January 26, 2005
Museum offering hands-on art sessions for kids
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Looking for creative, inexpensive weekend outlets for your young Picasso?
Well, take note: Southern Illinois University Carbondale's University Museum is offering five free Saturday afternoon children's art programs in upcoming weeks.
The museum is in the north wing of Faner Hall and behind Shryock Auditorium. Parents may drop their children off in a convenient half-circle drive in front of the museum.
Programs are for kids ages 7 to14. Space is limited to ensure participants get plenty of attention. For reservations — to be taken on first-come basis — call 618/453-5388. Group enrollments are welcome.
Sessions will run from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Here's the list of program dates and activities:
• Feb. 5: "Picture This! Modern Women Artists." Young artists will create their own photo albums based on works by famous female artists.
• Feb. 12: "Downtown Fantasticville." Youngsters will create a replica city block by combining components from historical architecture.
• Feb. 19: "Recycled Sculpture Rocks!" Using found objects and cast offs, kids will come up with abstract sculptures.
• Feb. 26: "My Museum Exhibit." Kids will create their own museum exhibits and write accompanying museum guides.
• March 5: "My Day at the Museum: A Self-Portrait." Youngsters will set up photos of themselves examining various museum objects and will write about the experience.
Expanding cultural outreach is one of the goals of Southern at 150: Building Excellence Through Commitment, a long-range plan SIUC is following as it prepares for its 150th birthday in 2019.