UM Museum’s Art Zone for Kids

By Tad Wilkes

tad.wilkes@hottytoddy.com

This spring, the University of Mississippi Museum will host a session of gift-making and art activities for kids ages five to 12. Each week children will learn a new way to make art pertaining to exhibits at the museum. Also, every other week children will learn how to make creative, healthy snacks.

Reservations are required, with room for 15 children per class. The cost is $50 for the semester per family for Museum members at the Family level and above or $130 per family for non-members

The 12-week program runs from February 7 through May 3 on Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday, 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. To register, complete and return the registration form (available at the Museum or by download here) and pay a registration fee by cash or check.

The children will learn to make art relevant to the following subject areas:

Chinese Calligraphy: Children will experience the art and culture of Chinese calligraphy and Chinese ink painting through watercolor painting and Chinese instrumental music.

Life in Ancient Greece: Kids will learn insight into Greek culture by creating and painting mythological characters.

Chinese Shadow Puppets: Children will learn how to make Chinese puppets. The older group will present a puppet show to the younger group.

Chinese instruments: Children will learn about Chinese instruments and make their own Chinese rattle drum.

Gyotaku Japanese Fish Printing: Students will learn about Japanese culture through this printmaking tradition.

Tomb Figure of a Horse: Students study the importance of horses in ancient cultures. They will learn how to write a poem and make their own horse figurine.

African Art: Children will look at the Senufo carvings on doors in our exhibit and design their own door.

Folk Art from the Ferris Collection: Children will study the Folk Art exhibit and make their own collage on wood inspired by Sulton Rogers, as well as make their own soap carving with popsicle sticks inspired by Luster Willis.

Decorative Fans: Children will learn about the decorative fans in our collection and create their own.

African Mask: Children will learn about the African Art Exhibit and make an African Mask collage with seeds, construction paper, and beads.

Egypt: Children will learn how to draw Egyptian figures.

For more information, contact Sarah Story at 662-915-7205 or sestory@olemiss.edu.