The highly interactive display is the first of its kind for CMA; pairing antique children’s artwork with contemporary pieces from 18 local public schools. The work of famous art educators Leon Bibel, Henry Schaefer-Simmern, and Sona Kludjian are featured in the exhibit, alongside designs from their students.

The art on display, from the 1930s through today, illustrates what was important to the students’ of the early twentieth century. Executive Director David Kaplan’s favorite part is the works that Sona Kludjian donated. “I love that era; so much was going on like the Civil Rights movement,” he says. “It’s cool to see what young people were creating then.”

“[The exhibit is] focused on art education; all the works have to do with the relationship between teacher and student,” Kaplan explains. “There’s a big mentorship component to the exhibit and that’s what CMA is about—teaching artists to empower kids.”

Walking around the Art Forms exhibit, it’s hard not to be empowered to create; every few steps presents another opportunity to get creative. Children can draw in the gallery and then hang their picture in the “exhibit your art” section. If your little ones are budding authors, they can write messages and connect them to the “poetree” hanging in the middle of the gallery. There is also a clay room, a loom that visitors can add to, and more stations for creating masterpieces.

“Shhhh” is one sound not often heard around the museum. Kids are welcome to roam around, talk, play, and create as they wish. As Kaplan puts it, “I hope they come in and are inspired…that they look at art and look at themselves differently. I hope they leave CMA as an artist.”

To read more from New York Family magazine click here.

Happy Mother’s

Monday, May 7

Over the Moon: The Broadway Lullaby Project Concert at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre

124 West 43rd Street

8pm

Over The Moon: The Broadway Lullaby Project is a multimedia charity project of original lullabies composed and sung by Broadway stars (like our March issue’s cover mom Audra McDonald), established to raise money for breast cancer foundations. Don’t miss this free concert, where you’ll get to hear some of the tunes and watch excerpts from the project’s documentary.

Tuesday, May 8

Dirty Sock Music Romp at the Jewish Museum

1109 5th Avenue

10-10:45am

Join the Dirty Sock Funtime Band’s lead singer, Mike, for an interactive music show. Kiddos can play with musical toys and instruments and hear kid-friendly classic rock songs. For ages six months to four years.Registration is required; please call 212-423-3225.

Wednesday, May 9

Sea Creatures Workshop at Children’s Museum of the Arts

103 Charlton Street

12pm

Deep sea divers (er, artists) ages five and up should head to shore (CMA’s Fine Arts Studio) for a mixed-media workshop that’s right up their alley. Utilizing sculpture materials, kids can construct a jellyfish, octopus or starfish.

To read the full listings at New York Family click here.