract artists. While there is an art movement called “Abstraction, ”abstract art exists across cultures and time. Step 2: Introduction to materials Provide students with limited colors so they can focus on intentional decision-making. Explain the difference between primary and secondary colors. By offering only primary and black crayons students can focus on layering primary colors to create secondary colors and transparencies as well as the forms they are using on the page. Step 3: Exploring the elements and principles of art As students begin their drawing process, discuss the elements of art : color, line, value, and the principles of art : contrast, balance, and movement. Students may still feel a strong impulse to make representational work - support them in loosening their wrist and hand. Consider playing different types of music in the classroom. Step 4: Presentation A critical part of the class is sharing the work we made - including the preliminary drawings or drafts. Emphasize the importance of the process and the decision-making involved over the final product alone. While looking at examples of Abstract Art and while creating your composition, consider the following questions: Have you ever drawn something so many times that it becomes unrecognizable? What happens when you loosen your wrist when you draw? How does this affect the composition? When you look at the referenced artworks are you looking for something familiar? Are you taking in the full image? How do your eyes move across the surface? Kandinsky thought that the sound of a trumpet was bright yellow. Think of your favorite song. Now imagine drawing it. What colors are in your song? Instructor Notes: Carrying out an assignment that is this loose with younger kids has its challenges. They might not fully engage or you run the risk of losing their attention. Music and different genres of it can help lift this lesson. The change in beat or tempo automatically generates a different output from them. Sharing something they are familiar with vs something brand new keeps things exciting. Examples of Student Work: NEXT Emergency Exhibition: New Training for Future Artists and Art Lovers Take a Virtual Tour on Bloomberg Connects Donate Now

Open Studio: Public Seating Free Community Artmaking Monday, May 20, 2024 3 PM to 5 PM Pier 57 Pier 57, 11th Avenue, New York, NY, USA Media Inquiries: adam@culturalcounsel.com RSVP Image Credit: A bench painted by students of PS 41 Crocheron School is installed at Cunningham Park as part of the CEI Benchmarks program. Photo by Nick Karp. Elizabeth Akamatsu, Stardust, Fort Tryon Park, NYC. Rolling Bench at General Grant National Memorial in Riverside Park, NYC. All across the boroughs, visitors can find public seating that is both functional and sculptural. Examples include Elizabeth Akamatsu 's Stardust in Fort Tryon Park, The Mosaic Rolling Bench by CITYarts in Riverside Park, and benches painted by public school students at Cunningham Park, Queens. After discussing the function of public art, children will design and sculpt their own benches and chairs that are meant to be admired and used. 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: A bench painted by students of PS 41 Crocheron School is installed at Cunningham Park as part of the CEI Benchmarks program. Photo by Nick Karp. 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. Donate Now

