Press Room

New York, NY (December 10, 2010)

On Saturday January 9, children and their families are invited to spend a fun-filled day of art making at the Museum of Arts and Design. MAD opens its doors with activities designed especially for youngsters and their adult companions, including hands-on workshops using paper cutting, shredding, and tearing techniques.

• A special highlight of the day includes the screenings of four cut-paper animation films including: Michel Ocelot’s silhouette story Princes and Princesses; Rob Carter’s
Metropolis, and Tomoko Oguchi’s FolkLore  Restaurant and The Magic Stamp.

• Children and their families will spend a day making art, meeting artists in the Open Studios and explore what can be done with paper while observing the Museum’s exhibition Slash: Paper Under The Knife, which features over 50 artworks created from cut, burned, torn, perforated, or shredded paper.

“Education is at the center of the Museum’s mission”, states Holly Hotchner, the Museum’s Nanette L. Laitman Director. “Simultaneously an artist studio, art room, and creative playground, MAD offers countless opportunities for kids to play, learn and explore. By presenting a special Family Day at the Museum where kids and their families make art together, explore the galleries and watch fun cut-paper animation films, we wish to bring art closer to young people securing an understanding and appreciation for the arts and the creative process.”

The Museum’s dynamic new facility offers numerous programs for families including its Open Studios where artists demonstrate how to work with jewelry, textiles, wood,
ceramics, and other materials. Every Sunday afternoon, the Museum presents its popular Studio Sundays, hands-on workshops for children and their families that focus on the physicality of “making” and the sensual and tactile qualities of materials. The workshops include introductions to various mixed media—clay, metal, fiber, wood, glass, paper, rubber, etc.—and related studio activities transforming ideas into art objects. Designed especially for younger visitors, MAD’s early childhood education programs promote creativity, self-expression, and exploration while teaching pre-literacy skills and fine motor control.

For more information on MAD’s Family Day, see schedule below.

MAD FAMILY DAY SCHEDULE:
Saturday, January 9, 11:00AM-2:00pm
All ages 5 and up welcome. Admission $30 per family, $25 for members. All materials provided. No reservations required, but space is limited. For more information, call 212.299.7780.

MAD Theater:
Screening of four cut-paper animation films.

11:00 AM
Rob Carter: Metropolis, 2008
11:20 AM
Tomoko Oguchi: FolkLore Restaurant, 2005 (14:20)
11:40 AM
Tomoko Oguchi: The Magic Stamp, 2009 (10:54)
12:10 and 2:00 PM
Michel Ocelot: Princes and Princesses, 2000 (70min)
Six tales of love and adventure involving princes and princesses, two students and their art teacher are magically transported in to imaginary worlds of Pharaohs, enchanted princess, sorceress, bandits, and futuristic queens.

4th and 5th Floor: Gallery activities
Using MAD’s Family Guide youngsters and their adult companions will explore the exhibition Slash: Paper Under the Knife, using inquiry based questions prepared by the museum educators to help guide a dialogue between youngsters and adults. Participants can also take part in 30 minute highlighted docent led tours.

6th Floor: Open Studios - Sarah and Seth Glickenhaus Education Center
MAD’s Open Studios allows visitors a behind-the-scenes look at artistic practices, and an opportunity to engage with artists. Two artists will simultaneously work in the Open Studios to demonstrate and speak about their projects with visitors.

7th Floor: Hands-on Workshop - Special Events Floor
Youngsters and their adult companions will participate in hands-on workshops using paper cutting, shredding, and tearing techniques, while enjoying the views overlooking Central Park and Columbus Circle.

ABOUT THE MUSEUM OF ARTS AND DESIGN
The Museum of Arts and Design explores how craftsmanship, art, and design intersect in the visual arts today. The Museum focuses on contemporary creativity and the ways in which artists and designers from around the world transform materials through processes ranging from the handmade to cutting edge technologies. The Museum’s exhibition program explores and illuminates issues and ideas, highlights creativity and craftsmanship, and celebrates the limitless potential of materials and techniques when used by creative and innovative artists. MAD’s permanent collection is global in scope and focuses on art, craft, and design from 1950 to the present day.

At the center of the Museum’s mission is education. The Museum’s dynamic new facility features classrooms and studios for master classes, seminars, and workshops for students, families and adults. Three open artist studios engage visitors in the creative processes of artists at work and enhance the exhibition programs. Lectures, films, performances and symposia related to the Museum’s collection and topical subjects affecting the world of contemporary art, craft and design are held in a renovated 150-seat auditorium.

For more information about the Museum of Arts and Design, visit www.madmuseum.org.