ML Interest Tag: starry-night

These New Magical Harry Potter Bags Should Be on Your List, STAT

by Jennifer Swartvagher

JuJuBe is conjuring up a charming collection with their latest installment inspired by the Harry Potter series. Chibi-style Harry Potter characters set against a starry night sky adorn these spellbinding bags. The JuJuBe x Harry Potter Cheering Charms collection, which includes more than 15 bags in a broad range of sizes and price points, will be available at retailers nationwide on December 10, and at online at JuJuBe.com at 7 p.m. EST that same day.

Although this is the fourth time JuJuBe has gained inspiration from the Wizarding World, the Cheering Charms release marks the first time character art from the Harry Potter films has been incorporated into the collection. Renderings of more than 10 beloved characters, such as Harry Potter, Professor Albus Dumbledore, and Rubeus Hagrid, are featured on each bag’s exterior.

Each piece in the collection features a scarlet and gold striped interior taken straight from Gryffindor, one of the four houses of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Zipper pulls in the shape of Harry Potter’s head, along with select styles featuring the likenesses of Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger add a finishing touch. 

 

Each piece in the JuJuBe x Harry Potter Cheering Charms collection has a special wipe-clean outer fabric that resists wear and repels stains, along with a special treatment on the interior lining that helps ward off the growth of bacteria and mold. 

The JuJuBe x Harry Potter Cheering Charms collection is designed to be functional as well as stylish. The transformative BFF day bag can convert from a messenger to a backpack quicker than you can say, “Accio!” The lightweight Super Be tote, features insulated drink pockets and organizational pockets designed to keep essentials in reach. For parents of wizards who can’t quite cast spells on their own, select models also include changing pads. For the younger generation, the MiniBe, Mini BRB, and the recently launched Grab and Go, are perfect for keeping your little ones organized whether they are heading to school or a friend’s house.

The JuJuBe x Harry Potter Cheering Charms collection ranges in price from $15 to $195. 

For more information or to shop the collection, visit jujube.com

—Jennifer Swartvagher

All photos courtesy of JuJuBe

 

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The Art of the Brick Comes to OMSI

by Annette Benedetti

LEGOS. They provide your little builders with hours of entertainment while you sneak in some down time. They are also responsible for one of the funniest animated family movies of all time. And now, until May 29 your family will have the opportunity to be inspired by them as appear on display in the form of fantastical sculptures at OMSI’s new The Art of the Brick exhibit. Read on to find out everything you need to know about this must-see, magical display.

The LEGO Master
Once a Lawyer living and working in New York, Nathan Sawaya is now an acclaimed artist who spends his time creating large-scale sculptures and works of art. His medium of choice? LEGO bricks. After realizing his passion for creating art out of the small colorful toys, Sawaya took an artistic risk and left his life in the world of law to build jaw-dropping works of art—brick by brick. The result has been nothing short of amazing.  Now an award-winning contemporary artist, Sawaya travels around the world with his touring exhibit, The Art of the Brick, amazing and inspiring kids of all ages with his creations.

The Exhibit

The Art of the Brick is on display at OMSI through May 29. It is the world’s largest exhibit of LEGO art featuring more than 100 works of art and there is a little something for everyone in the family.

For the Art History Buffs
Sawaya has created re-imagined versions of masterpieces like Van Gogh’s Starry Night and da Vinci’s Mona Lisa. He has even created three-dimensional versions of some famous works like Gustav Klimt’s The Kiss, allowing your family’s art lovers to get a glimpse of what the unseen parts of the subjects in the original paintings might look like in real life.

For the World Travelers
Visitors will also have the opportunity to travel around the world as they view re-created version of classic sculptures and iconic landmarks from Greece, France, China and the Easter Islands. Get ready to meet Michelangelo’s David in person, and you will experience awe when you come face to face with the the Easter Island icon Moai.

Original Work
While Sawaya has recreated classic and iconic works of art, he also displays his own original pieces. You will have the opportunity to view what is arguably one of his most well known works, the yellow man sculpture, and your tiny toy lovers will undoubtedly be drawn to the 20-foot long T-Rex suspended from the museums ceiling.

