With a chill in the
air that’s only going to get chillier, now’s the perfect time to explore some
of the city’s museums with your kids. We asked Natasha Schlesinger, founder of
ArtKids, to tell us which museum exhibits and events are on her radar this
fall. Check out her picks—plus a few of our own favorites—below.
METROPOLITAN
MUSEUM OF ART: If your kids
are as enamored of the Percy Jackson
series by Rick Riordan as my son is, then visit the Met’s Greek and Roman
Galleries, where the real ancient gods and heroes play out their adventures.
Take your kids to the first and mezzanine floors of the museum to see the
ancient figures depicted on vases, sculptures and even a real ancient chariot.
Kids will love to find the heroes they have been reading about on objects that
date back over 2,000 years.
JOHN BALDESSARI:
PURE BEAUTY (through January 9). If ancient culture isn’t a draw for your little ones, then check out
the John Baldessari exhibit at the Met, on the second floor. John Baldessari
has been creating art since the late 50’s and is still at it today, with works
that go against the grain, provoking laughter, wonder and imagination. Bring a sense
of humor to the show and come armed with some cut-out pictures from magazines,
white paper and double-sided tape so that your kids can create their own
collage of unexpected images culled from the media. (metmuseum.org)
GUGGENHEIM
MUSEUM: KANDINSKY AT THE
BAUHAUS: 1922-1933. This small-scale exhibit will engage even the youngest
visitors, with brightly-colored and exciting paintings from the museum’s
collection. Kandinsky uses simple recognizable geometric shapes to create his
own universal language that even the youngest minds will recognize. Kids will
also love climbing up the spiral galleries of the main building. Bring colored
pencils, paper and some geometric stickers to get your little artists going on
their own experiment with visual language. (guggenheim.org)
ASIA SOCIETY: YOSHITOMO NARA: NOBODY’S FOOL, through January 2.
well-known figure in Manga art, with his depictions of children and
animals—some cute and cuddly, some menacing. This exhibition will appeal even
to young children. Bring paper and pencils and encourage kids to create stories
using the emotions of the characters they encounter. (asiasociety.org)
WHITNEY MUSEUM: MODERN LIFE: EDWARD HOPPER AND HIS TIME,
through April 2011. This is a show
for slightly older children; some paintings might be a bit mature for kids.
Hopper is known as the most iconic realist painter of the 20th century, and
this exhibit includes both his work and that of his contemporaries, who sought
to represent modern life as they saw it, like George Bellows. Bellows’ iconic
painting, “Dempsey and Firpo,” takes the viewer into a heated moment during a
boxing match. Ask your kids questions such as: Where is the action? Can you
find clues to what the artist is trying to tell us? (whitney.org)
For more information
about ArtKids, visit artmuseny.com.
Image: “Painting with White Border,” by Vasily Kandinsky. Photo courtesy of the Guggenheim.
Editor’s Picks
A handful of our favorite museums for
families—and what they’ve got going on this fall:
Children’s Museum of the Arts: CMANY
seeks to share the benefits of the arts with children and to
inspire and champion the next generation of artists and art lovers. On
December 17, children ages five and up can create circus characters inspired by
Calder’s Circus. On December 19, families can join the museum for a
contemporary art workshop with Ana Lieberman—kids can make “twinned form”
sculptures using masking tape and
newspaper. (cmany.org)
The Jewish Museum: The
Jewish Museum features a permanent collection of more than 28,000
objects—paintings, sculpture, photographs, archaeological artifacts, coins,
ceremonial objects and more—relating to Jewish heritage and history. On
December 12, families can join the museum for a production of “The Pushcart
Players,” a re-imagining of the classic tale of Peter and the Wolf that
showcases the importance of friendship and courage. Also, on December 24, take
part in a drop-in art workshop on Harry Houdini! Children ages three and up will
love learning about the great magician and creating their own whimsical
artwork. (thejewishmuseum.org)
The American Museum of Natural History: The
AMNH’s exhaustive collections span human culture, the natural world and the
universe. This December is chock-full of fun events for the whole family to enjoy!
Come see the Origami Holiday Tree, up for observation through January 2; bring
your binoculars and telescopes to view the Winter Solstice with astronomers on
December 20; or catch the space show “Journey to the Stars,” narrated by Whoopi
Goldberg. (amnh.org)
Liberty Science Center: The Liberty Science Center (located in Jersey City, New Jersey, and only a few minutes away by path train) is an oasis of hands-on fun for science enthusiasts of all ages. Until January 9th, kids can check out the museum’s awe-inspiring exhibit, “Mammoths and
Mastodons: Titans of the Ice Age,” which explores the lives of these incredible animals and their
environments, includes more than 100 rare fossils and specimens from around the
world and full-sized animal models. At the exhibit, kids will be able to track mammoth’s footprints, crawl
beneath a saber-toothed tiger’s perch and much more! 222 Jersey City Boulevard, Jersey City, NJ, 201-200-1000, lsc.org.
New York Police Museum: Dedicated to preserving the history of the New York City Police Department,
the New York Police Museum boasts tons of hands-on educational exhibits for
kids. On December 4, celebrate the
season with a day of fun activities for kids, featuring crafts commemorating
holidays like including Christmas, Chanukah, Eid, Kwanzaa and more. (nycpm.org)
New York City Fire Museum: This
museum is home to one of the nation’s most prominent collections of fire-related
art and artifacts from the late 18th Century to the present. Among its holdings
are painted leather buckets, helmets, parade hats and belts, lanterns and tools
and more! On December 12, watch
FDNY firefighters bravely rescue Santa, who will be available afterwards for
gift requests and photos. (nycfiremuseum.org)
