Children's arts to come alive at museum

Children’s arts to come alive at museum

Posted by ChaddsFordLive on September 30, 2016

Families can explore creativity at PNC's First Families. Photo courtesy of the Brandywine River Museum of Art.

Two opportunities offered by the Brandywine River Museum of Art are nearing a close, but available to visitors this weekend.

On Sunday, Oct. 2, the penultimate PNC Arts Alive First Sundays for Families will take place; the initiative, which offers free admission to visitors all day, ends next month on Sunday, Nov. 6.

First Sundays for Families features special hands-on creative art activities, and this Sunday’s event will focus on “Get the Picture! Contemporary Children's Book Illustration.” The exhibit, which closes on Oct. 9, spotlights a selection of contemporary paintings and drawings by eight of the most renowned artists currently working in the field: Sophie Blackall, Bryan Collier, Raúl Colón, Marla Frazee, Jon Klassen, Melissa Sweet, David Wiesner and Mo Willems.

The works reveal the artists’ broad spectrum of working methods and subject matter, as well as the ever-increasing inclusiveness in the field of children’s book illustration. On Sunday, participants can develop an original cartoon and create art inspired by the exhibit’s illustrations.

In addition, visitors can exercise mind and body and explore the world of imagination as dancer Lisa Oster brings classic tales to life, followed by a performance by the Academy of International Ballet, including excerpts from the “Nutcracker.“ And don't forget to take a selfie with the "Elephant" and "Piggie" characters from Mo Willems' popular books.

First Sundays for Families is funded by PNC Arts Alive, a multi-year, multi-million dollar initiative of the PNC Foundation, which receives its principal funding from The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. The goal of PNC Arts Alive is to help area residents gain access to the arts and to help arts organizations expand and engage audiences.

The Brandywine River Museum of Art features an outstanding collection of American art housed in a 19th-century mill building with a dramatic steel and glass addition overlooking the banks of the Brandywine. Open daily from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., except Thanksgiving Day and Christmas, the museum is located on Route 1 in Chadds Ford. For more information, call 610-388-2700 or visit brandywinemuseum.org.