Channel your inner Michelangelo.

ARTivities

Our Art and Innovation Lab is stocked with everything from clay to paints to pastels to help your child explore the world of art. When children delve into art, they are not just painting a picture or creating a sculpture; they are developing skills that will help them in other areas of their lives, including spatial reasoning, perspective and dimension.

Current ARTivities

• Fruit Face Collaborative: From a cornucopia of faux fruit and veggies, manipulate temporary facial portraits into the style that Giuseppe Arcimboldo used to paint during the Renaissance.
• Using plants, fruit, vegetables, animals and objects like books to embellish facial die cuts with fruit stickers or draw a facial portrait using the whimsical, yet symbolic painting style of Giuseppe Arcimboldo.
•  Meet the Artist Series featuring Shira Grant through September 15.
  • Make art from upcycled materials and contribute to the community flower garden
• Abstract ABC Art Sculpture: Pezzettino is his name, self acceptance became his game. This lovely story by Leo Lionni presents us with a chance to sculpt an abstract piece of fine art much like the book’s title character who learns to appreciate all the stuff he is made of.
• Ants and Watermelons: Refurbish upcycled materials to create a 3D summer picnic vignette of ants and/or watermelon.

Hispanic Heritage Month ARTivities

SPAIN: September 16 – 21

• Using bold use of color, shape, and form, we are celebrating Spanish artist, Pablo Picasso in the Art and Innovation Lab.
• Additional art projects include collaborative skirts based on the country’s colors, and Andalusian lacework using ribbon and string.

GUATEMALA: September 23 – 28

• Guatemalan artist Carlos Merida inspires this art project using abstract and geometric styles.
• Collaborative skirt project gives children the opportunity to decorate fabric pieces in the favored colors of the honored country and add to a community project.
• Barriletes, better known as kites, are used in festivities in the Guatemalan culture. Kids will make their own using cardboard, pencils and streamers.
• Beaded Mayan ornaments use beads and children’s creativity to create ornaments to take home.
• Fajas Bordadas, or belts, are an integral part of every Mayan woman’s dress, and we’re giving children a chance to express their creativity by creating a belt they can wear.

CHILE: September 30 – October 5

• Karen Pinto De La Calle, primarily known as Monroe, began her artistic path by immersing herself in classical figurative painting and portraiture. Children will experience kaleidoscopic optical illusions inspired by Monroe’s current colorful abstract paintings.
• Collaborative skirt project gives children the opportunity to decorate fabric pieces in the favored colors of the honored country and add to a community project.
• Patchwork burlap, arpillera, handicraft are a valuable piece of Chilean cultural heritage. Kids will use all kinds of textiles to tell their story through this artform.
• The black clay of Quinchamali produces beautiful pottery through burning, engravings and painting processes.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: October 7 – 12

• Guillo Perez is known for abstract expressionism. Children will use his techniques using spatulas and paint.
• Collaborative skirt project gives children the opportunity to decorate fabric pieces in the favored colors of the honored country and add to a community project.
• Carnaval Masks create unique pieces. Kids can make and wear their creations.
• Larimar is one of the world’s rarest gemstones. Kids will make their rare geode using salt and watercolor.