Ilya Kozadayev sits while his sons listen to story time during Art Adventures. He said usually his wife brings their sons. “They love art and it is a great way to expose them,” he said.
by Micah Roberts
On Tuesday mornings, the focus at the Fred Jones Junior Museum of Art shifts from looking at art to creating it.
On those mornings, the museum hosts Art Adventures, a program that introduces children ages 2-5 to art projects and theories. This free year-round program serves about 25 children and adults each week, according to program administrator Karen McWilliams.
Attraction to art helps kids turn into more artistically talented individuals, McWilliams said.
Akhila Vendula helps her son learn to color during the June 17 Art Adventures at the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art. She said he likes to be kept busy and she wanted him to have something to do while school is out. “I want him to see other kids, socialize and look at art too,” she said.
She said children learn that museums are not scary, but are places that give people a sense of beauty and history. McWilliams said she wants to make the kids feel at home with all the art activities offered.
Before the activities began on a recent Tuesday, a group of children sat and listened to McWilliams read a story that had a theme – colors. After reading, the children received paper and markers to draw pictures inspired by the story. The children created all types of artwork. Four-year-old Cora Green drew something that resembled a purple box with red tentacles coming out.
“I like art because it’s crazy. I like crazy things,” she said.
Parents attend the activities with their children. Ilya Kozadayev said he sent his kids to expose them to art at a young age.
Art Adventures also allows the children to experience the museum by walking around and looking at art after they finish creating their masterpieces.
Dawn Jackson said her daughter has learned lessons from the program.
“We get to come here and do art, and she’s learned how to act a museum,” Jackson said.
Each week, the program teaches a new art theme. Other weeks have focused on themes such as shapes and lines.
McWilliams said the activities are fairly simple and can be made with general items that anyone could have at home.
For parents, the 9-year-old program provides building blocks for their children to learn to love and appreciate art in a variety of forms.
“There can be art found in anything,” said parent Brandi Brickell. “I use Art Adventures to teach them perspective.”
