by Christine Chagaris
The Upper East Side offers many a resource for parents and children to take advantage of when it comes to family activities. One such resource is none other than the venerable Metropolitan Museum of Art and the many family programs it offers, such as Start with Art.
This program is geared to children age three to seven and their parents or caregivers. It offers a good starting point for art appreciation and does so in a unique way, through sketching and storytelling. The program instructors will often use a theme for each class in order to effectively tie the exhibits together and thus make learning more interesting. The classes on average have approximately 25-40 children and their parents/caregivers, and the group is divided in half with two program instructors who take each group on a wondrous museum journey.
The theme on the day I visit the program is “monsters”, (though, as it turns out, not exactly the scary kind) and program educator Maria Yoon animatedly interacts with the children to help get them in a “museum mood.” Visits to the museum’s Greek, Roman and Asian Art exhibit halls are on the agenda. The children prepare to see exhibits that reflect the theme of the day. Most of the participating families have previously visited the museum, and many have also attended the program. Yoon goes over the museum rules with the kids (no running, yelling, gum chewing, etc.) and then the program gets started.
Yoon begins the session by asking the children questions about art: how many of them like to draw, and what types of things do they like to draw. She then asks them if they enjoy reading. The first stop is the Greek and Roman exhibit hall. The group gathers around an ancient sphinx statue. Yoon then introduces and reads from an age-appropriate picture book geared to the monster theme, which the enthralled kids listen to with delight, and give their occasional feedback as only three to seven year olds can. She then relates the history of the sphinx, and how it had been classified as a monster in ancient Greece. Yoon asks willing participants to pose like the statue to get an idea of its shape. The kids also discuss the statue: it resembles half-man, half-animal and half-bird. Then comes the fun part, sketching time. The kids are given cutout shapes of the sphinx, along with cardboard, pencils and construction paper to sketch the sphinx. They are free to embellish their creations however they wish. The eagerness and excitement among the budding artists is evident.
Next, it is off to the Asian exhibit hall, where the children sit around and are given the history of a rather odd-looking, ornate statue that resembles an elephant with a very round, human-like stomach, and missing multiple arms. This statue is indeed monster-like, although the children are clearly very engrossed in this interesting object that is before them. The statue is named Ganesha; he is a Hindu god whose origins are in India. Again, Maria Yoon leads the discussion that revolves around Ganesha’s history and its monster-like appearance.
The themes of each session can vary, from shapes, rhythm to the odd monsters. “The teachers use themes that they are passionate about, and this really helps to motivate the kids to learn,” says Mike Norris, program administrator. The parents/caregivers also play an important role in Start with Art. “Collaboration is a crucial part of the program, and having the adults here really helps that along,” says Maria Yoon.
It is enlightening and uplifting to see children with adults enjoying the wonders of art, and doing it in such a unique way at one of the most renowned art institutions in the world. It brings to mind my enjoyment as a youth at the different treasures the museum had to offer, and this tradition certainly has held fast with this generation of kids.
Start with Art is offered nine months a year, Tuesday through Saturday. The Metropolitan Museum of Art also offers other family programs. For information on all programs, visit http://www.metmuseum.org, or call 212-535-7710.
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