Museum Studio Spaces II

When I started volunteering at the Chicago Children’s Museum Art Studio my only previous museum art studio experience was visiting the art studio at The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art. I’ve always loved the studio because it is so aesthetically appealing. But I know that when it first opened it did not seem child friendly to many parents. One of the things that rankled was that children were not allowed to draw on the paper that covered the table. When I mentioned that to Liz she said, “Well, our studio is an environment of yes!

I still wanted to share the space with Liz and other CCM colleagues so when I visited Northampton in May I was glad I had time to visit the museum and snap a few photos in the art studio.

The first thing I noticed was that the paper on the tables was black and I thought they had solved the writing on the paper problem.

But then I read an entry on their blog from an educator that had encouraged guests to draw their rough drafts on the black paper with chalk and thought well I guess things have changed!

Things that had not changed were the link to children’s book art and the ways the materials were presented. These tables were set up for children to create collages inspired by the exhibit “The Art of Eric Carle.”

Reverence for materials is obviously still an important value.

That “parliament of owls” you can see on the wall were created in conjunction with the exhibition, “Illustrated Owls: A Who’s Hoo from the Museum’s Vault”

This is the back half of the studio that I think is used for school aged children.

There is a toddler area in the front.

And a light table at the entrance.

Many things to be inspired by!