Kids Art Day at the Blanden Art Museum Summer 2010 June 26, 2010, from 10:30 AM to 3:00 PM
March is Youth Art Month, but in order to be able to hold a larger outdoor event, we moved our celebration to the last Saturday of June. The idea began last year with the desire to hold an outdoor fine arts day that would be entirely free and open to the public, an event that included a Children's Creative Arts Tent similar to the one that was organized for our 75th Anniversary celebration during the summer of 2007. Last June we put this idea to work and the result was a great turnout on a beautiful day.
For our first year in 2009 we had artists on hand to work with children of all ages to create their own art projects out of a variety of media. These included demonstrations on the pottery wheel, and the opportunity to try it out if desired. Project opportunities to make and take home included air-dry clay creations, mural painting on large sheets of paper, origami, spin-art painting, and scratch art. Face painting, free popcorn and lemonade were all available too.
Article Photos
Flaherty introduces Grant Wood and his art to school students.
This year we will again have a variety of hands-on art projects to try out. Also joining us again is Daniel Poe, balloon sculptor, who will make his creations to give away. We will be hosting the Elsenpeter Marionettes, who will give four performances of "The Wizard of Oz" as written in the original book. All events will take place outside under the tents on the east lawn of the museum. While you are here, be sure to stop in and see the great art exhibits on display in the galleries. As always, admission is free.
Mark your calendars for Kids Art Day on Saturday, June 26th, 2010. The fun begins at 10:30 AM and keeps going until 3:00 PM, with performances of "The Wizard of Oz" by the Elsenpeter Marionettes at 11:00 AM, 12:00 Noon, 1:00 PM and 2:00 PM. This event is free and open to the public. Sponsorships and donations to help support Kids Art Day are welcome.
Art in the Schools 2009/2010 Grant Wood
The Blanden outreach program Art in the Schools was initiated several years ago for the first time with a program designed to present the work and life of an artist who is represented by an original work in the Blanden Memorial Art Museum's permanent collection. The program has continued to evolve and grow over the years with invitations to fourth grade classrooms all across the surrounding area, including Calhoun, Hamilton, Humboldt, Pocahontas, Webster and Wright counties. Museum educator Linda Flaherty gives a presentation on the artist in focus at each participating school, where students also complete a hands-on art project with all materials provided. Each student receives his/her own personal copy of a book on the artist from the series "Getting to Know the World's Greatest Artists." During the 2008-2009, the program on Rembrandt reached over 800 fourth graders.
Artists who have been featured in this program include Marc Chagall, Andy Warhol, and Rembrandt van Rijn. Many classrooms that participate in the program also are able to come to the museum for a tour to see the original work of the artist they have studied along with the other works of art currently on exhibit.
For the 2009-2010 academic year, our featured artist is Grant Wood. Grant Wood lithographs held in the permanent collection are currently on display in the lobby gallery where visitors and student tour groups alike can come to enjoy them.
One aspect of this program has always been that each student receives his or her own personal copy of a book on the artist in focus from Mike Venezia's series "Getting to Know the World's Greatest Artists." The fourth grade instructor also receives a copy to keep for the classroom library.
This entire program is made possible by a generous grant from an anonymous private foundation. This grant covers the cost of books for all the children, all instructional materials and art supplies for the project that is done in the classroom, and assistance with transportation for those classes that are able to come for a tour.
We look forward to the future, continuing to serve Fort Dodge and the surrounding area with this special arts education program, Art in the Schools.