CMA ♥️ ART: Valentine's Day Art Party! Fundraiser Event Sunday, February 11, 2024 10 AM to 12:30 PM Cricket's Candy Creations Cricket's Candy Creations, Hudson Street, New York, NY, USA Media Inquiries: adam@culturalcounsel.com RSVP Celebrate all things sweet while raising critical funds for free art programs in Children’s Museum of the Arts’ partner schools! Enjoy art activities, cocktails, and brunch boxes from Maman during CMA's Valentine's Day Art Party on Sunday, February 11 from 10 AM to 12:30 PM at Cricket's Candy Creations in Manhattan. Families with children of all ages are invited to indulge in nostalgic Valentine’s Day projects with an artful twist, including Crepe Paper Flower Bouquets , Cookie Cutter Pendants , Extra Sweet Valentine Card Station , and the return of everyone’s favorite Clay Bar ! All attendees will enjoy a Valentine’s Day brunch box provided by Maman including a classic croissant or pain au chocolat, fresh fruit cup or granola, freshly squeezed orange juice, and specialty Valentine cookie surprise. Champagne, sparkling rosé, and unlimited coffee will also be available for grownups. PS: The event wraps up in the early afternoon, leaving plenty of time to make it home in time for the big game – and gain a little extra inspiration for your Super Bowl (or Puppy Bowl) party! Activities Include: Crepe Paper Flower Bouquets Be a florist for a day as you create a colorful flower bouquet to present to your Valentine using crepe paper, wire, and floral tape. Cookie Cutter Pendants Use cookie cutters of various fun shapes to create wearable jewelry. Whose name will you carve into your pendant? Extra Sweet Valentine Card Station Gummy candy becomes an art tool as you create wax-resist candy prints for your Valentine’s Day cards. Imagine telling your classmates that you created their Valentine using candy! Clay Bar: Busts of Your Valentine Everyone’s favorite CMA activity makes its triumphant return! Sculpt a plasticine clay bust of your Valentine and present it to them at the end of the event. Will they wear a hat? Heart-shaped sunglasses? Include all of the extra details that make your special person … special! Ticket Levels: "You’re Sweet" Family Package [$250 per family] admission for up to 2 adults and 3 children access to all art activities, except Clay Bar cocktails for adults brunch box from Maman "Be Mine" VIP Package [$500 per family] admission for up to 2 adults and 3 children exclusive Clay Bar access, plus access to all other art activities Mine limited edition letterpress print by Liana Finck cocktails for adults brunch box from Maman All proceeds from ticket sales support CMA's Emergency Arts Education Fund , providing free art programs in NYC schools that need it most. Image Credit: Artwork by former CMA Artist in Residence Ciana Malchione The non-tax deductible portion of a ticket package is $200. Contributions are fully tax deductible. Tax ID # 13-3520970 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. Donate Now

12/18/23 Artists in Schools Noormah's Reflections: November CMA Resident Artist Noormah Jamal on her November projects at Children's Workshop School. Click to expand media gallery. This month, I introduced students to new mediums and techniques such as oil pastels, watercolor, gesture drawing, and pointillism, just to name a few. I moved onto my third lesson on 2D works, where we designed postage stamps and self portraits based on Picasso's cubist works. I was pleasantly surprised the whole month long. Students exceeded my expectations in every assignment. Oil pastels are a favorite medium to many – the blendability of pastels kept students very engaged. The wet-on-wet watercolor and pointillism assignments simply blew me away. I was worried that students would feel overwhelmed, but they did so well. Some students did over-work the paper, but most were able to control the water-to-paint ratio and puddling on paper. I was so impressed watching them pool the paint and drag the puddle down with impeccable control. My favorite moments are when students are surprised by their own talent. The watercolor lesson was a whole class of joy. I had two younger students from another class sitting in, both of whom are very gifted artists. When I praised their work and showed the class their paintings as an example, the student remarked ‘And I’m not even in fifth grade, can you believe it?!’” During the pointillism class, students not only painted fruits, but also situated them in a bowl or painted the background. I loved that they paid attention to the small details that make their works look “complete” or composed. The biggest change I’ve noticed so far is that students make sure I understand their “process,” or mode of making, and keep me in the loop on their progress. Noormah’s work at Children’s Workshop School is supported by the Emergency Arts Education Fund , which provides free arts education to NYC school communities whose art programs have been decimated by recent budget cuts. Children’s Museum of the Arts’ three Residents Artists are currently implementing ambitious arts curriculum at each of our partner sites throughout New York City: Hudson Guild in Chelsea, Sid Miller Academy in Crown Heights, and Children’s Workshop School in the East Village. Come spring, our residents will showcase their students' work through exhibitions and installations across the city. Learn how you can support the work of our residents here . NEXT Emergency Exhibition: New Training for Future Artists and Art Lovers Take a Virtual Tour on Bloomberg Connects Donate Now

