See More Children's Museum of the Arts 6/29/23 Reflections Uptown Picnic in the Park NEXT IN

2/14/22 Kids Art 8 Fun Facts About Valentine’s Day Valentine's Day has a fascinating history. Click to expand media gallery. It’s the season of love and we couldn’t think of a better person to celebrate it with than … you! We’re teaming up with the Hudson Square Business Improvement District to share the love for our New York City community with families near and far. All week long, participate in Valentine-inspired art projects to show affection for the friends, coworkers, neighbors, educators, and pets that bring joy to our lives. Get inspired with these eight fun facts about Valentine’s Day! 1. The custom of handing out valentines is an ancient tradition that’s over 600 years old. That means when you’re making or sending a valentine, you’re participating in history! 2. Teachers are the #1 recipients of valentines. Can you think of a special teacher or educator that deserves a valentine this year? 3. The iconic box of chocolates has been around for over 160 years. Richard Cadbury (yes, that Cadbury!) created the first heart-shaped box of chocolates in 1861. 4. California has the largest number of chocolate creators per state, followed by Pennsylvania. Which state do you think has the largest number of chocolate lovers? 5. Before it became the #1 symbol of love, the heart shape symbolized memory. At the time, people thought of our hearts as “books of memory.” 6. Nordic countries celebrate Friendship Day, or Ystävänpäivä, on February 14. Which friends are you grateful for this Valentine’s Day? 7. Yee-haw! There is a city in Texas called Valentine. 8. Feeling under the weather? Candy hearts started out as medical lozenges for sore throats. NEXT Emergency Exhibition: New Training for Future Artists and Art Lovers Take a Virtual Tour on Bloomberg Connects Donate Now

9/9/23 Kids Art Skip Rope with 3 Paintings from CMA's Permanent Collection of Children's Art Click to expand media gallery. Erle Koomets Skipping Age 12 International School of Estonia Tallinn, Estonia Katherine Ghi Rope Jumping Age 4 Evergreen Art Studio Fremont, California Calvin Chiu Rope Jumping Age 6 Evergreen Art Studio Fremont, California 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 2/21/24 Artists in Schools Papier Mâché Part 1: Lessons from an Expert Dispatches from CMA Resident Artist Maria D. Rapicavoli's after school class at Hudson Guild. NEXT IN

6/3/24 Artists in Schools Self Portraits at IS 068 Dispatches from CMA Artist Instructor Gala Narezo's sixth, seventh, and eight grade classes at IS 068. Click to expand media gallery. Students at IS 068K are eager to begin their self portrait projects! A few eighth graders are interested in applying to NYC's premier visual and performing arts school, LaGuardia High School. Luckily for them, a self portrait is often part of the entrance portfolio requirement, so our students already have a head start. As for the others, they simply enjoyed the act of drawing. It’s spring in New York City, which means CMA’s Artist Instructors are hard at work in public schools across the boroughs teaching fine arts and stop-motion animation to students who lack access to the arts otherwise. Learn how you can support these programs by donating to CMA’s Emergency Arts Education Fund. 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 2/3/22 Fun Facts Kids Art 6 Fun Facts About Hudson Square Did you know that our neighborhood was home to a 9-story candy factory? Photo Credit: Andrea Mohin / The New York Times It’s the season of love and we couldn’t think of a better person to celebrate it with than … you! We’re teaming up with Hudson Square Business Improvement District to share the love for our New York City community with families near and far. All week long, participate in Valentine-inspired art projects to show affection for the friends, coworkers, neighbors, educators, and pets that bring joy to our lives. Get inspired with these six fun facts about our beloved NYC neighborhood, Hudson Square. 1. 315 Hudson Street used to be a 9-story candy factory. The most famous candy created within its wall was Jujyfruits, created in 1920. The building’s latest occupant? Google. 2. A mansion called Richmond Hill once stood on the corner of Charlton and Varick Streets. It is most notably known as the former home to Aaron Burr, the vice presidential home to John and Abigail Adams, and site of the Richmond Hill Theater. And that’s not all — Richmond Hill served as George Washington’s headquarters when he defended New York City against the British. 3. Spring Street gets its name from a natural well which once flowed through the area. 4. Hudson Square was the former printing district of New York with over 1,000 print shops! By the 1960s, printers began to leave the area due to the decline of printing in the city and increase in rent prices. Coincidentally, Hudson Square is now home to numerous digital news outlets, such as New York Magazine and Gothamist. 5. Hudson Square was home to the first African-American newspaper. In 1827, The Freedom’s Journal provided critical information on current events and contained editorials declaiming slavery and other injustices. The neighborhood also served as a stronghold for the abolitionist movement and was host to many African-American-owned businesses and property. 6. The Holland Tunnel opened for business in 1927 and was dubbed the world’s longest underwater tunnel. In 1927, the toll was 50 cents. In 2022, the toll is $13.75! NEXT IN Fun Facts 5 Facts About No School 5 Facts About No School

