The Katonah Museum of Art (www.katonahmuseum.org) will present Puppetry Around the World in The Learning Center from February 28 through June 13, 2010.  Classic puppet forms from around the world, including marionettes, shadow puppets, and hand puppets will be on view in conjunction with the Museum’s main exhibition The Art of Contemporary Puppet Theater.  Young visitors will enjoy such classics as Bil Baird’s Flannel Mouse and an original Jim Henson Muppet. 

BAIRD-Flannel-Mouse-copyFlannel Mouse, hand puppet, created by Bil Baird Marionettes for the 1950 CBS series “Life with Snarky Parker,” directed by Yul Brynner

Prairie Dawn (pictured below), 1979, on loan from the collection of the Henson Family, courtesy of The Jim Henson Legacy © 2009 The Jim Henson Company.  JIM HENSON’S mark & logo, characters and elements are trademarks of The Jim Henson Company.  All Rights Reserved. Sesame Street® and associated characters, trademarks and design elements are owned and licensed by Sesame Workshop.  © 2009 Sesame Workshop.  All rights reserved.

Prairie-Dawn-good-2 

The Learning Center, which is open to the public free-of-charge, is the only interactive space in the community where children, with an adult caregiver, can drop in to explore, interpret, and create art.  The Learning Center displays original art from children’s books on a rotating basis.  Many of the illustrators visit the KMA for a reading, book signing, and the opportunity to meet their young fans. 

Popular classes like Tuesdays for Tots introduce children ages 3 to 5 to different art materials and processes.  In Art Adventures (level 1), students in kindergarten through second grade examine and discuss work in the galleries and create their own art inspired by what they have learned.  Art Adventures (level 2) is designed for children in grades 3 through 6, and offers a unique blend of art history, art appreciation, and art projects.   

The popular School’s Out/Art’s In continued in 2008 and 2009.  Trained facilitators were on hand to engage students in special art activities during their summer vacation days and over winter holiday break.  Learning Center staff also led “Story Hour” and “See-and-Do” activities on Saturdays and Sundays throughout the year. 

Visit us over and over.  We are always changing…and always FREE!

The Learning Center is a welcoming exhibition and activity space for children of all ages to:

> enjoy art projects that change with each exhibition
> create sculptures, paintings, collages, and more
> learn about art through games, puzzles, and activities
> read stories about art and the visual world
> see original picture book art–each new exhibition features work by renowned artists such as Eric Carle, Jerry Pinkney, Peter Sís, and William Wegman, to name a few
> On weekends and during many school holidays, a facilitator is on-hand to introduce young visitors to activities and exhibitions

General Information

The Katonah Museum of Art is located at 134 Jay Street (Route 22) in Katonah, NY.  For information call 914-232-9555 or visit www.katonahmuseum.org
 
Museum Hours

Tuesday through Saturday, 10am-5pm, Sunday 12-5pm, Closed Monday.

Admission:

10am– 12pm, free; 12– 5 pm, $5 general, $3 for seniors and students; Members and children under 12 free

Free Docent-Led Guided Tours

Tuesday through Saturday, 2:30 pm. Tours are free with admission to the Museum