Portland Children's Museum - part II - Chagall exhibit

Here, in my second part about the Portland Children's Museum (see first post here), you'll learn more about the fantastic Chagall exhibit at the museum. It's there until mid-January.

Outing: Portland Children's Museum

Cost: $9 for adults and children 1 and older (you can buy tickets for $8 online here). Info about membership here. Parking is additional. They have free first Friday afternoons-info here.

Travel time: Located next the Oregon Zoo. Map here. 

Age: Any age, but a child who is mobile will have more fun.

Reason to go: The current special Chagall exhibit is excellent.

I took the kids to the Portland Art Museum a couple of weeks ago to see their new Body Beautiful exhibit. It was beautiful but how would the kids do on their first trip to the museum? They were well-behaved, yet I won't be featuring it as a recommended activity at this time. My three-year-old had trouble keeping her hands away from the art.

This Chagall exhibit is so refreshing for that reason. It's designed with little hands in mind. The mini-gallery of art made by kids is the first part of the exhibit.

 

I was struck with how mindfully the rest of the exhibit was structured. Each representation of Chagall's art featured an activity and phone to listen and learn more.

Kids can do weaving here.

This puzzle mimics the lines of the painting.

The illuminated puzzle re-creates the stained glass window.

There's more than these activities. Kids can paint or contribute to a mural in the large art station.

 

I can't think of a better way to expose kids to great art, encourage their creativity, and teach them that art doesn't have to be hands off. Maybe the next time we visit the grown-up art museum, they will appreciate the pieces even more.

"Ish" and "The Dot"

Yes-these are library copies. Sometimes inspiration strikes with books I haven't bought yet.

Book: Ish and The Dot by Peter Reynolds.

Target audience: Probably 5 and up for true appreciation of these books' meaning. Younger kids will still like them too.

Topic: Art, creativity, differences

Basic summary: For the creative spirit to thrive, we need to let go of other people's judgements. Give new skills a try.

I'm posting on both these books together because the message is the same: just let art be art. It's amazing just the way it is. Through Reynolds' beautiful illustrations, this idea comes to life with a story of a child discovering his or her artistic potential. At a deeper level, these books encourage children to pursue their passions no matter what the critics (even inner ones) say.

Extension activity:

After reading both books, look what happened during quiet time here at home:

My son found himself inspired to create 'dots' just like the story in one of the books. Bear in mind that we'd read the book several times before he wanted the watercolors out. This just made my heart sing though! Artistic inspiration from a storybook. And who knows? Maybe someone will be inspired in your house too. Or even better - maybe someone will develop a new interest even if he or she isn't great at it at first. Comment and tell me about it.