Multimedia Displays
The photographer in your family will be captivated by Sawaya’s multi-media photography collaboration with photographer Dean West. And the display IN PIECES, gives viewers the opportunity to match life-sized LEGO Sculptures with the paintings they appear in.

Just for Portland
Originally from Oregon himself, Sawaya unveiled his new sculpture, Homecoming, created specifically for the OMSI exhibit. It features a life-size person made out of colored bricks that create the PDX airport carpet’s pattern. The special tribute to his home state, statue will resonate with very Portlander who lays eyes on it.

Go on a Hunt!
OMSI offers an interactive scavenger hunt designed to help visitors learn about the sculptures while keeping the smallest museum-goers engaged.

Hands-On Fun
The exhibit ends at the Brick Lab. This area is designed for lots of hands-on play for both littles and bigs. With 1,500 square feet to play with LEGO and Duplo bricks, the whole family can take their inspiration from the exhibit and try there own hand at creating brick sculptures. The brick lab is equipped with more than 60,000 LEGO bricks and will feature rotating activities focused on STEM topics like biology, physics, communication, engineering and math. So get ready to play and learn all day.

Fun Facts
Curious about how Sawaya builds his creations? It can take him two to four weeks to build a life-size human form. That same form typically has 15,000 to 25,000 bricks. You can see how many pieces each piece took to build on the attached information cards. Because Sawaya’s exhibit is on the move, he glues the bricks together to keep them from falling apart. And your little LEGO lovers won’t be surprised to find out the the biggest thing Nathan has ever build is the T-Rex which required more the 500,000 bricks to make!

OMSI
1945 SE Water Ave.
503-797-4000
Online: www.omsi.edu
Dates: Through May 29
Cost: $19.75/adult for exhibit and museum admission, $15/senior and $13.50/youth (3-13). Members: $5.50/Adult, $4/senior and $3.50/youth (3-13).

What is your family’s favorite thing to build out of LEGO bricks?

—Article and Photos by Annette Benedetti

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Now Open: The Art of the Brick at The Fleet Science Center

by Cherie Gough

If your house is filled with future master builders, don’t miss the opportunity to take the whole family to the awesome new LEGO exhibit in town, The Art of the Brick. From replicas of famous paintings to T-rex skeletons, prepare your entire family to be awestruck. Read on for the low down on how (and when) to see these amazing LEGO creations.

Photo courtesy of The Art of Brick

San Diego’s Fleet Science Center in Balboa Park is hosting this epic exhibit. Upon entering the science center, head upstairs. Your tour of the eight galleries starts with a short video from the artist Nathan Sawaya explaining his need for creativity from a young age. This world-renknowed artist got his start in a surprising way- as a corporate lawyer who needed a creative release at the end of his long days.

In the first gallery you’ll find Sawaya’s LEGO reproductions of famous works of art your kids may recognize like the Mona Lisa, and Starry Night. Many are hung on the wall like paintings. Others stand out in 3D. Read the description of each artwork and try to guess the number of bricks it took to make each creation: we’re betting you’ll be in awe when you find out the numbers.

Next, enter the Sculpture Garden  where you and the kids can ruminate with classic sculptures  like The Thinker and The Great Sphinx of Giza which offer a great introduction to famous pieces of art and a terrific opportunity of see which pieces the kids are drawn to.

As you work your way through the exhibit you will enter a room called The Artist’s Studio. We know it’s hard for the kids to do, but slow down. Make your tour like a scavenger hunt or I Spy game for little ones. Look for the mouse. Look carefully at the furniture brilliantly made of LEGO. There are a lot of cool details that can be missed if you don’t take your time. This room shows Sawaya’s learning process- how he practiced with scale, building a life sized apple made of bricks, then a gigantic one. Another great way to get your kids to slow down and look more carefully at the artist’s masterpieces is to ask questions. The Fleet’s gallery employees are experts who can point out cool details such as the fact that most pieces took Sawaya about two weeks to make.

Insider’s Tip: Once you leave the exhibit, you cannot reenter. Consider a potty break before entering the exhibit and time your IMAX film so you don’t have to rush. Most people spend about one hour touring the exhibit.

