Kids’ Korner

It’s a Charm!

Cell phones are everywhere and we have grown to depend on them as part of our lives.  For a fun project, you can create cool and unique phone charms by combining wire, beads, charms and trinkets.  You will need tiger tail wire (a special coated wire that is tiny but very strong), crimp beads (to finish your loops of charms), charms, beads, and a pair of small flat-nosed pliers.

Start by cutting a length of wire twice as long as the length of charm you will make.  Thread beads and trinkets onto the wire, starting with a simple bead, which will be the end of the phone charm.  Loop the wire back through the charms, but not through the small bead that you started with.  It will be used as a “lock” bead and will hold the other charms in place.  When you have threaded the tiger tail back through all the other charms, put a crimp bead on one of the top wires.  Slip the free wire end through the phone strap connection.  Create a loop with the free wire, and then slip its end through the crimp bead, too.  Use pliers to pinch the crimp bead, which will hold the charms and wires in place.  Trim any excess.

You can make unique book markers using the same technique, but make the lengths of charms and beads longer.  Attach a larger bead or charm in the loop where you attached the phone to the charm and it will act as the “place finder” when the reader closes the book.

Your local art supply or craft store carries all the materials and tools that are required.  But beware!  Choosing beads and charms may be difficult when you see the vast selection of styles and colors that is available.

Family Art Carnival

The Victor D’Amico Institute of Art, affectionately known as The Art Barge, is a summer art school for all ages.  It’s located on the eastern end of Long Island (Amagansett, NY) and is situated on a WWI Navy barge that was towed ashore and beached along Napeague Harbor.  At the Art Barge Family Art Carnival, children are introduced to the elements of art through the use of motivational “toys,” after which they enter the studio-workshop where painting easels, collage turntables and other art materials are waiting for them to create.  Dates are Aug. 23, 24, 30 and 31, from 10a.m. – 12p.m.  To coincide with the carnival, the Art Barge Gallery will display an exhibition of the history of The Children’s Art Carnival from MoMA in the 1940’s to the Tokyo Children’s Art Carnival in 1995. Call 631-267-3172 or visit www.theartbarge.com.

Free Neighborhood Nights

The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston, MA, presents Free Neighborhood Nights, a family program where you’ll find special storytelling, music and dance performances that celebrate cultures from around the world.  On Aug. 7 you’ll make and create your own rice-dough animals with artist Chaun Dao, be astounded by dancing lions with the exciting Gunk Kwok dance troupe and listen to the unique sounds of the vocal jazz group Syncopation.  Call 617-278-5156.

Copyright ARTtalk Vol. 18 No. 10 — August 2008