Dana Davenport Artist Dana Davenport (1994) is a Korean and Black American interdisciplinary artist shifting between installation, sculpture, video, and performance. Within her practice, she addresses the complexities that surround interminority racism as a foundation for envisioning her own and the collective futurity of Black and Asian peoples. Davenport utilizes synthetic hair as a proxy for her body to discuss the strained relationship between Black and Asian peoples, specifically in America. As a product overwhelmingly sold by Koreans to Black Americans, she considers the implications of the material as it sits on the beauty supply shelf and how it is activated in the hands of Black folks through love and labor. Donate Now Since 1988

Open Studio: Unusual Sculptures Inspired by Phyllida Barlow [July 31] Free Community Artmaking Monday, July 31, 2023 3 PM to 5 PM Pier 57 Pier 57, 11th Avenue, New York, NY, USA Media Inquiries: adam@culturalcounsel.com RSVP This session takes inspiration from British sculptor Phyllida Barlow ’s current exhibition on view in City Hall Park. We’ll borrow from Barlow’s playful and rule-breaking style to challenge traditional sculptural values by placing an everyday object, such as a chair or bed, in surprising space. About Open Studio at Pier 57 Taking place Mondays and Thursdays, Open Studio at Pier 57 invites children to explore hands-on projects across a wide range of artistic disciplines. Specially designed for children on the Autism Spectrum but welcoming to all, each Inclusives 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. What To Expect Sessions are led by CMA Artist Instructors Emma Waldman and JT Baldassarre and are inspired by historic and contemporary New York City art and artists. 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 ! 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. 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

10/13/23 Interviews "No matter how intellectual your endeavors are, there should always be some element of play and joy present" Artist James Perkins on making art with his son and seeing the Nutcracker every year. Click to expand media gallery. 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 James Perkins. My 6 year old son Judd loves tennis and he wants to be a professional tennis player. He actually doesn’t really enjoy drawing or painting, but when he had to for school he created this series of tennis courts paintings. A green painting was of a grass court, a blue was a hard court, and this one is his painting of a clay court – his favorite surface. Each one has this specific gesture where the net has been abstracted to almost a Barnett Newman-like zip and the rest have these Mark Rothko-like colorfields, which is also very similar to my work. While my son doesn’t love to sit down and draw or paint, he loves to help me in the studio, and perhaps because of the nature of my work, is being raised with an expanded concept of art. This is one of my favorite photos of me and my son working together on a sculpture. He is very helpful in the studio, and more careful than most adults. Do you have a favorite memory of making art as a child? I could sit in my room for hours drawing and studying images. My father would bring home from his office different engineering pencils with the different thickness in lines and I loved using them. The work felt charged with love using something my father had gotten for me specifically to nurture that interest. What advice would you give to young artists who wish to pursue an art practice? Always be making something. It doesn’t have to be your best work, but you should always be making. I remember in grad school, one professor told me if you are not obsessed, then you are probably not an artist. I think it is ok to find that out. There are so many other professions in the art world. I know a great dealer that is a great dealer because he tried to be a painter. How does working with children inspire you? Working with children reminds you that no matter how intellectual your endeavors are, there should always be some element of play and joy present. When did you first know you were going to be an artist? In the 6th grade, I had this wonderful art teacher who gave me his office during class, separate from the other students, as a studio to make this large photo-realistic drawing for a competition. I would go in that room and close the door and work. He only came in when class was dismissed. Such a special act of kindness and support. Can you describe a formative experience visiting a museum or gallery? For me it was seeing the Nutcracker ballet each year as a child. I really looked forward to the music, the dancers, the costumes, the set design, and the stillness of being able to sit and watch the performance. James Perkins Happy To See You (Yellow) silk, sun, wood, ocean water, handmade frame Bid Now NEXT Emergency Exhibition: New Training for Future Artists and Art Lovers Take a Virtual Tour on Bloomberg Connects Donate Now

See More Children's Museum of the Arts 4/12/24 Artists in Schools Zine Making: The Final Creations! Dispatches from CMA Resident Artist Noormah Jamal's fifth grade class at Children's Workshop School. NEXT IN