Many of the pieces are Sawaya’s own thought-provoking creations, such as those in the section called The Human Condition which explore human emotions in primary colors and in all grey and black. As you turn the corner, dinosaur lovers are in for an extraordinary treat. Be ready to be amazed by the 20 foot T-rex shrouded in fog and camo. It took 80,000 bricks to build the massive LEGO beast that towers overhead. Think about that LEGO project in your living room!

After all that looking, kids will be inspired to get hands-on and build some cool LEGO creations of their own. Head downstairs to the Fit-a-Brick Build Zone. There is plenty of space to spread out at tables where you can spend as much time as you’d like.  The area includes tons of baseplates, every color and variety of LEGO, including Duplo and jumbo blocks for the littlest builders. More experienced builders may want to try the LEGO building daily challenge.  Make something impressive? Ask a Fleet employee to display your fun creation in the case and get a big grin from your little artist.

Admission prices

Tickets to The Art of the Brick include a visit to all the Fleet galleries and an IMAX film. Purchase at the box office or online. The exhibit will be on display through January 29, 2017.

Prices: Adults: $29.95, Kids $24.95, Fleet Science Center Members: $10.

Insider’s Tip: October Free Kids admission includes free admission to the regular Fleet exhibit galleries, but does not include The Art of Brick or Imax.  During the month of October, kids can get admission to The Art of Brick and Imax for $16.95.

The Fleet Science Center
1875 El Prado
San Diego Ca 92

619-238-1233

Online: rhfleet.org

—Cherie Gough

(Photos too, except where noted)

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Oh What a Night! How to Paint Like van Gogh

by Allison Sutcliffe

Thick layered paint, rich blended colors, heavy brush strokes: we’re not talking about your two-year-old’s latest creation. We’re paying homage to one of the greatest artists in history, Vincent van Gogh, and offering your itty-bitty impressionists some ideas to recreate his masterpiece, The Starry Night, in style. So no matter your kiddos age, read on for ways to make sure this work really leaves an impression.

Start with the Art

Before you dive into any of these projects, learn about the man behind the painting, van Gogh himself, through books. For the toddler crowd, we suggest In the Garden with Van Gogh, a chunky board book with bright pictures and playful rhymes. Older kids will love Camille and the Sunflowers, based on the story of Camille, who befriends Van Gogh when he moves into town. Another winner is Katie and the Starry Night. Not only is it a fun read, but it’s a great intro to the painting they’ll be working with. Now you’ve got the story, let the mess-terpiece begin!

photo: Allison Sutcliffe 

For the Tot Lot
When it comes to this age group, two words are all you need: Finger. Paints. Because let’s be honest, there’s no way to go wrong with this messy medium. And lucky for your aspiring artist, finger paints lend themselves oddly well to van Gogh’s dynamic, thick brushstroke style. Work with your little to find colors in her finger paint collection that match the ones in Starry Night. Then let her swish and swirl out sweeping clouds, windy gusts and twinkling stars until her heart’s content. Or use your paint choices to try this intriguing layered finger paint project from The Imagination Tree. It adds another dimension to the basic dip and swirl technique with framable results. Look out art corner, here comes another masterpiece!

Tip: To keep the moon and stars from becoming brown globs, try working on multiple versions at once to keep the little hands busy while you’re letting the layers dry just a bit. 

photo: In the Playroom

For Preschool Painters

Sponge painting is always a blast for preschoolers. And this Starry Night project developed by Anna at In the Playroom is no exception. To make this mess-terpiece, couple your sponge-worthy art supplies (think: rollers and cut up sponges) with the free printable on the blog and then get creative with colors and textures, just like van Gogh!

Another easy favorite for this age group is crayon resist painting. Pairing these two classics leads to a lovely work of art, worthy of the starring spot on your fridge. It’s probably best to have mom or dad use a crayon to copy out some swirls, treetops and the glowing moon from the original painting onto paper. Or let your kidlet try her hand drawing out some of these key elements herself. Then break out the watercolors, brushes and bowl because it’s time to make this painting come to life. Using the original as a template, brush the vibrant watercolors over the crayon elements for an effect that’s almost as stunning as Van Gogh’s.

photo: Sawyer Pangborn via flickr

For Grade School Artists

Take your cue from Melissa and Doug and create your own sticker mosaic Starry Night with your school-aged munchkin. Start by having your petite painter draw out his own version of this stellar painting. Nothing too fancy. A focus on the simple shapes in the sky and that magnificent tree that really catches your eye in the foreground will do just fine. Then use the pre-cut foam stickers you can find at your local craft store to patch together the colorful patters van Gogh’s pronounced brushstrokes make in the glittery heavens. Voila!

