Kids’ Korner

Cray-Pas Contest Winners Announced

Close to 4,000 entries were received from U.S. and Canadian students for the 14^th Annual Wonderful, Colorful World of Cray-Pas 2009 Contest sponsored by Sakura of America.  The artworks of 150 finalists, highlighting nine winners and honorable mentions, have been selected and are posted online in the Contest Gallery at  The Oil Pastel Society will host the winner’s artwork on its web site:  www.oilpastelsociety.com. In addition, the World Awareness Children’s Museum in Glens Falls, NY, will select 300 to 500 pieces from the remaining entries for its annual International Youth Art Exchange Program.

Judging Level: Kindergarten - 2nd Grade: First Place: David Monahan, Mary Help of Christians School, Laredo, TX	Judging Level: 3rd Grade - 5th Grade: First Place: Anderson Jenkins, Westminster Schools of Augusta, Augusta, GA	Judging Level: 6th Grade -  8th Grade: First: Joshua Jang, Da Vinci Art Studio, Irvine, CA

Earth Day Celebration

Climate Day for Kids will be held at the Seattle Art Museum Olympic Sculpture Park, PACCAR Pavilion, on April 18 from Noon – 3 p.m.  Learn about climate change and what actions your family can take to reduce your carbon footprint.  Create green art using recycled materials and explore games and exhibits from SAM partners.  The event will be held indoors in the event of inclement weather and is free and open to the public.

Spring Vacation Activities

The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston will celebrate April School Vacation Week April 21-24, with a week of fun for all ages.  Museum staff will be on hand to answer questions and spark lively discussions on specific works of art.  Free with admission.  On April 22, enjoy Fun for Families Day with free museum admission and a full day of storytelling, gallery activities, art-making and more.  NOTE:  New this year, the Gardner will open its doors FREE to all on his or her birthday as a “Happy Birthday” gift from Isabella Gardner to you.  Admission is always FREE to all under the age of 18 and, in honor of the museum’s founder, all named Isabella.  And members enjoy FREE admission year-round.

National Gallery of Art-Hunt for Treasures

Five new scavenger hunts—designed for ages 5 and under through ages 17 and up, respectively—may now be downloaded from the National Gallery’s Web site. The treasure hunts encourage art lovers of all ages to seek out masterpieces in the Gallery and then solve riddles, match details and unscramble clues about them. www.nga.gov/education/classroom/pdf/hunt.ages5under.pdf (ages 5 and under)
www.nga.gov/education/classroom/pdf/hunt.ages6to8.pdf (ages 6 to 8)
www.nga.gov/education/classroom/pdf/hunt.ages9to12.pdf (ages 9 to 12)
www.nga.gov/education/classroom/pdf/hunt.ages13to16.pdf (ages 13 to 16)
www.nga.gov/education/classroom/pdf/hunt.ages17up.pdf (ages 17 and up)

Storybook Exhibition

The Bill Peet Storybook Menagerie is at The Art Institute of Chicago through May 24.  After a 27-year career working as Walt Disney’s principal animator and main “storyman,” Bill Peet devoted himself full-time to writing and illustrating children’s books.  Along with sketches and storyboards from his Disney days, this exhibition features original works of art from 14 of Peet’s 34 published books, including The Caboose Who Got Loose, Cowardly Clyde, and Kermit the Hermit, among others.