3/25/24 Artists in Schools Story Street Quilts Dispatches from CMA Resident Artist Maria D. Rapicavoli's after school class at Hudson Guild. Click to expand media gallery. Students began work on a two-day project drawing inspiration from Faith Ringgold ’s captivating Street Story quilt. Faith Ringgold, Street Story, cotton canvas, acrylic paint, ink marker, dyed and printed cotton, and sequins, sewn to a cotton flannel backing, 1985. Collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York © 1985 Faith Ringgold Students were asked to recreate the façades of their own buildings as viewed from the street. Each student was provided with different colored pieces of fabric, along with glue and scissors, and encouraged them to unleash their creativity to the fullest extent! They were particularly captivated by Ringgold’s inspiring use of fabric in her artwork and enjoyed experimenting with cutting and patching different types of fabric. Some students encountered difficulty in depicting the façade of their buildings and found greater ease in capturing the interior instead. Maria's work at Hudson Guild 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

1/8/24 Interview Celebrating Diwali with Anu Sehgal of The Culture Tree Corporate leader turned cultural educator Anu Sehgal discusses her childhood in India and the artistic traditions of Diwali. Click to expand media gallery. We couldn't think of a better way to celebrate the festival of light than an afternoon of Diwali arts and crafts co-curated by The Culture Tree ! Children and families created Rangoli coasters with Apnavi Pareek , founder of Buzy Bugs , while also enjoying bilingual storytime and puppet-making at Pier 57. Below, we caught up with Anu Sehgal , founder and president of The Culture Tree and advocate for programs that bring the traditions of South Asian culture to life. A marketer by profession, Anu earned her MBA from Yale University and worked in the corporate sector for 15 years. She is the author of Kahaani Rangeeli , an interactive children's book that tells the colourful story of Holi with Krishna and friends. Describe any memorable experiences of working with children during the workshop. We are so thankful to CMA and Pier 57 for creating a multi-sensorial environment that replicated Diwali and all its festivities. It was so beautiful to share more about Diwali, its stories and about the practice of making rangoli. We heard songs from India, ate delicious festive foods of India, danced to the beats of dhol, and saw the quintessential visual of Diwali, the diya, at every corner of the pier. Where are you from and what is the arts community like there? I am from India, where we have diverse and colorful art from different regions. The art we focus on during Diwali is rangoli. Rangoli is an art form that originated in India, in which patterns are created on the floor using materials such as colored rice, dry flour, colored sand or flower petals. It is usually made during Diwali and other Hindu festivals. Designs are passed from one generation to the next, keeping both the art form and the tradition alive. The purpose of rangoli is decoration, and it is thought to bring good luck. Design depictions may vary as they reflect traditions, folklore, and practices that are unique to each area. Generally, this practice is showcased during occasions such as festivals, auspicious observances, marriage celebrations, and other similar milestones and gatherings. Rangoli designs can be simple geometric shapes, deity impressions, or flower and petal shapes, but they can also be very elaborate designs crafted by numerous people. Do you have a favorite memory of making art as a child? I loved making art and taking part in art contests, which included hundreds of kids. Most of these art contests happened outdoors. I also loved using watercolors to make art. What advice would you give to young artists who wish to pursue an art practice? Keep practicing and have a focus. Go to art museums and constantly be inspired by great artists of the present and past. How does working with children inspire you? Children are extremely curious and forthright. I love sharing cultural stories with children and fielding their amazing questions. 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 11/30/23 Kids Art 13 Winter Scenes from CMA's Collection of Children's Art NEXT IN

See More Children's Museum of the Arts 8/4/23 Reflections Ordinary Objects in Unusual Places NEXT IN