The Muscatine Art Center invites the public to a free Family Day on Saturday, February 20 from 1:30-2:30 p.m. February’s Family Day ties into the current children’s exhibit Framed: Step Into Art™. Children will have the opportunity to learn about featured artist Clementine Hunter by creating a folk art chicken inspired by Hunter’s painting Big Chicken as well as a landscape collage. Snack mix and juice will be provided.
Framed: Step into Art™, created by the Minnesota Children’s Museum, will be on view through May 8, 2016. The bilingual exhibit was designed to gain knowledge and understanding about the five featured artworks by providing a framework within which adults with all levels of art experiences can engage children in aesthetic development. Framed: Step into Art™ provides opportunities for children and adults to spend time with art, make a connection with art, and explore art according to their own needs and abilities.
Families have been exploring the Framed exhibit since it opened on January 16, 2016. Krista Regennitter brought her son Jakob. “I think the exhibit is a great opportunity for younger kids to learn about the arts through hands on activities,” explained Regennitter. “We loved the do it yourself art gallery, the self-portrait station, and the real life models of the pictures. It was a great way to spend an afternoon!”
Susan Krieger brings her three year-old granddaughter to the Tots classes and the two have fun playing in Framed. “This exhibit is fabulous. It engages all the senses and we have a hard time getting Kinsley to leave. It’s as good as any children’s exhibit you could find in a big city.”
Future Family Day events will be offered Saturday, March 19th and Saturday, April 16th. Crafts and snacks will be provided from 1:30 -2:30 pm on those days. Admission is always free. Programming developed for children ages 2 to 5 in “For Tots” will be tailored to Framed: Step Into Art™ throughout the month of February.
The Muscatine Art Center is located at 1314 Mulberry Avenue in Muscatine, Iowa. Hours are Tuesday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Thursday evenings until 7:00 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. Admission is free. Donations are appreciated. Visit www.muscatineartcenter.org for more information about programs and events and to download a class brochure.