When 8 1/2 x 11 is just too small, go big on the sidewalk. Use sidewalk chalk to blend or create own sidewalk chalk paint like this one from Mommy’s Kitchen. Use white chalk to sketch some of the basic outlines of the painting’s composition: tree, stars, moon, steeple, etc. Work together to mix up the colors you’ll need for the painting. Look closely: there’s more than one shade of yellow, and shadows are more green than black.

Do you plan to try one of these crafts? Tell us how it goes in a comment. 

—Allison Sutcliffe

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3 New Art Exhibits Your Kids Will Actually Enjoy

by writerredtri

Taking kids to art museums isn’t always enlightening—for anybody. You want them to respond, engage, and get inspired. But too often there’s only whining and getting too close to priceless artwork (and annoyed stares from museum guards). But these three shows, all opening in D.C. in October, offer something even for the littlest and most skeptical art aficionado. To sweeten the deal—literally—we’re also suggesting some nearby treats.

“Van Gogh Repetitions” at the Phillips Collection
Van Gogh has been in the news lately, thanks to the discovery of a previously unknown painting, now confirmed to be one of his. This exhibition (running Oct. 12-Jan. 26) focuses on his artistic process, so observers young and old can see how he worked, step by step. Kids might have already seen The Postman, Starry Night, Bedroom at Arles, and The Road Menders; they’ll enjoy the portraiture, concrete imagery—and sheer beauty.

Post-museum treat: Stroll through the Dupont Circle neighborhood for doughnuts at GBD or ice cream at Larry’s Homemade.

The Phillips Collection
1600 21st St. NW (Kalorama Heights)
202-387-2151
Online: phillipscollection.org

“Overdrive: LA Constructions the Future, 1940-1990” at National Building Museum
The National Building Museum is the only East Coast showing of this survey (running Oct. 20- March 10), put together by the Getty Museum—a quintessential Los Angeles source for the quintessential LA show. It’s an in-depth look at Southern California’s architecture in the second half of the twentieth century. That sounds serious, but kid-friendly multimedia is the key here: models, photos, film, digital displays. And cars!

You hardly need to bribe your little ones at NBM: it’s got fantastic kids’ exhibits, like Play Work Build and (for the youngest visitors) the Building Zone. Mini golf is closed for the season, but children can have the run (well behaved and in control, of course) of the huge atrium. And if that’s not enough, pop into the excellent children’s section of the museum shop or snag a sweet from Marvelous Market, right there inside the museum. Still cranky? Pitango Gelato is just a few blocks away.

National Building Museum
401 F St. NW (Downtown)
202-272-2448
Online: nbm.org

“Heaven and Earth: The Art of Byzantium” at the National Gallery of Art
This is the NGA’s first exhibit of Byzantine art (running Oct. 6- March 2), all from Greece, some of it newly excavated. Kids will love its many forms, metallic finishes and bold colors. Sculpture, mosaic, fresco, glass, ceramic, even jewelry will keep them interested. And after you introduce your minis to these possibly challenging works, stroll over to the East Wing. The trip alone—through Leo Villareal’s Multiverse LED show surrounding the moving sidewalk—is a fun art experience. Then check out the mobiles and stabiles in the Calder room (animals casting shadows!) and Matisse’s lovely paper cutouts.

Treat? Gelato in the museum’s Cascade Cafe, where you can relax and watch the waterfall. Or snag a Good Humor from one of the countless trucks on the Mall.

National Gallery of Art
Constitution Ave. NW between 3rd and 9th Sts. (National Mall)
202-737-4215
Online: nga.gov

Which art museum is your kids’ favorite? Tell us in the Comments section below. 

—Nadya Sagner

Photos courtesy of The Phillips Collection, Getty Museum, and das_kaninchen via Flickr

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