RECAP // Mini-Factory: ME!

Mini-Factory is all about exploring, and in a recent program we turned the lens on ourselves with our new theme - ME! Self-expression of thoughts and feelings can be easy for some people yet difficult for others, so why not practice by looking at some great art--a form of self-expression. Our group of young art explorers took to the challenge. Together, we identified some words which help describe feelings... "shy as a shrimp," "loud as a lion," "wild as a chimp"... emotions personified as animals help younger ones connect these abstract thoughts with imagination, movement and verbal expression.

We also tried a new idea - journaling for 3 to 5 year olds! Each parent-child team was given a speech bubble to journal, with the aim of writing down any words which described their feelings, reactions or thoughts to an installation. How many feelings/words can describe this space? Name as many as possible. Which word do you feel in this space?

We visited four galleries and made four separate entries into our journals. Here is what we discovered about ourselves:

- Ryder Henry's Diaspora makes me feel "WOW"
-John Peña's Word Balloons make me feel "SMALL"
-Yayoi Kusama's Infinity Dots Mirrored Room makes me feel "PEACEFUL"

After our quick visits to the galleries, our group reconvened in the MF Lobby for some art-making fun. Using our journals loaded with descriptive words, we made a ME! collage. Pictures from magazines were matched with our words, cut out and collaged together.... put it all together, and you've got ME!

Mini-Factory is an interactive learning program for children ages 3 to 5 years old and their parent or caregiver. Using contemporary installation art, parents and children will explore new ideas and concepts from the everyday world. Join us at 10am on May 9 to learn about COLOR!