Spend the day immersed in Asian-inspired art projects from origami to koi fish painting at the next Free Family Art Day. Drawing inspiration from Facing West/Looking East, an exhibition in which artists reach across the Pacific to Asia for their content and imagery, Free Family Art Day on October 14 will be a creative afternoon exploring a diverse selection of Asian-inspired art activities. Kids and their families can learn about the Japanese art of origami that involves complex paper folding to achieve dynamic forms. Or, they can craft a koi fish out of various paper materials which they can then paint and take home. Kids can also try their hand at gyotaku or fish rubbing. This Japanese art form dates back to the 1700s as a way of recording a fisherman’s catch at the end of the day using inked impressions. We will be using rubber fish and tempera paint. At Free Family Art Day, children and their parents work closely in the artistic process designing small works of art that reflect concepts and themes from the exhibitions on view. All art activities and exhibitions on view are free to the public. Projects are designed to engage children of all ages. No art experience is required for the art activities. Healthy refreshments and kid-centric docent tours will be provided. Children must be accompanied by caregiver.
