The Museum of Modern Art may have temporarily left West 53rd Street, but the block between Fifth and Sixth Avenues is still home to two museums. In addition to the American Craft Museum, the street now boasts the new home of the American Folk Art Museum. To celebrate its new midtown address (there is still a gallery at Two Lincoln Square, Columbus Avenue at 66th Street), the museum has begun a series of interactive family art workshops on select Sundays. Like similar programs at the Metropolitan and the Brooklyn Museums of Art, workshops begin by inspecting pieces in the museum’s collection that relate to a certain theme, then creating your own artwork. Unlike the other larger institutions, however, this small, quiet museum remains so far rather undiscovered, so workshops tend to be sparsely attended, and offer an intimate experience with a museum educator. Previous sessions have included creating a quilt (after checking out the museum’s collection of quilts), finding trees in the museum’s art, and designing a fan. My 5-year-old participated in the “Fantastic Fan” workshop and learned about different kinds of fans, from flat to pleated ones. She had the opportunity to look for fans throughout the museum, and then get messy by creating her own, with paint, crayons, markers and scissors. What really impressed her, though, was the paint that the educator mixed, using pigment powder, Karo syrup and vinegar. Upcoming workshops include “Towers and Thrones” on December 8, in which children examine the Eugene Von Bruenchenhein tower made from chicken and turkey bones and then use pipe cleaners and foil to create a tower; and “Starlight, Starbright”, on December 22. Workshops are free with museum admission. Although the rest of the museum is strictly hands-off, kids will enjoy exploring the collection; the museum is featuring “American Anthem: Masterworks from The American Folk Art Museum”, through January 5, 2003. There is a large wooden carousel horse and an American flag gate, also made of wood. Note that while there are many child-friendly images — from animals to quilt patterns — there are also a few potentially disturbing ones: a death cart driven by a skeleton, a couple of crucifixes. A three-dimensional man hanging on a cross may alarm a child more than a painting of a similar subject would. But my 5-year-old found much to delight her — weather vanes, ducks, and sculptures of a tiger and a buffalo. The museum also has a small cafe where you can get a sandwich or snack.
Info: Where: 45 West 53rd Street When: Tuesday-Sunday, 10am-6pm; till 8pm on Fridays Admission: $9 adults; $5 seniors and students; free for children under 12 For more info: (212) 265-1040; www.folkartmuseum.org Note: Workshops are for families with children over age 5
