KIDS ROCKWELL Summer Explorers
Drop-in hero-themed projects and gallery activities encourage families to engage with art!
Included with Museum admission | No registration required
Offered Tuesdays, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 1 – 3 p.m. (dates below), Summer 2023
Suggested ages 5 to 12
This self-guided summer program is designed for families and children ages 5 – 12. Drop in anytime to explore the Museum galleries. Participate in artmaking workshops, games and activities all connected to the theme of heroes.
Join us from 11:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. for a fun guided tour of art at the Museum connected to each weekly theme! Come to the Admissions desk at 11:25 a.m. to meet your tour guide.
The 2023 Summer Explorers program includes…
- Artmaking workshops with Rockwell Educators will be available to family visitors at the KIDS ROCKWELL Art Lab. The hero-themed projects will encourage families to experiment with different media to make their own art inspired by the art on view.
- Spy, Think, Ponder art card sets highlight works of art in The Rockwell’s collection, tied to the weekly theme. The art cards incorporate youth-friendly language and fun prompts to engage your child’s imagination. Families will be exposed to using Visual Thinking Strategies in their museum experience by looking, making observations, thinking about what they see and wondering more about the topics presented.
- Art Hunts are a great way to search the Museum galleries and find details in the artwork.
- Simple gallery games and activities will stimulate self-guided exploration with loved ones to foster art appreciation as well as excitement to discover artwork on view.
- Weekly family drop-in gallery tours every Tuesday from 11:30 a.m. – 12 p.m., July 11 through August 29, 2023.
Visit throughout Summer 2023 to create art and explore the Museum galleries. New projects will be offered each week:
- July 11 & 18 | Totally Cool Painted Totes
Inspired by The Mirror by Grace Hartigan, paint a cool geometric design on a canvas bag. Using tape and paint, create an abstract design by adding shapes, color and texture to make a bold statement. Hartigan is a hero because she pushed through life’s hardships to be able to make her art. She never gave up! When you wear your totally cool tote, let it be a reminder that you can do anything you set your mind to.
- July 25 & August 1 | Clay Garden Sculptures
Celebrate the plant and insect heroes of the natural world with a decorative piece of art for your garden! Sculpt a piece of clay. Then add reflective beads, tiles, and a solar light to make it one-of-a-kind. Inspired by artist Claire Sherman’s plant paintings in The Rockwell’s collection, think about the dense, tangled strands of grasses, plants and tiny critters that co-exist in a garden environment. Place your finished garden sculpture outside and illuminate the earth!
- August 8 & 15 | Gelli Printing
Use a neat tool called a gelatin plate to create colorful layered prints. Make a design inspired by Carry it Forward by Melanie Yazzie. She is a Diné artist who incorporates love, pride and the beauty of nature into her art. She is a steward of her culture by continuing to pass down her knowledge of language, art, storytelling and music. Her art is full of symbols that represent these traditions. Add symbols to your print that represent your life and culture.
- August 22 & 29 | Upcycled Wearable Art
Turn everyday materials into colorful, wearable art! Make your choice of a medallion or a wrist cuff/ bracelet. Create patterns and designs inspired by the Native American beadwork objects in The Rockwell’s collection. People wear objects that display their heritage because they are proud of their identity and where they are from. Make something wearable with a design element that represents your identity.
Rockwell Events
Generous support is provided by the Community Foundation of Elmira-Corning and the Finger Lakes, Inc., and by The Hilliard Foundation.
The Rockwell Museum’s programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with support from the office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.
