ShopRite Of Veterans Road Hosts P.S. 1 Tottenville School Student Artwork Curated By The Staten Island Children's Museum

The Staten Island Children's Museum proudly curated the current art display at ShopRite of Veterans Road on the south shore. Young artists from the 3rd Grade in P.S. 1 in Tottenville took part in this project, which began during the school year this past spring.

Children's Museum Program Manager Zoë Tirado and Museum Educator and Teaching Artist Janet Gonzalez brought this Art Residency Program to P.S. 1 over the course of three classroom visits. During the art-making workshops, the entire 3rd Grade learned about printmaking, created their own stamps from foam and cardboard, and then made mixed media pieces using their handmade stamps and illustrations inspired by their favorite foods. The students selected an array of dishes to incorporate into their works, including chicken, pizza, fruits and even zeppoles.

"It was exciting to show the students different ways to create art and to watch their imaginations soar," said Tirado. "Many of the students had not used the stamping or printmaking techniques before and were eager to learn. The beautiful pieces on display are a testament to their curiosity and creativity."

Before the artwork made its way to the south shore ShopRite, it was on display in the Children's Museum's very own Community Gallery, a 2,500 square foot space which is used for art shows, as well as private parties and events.

"We are thrilled to share the work of these budding artists in our south shore ShopRite location," said Kevin Mannix, owner of Mannix Family ShopRites. "This Program is a fun and engaging way to connect with our local community, and we hope to host future collaborations from even more of our south shore schools."

This particular Art Residency Program was made possible through funding secured by New York City Council Member Joe Borelli.

"As parents and principals on the south shore know well, I try to bring as much creative programming into our schools as humanly possible. Days can get mundane and learning suffers if we're not constantly challenging ourselves and exploring new things," said Council Member Borelli. "This Art Residency Program does just that, and I know south shore students are already looking forward to all of the creative programming we have in store for them this year."

About the Staten Island Children's Museum Art Programs
The Children's Museum Art Residency Program provides an opportunity for schools that do not have a dedicated art teacher to bring art to their students and to enhance art education for those that do. Residencies are a partnership between the Children's Museum and the schools and involve a pre-Residency planning meeting to discuss artistic goals, possible alignment with the curriculum, logistics, and any special needs. The Residency includes all art materials and can take place over 3 - 10 sessions.

The Children's Museum also offers an on-site art experience through its Art Immersion Program. These 90-minute sessions are led by Museum staff during a class trip and can cover a variety of areas based on a teacher's choosing, including: painting, Iroquois jewelry making, African and Mayan mask making, bookmaking and shadow puppet creation. In addition to making the pieces of art, the sessions explore the history and cultural significance of the works.

For more information about the Children's Museum art and other programs, please see the School Programs at the Museum 2018 - 2019 brochure.

Two New South Shore Programs Funded for 2018 - 2019 School Year

Thanks to additional funding secured by Council Member Borelli and New York State Senator Andrew Lanza, the Children's Museum will offer two additional art enrichment programs to south shore schools during the current school year. Interested south shore public elementary schools should contact Children's Museum Director of Education Karen Jarmon at (718) 273-2060, ext. 265 or email at kjarmon@sichildrensmuseum.org for information about the selection process.

The Staten Island Children's Museum is located on the grounds of Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden, 1000 Richmond Terrace, Staten Island, NY 10301. The Museum's hours for September - June are Tuesday- Friday from 11:00 am - 5:00 pm and Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm. For more information, call 718-273-2060, email info@sichildrensmuseum.org, or visit sichildrensmuseum.org.

The Staten Island Children's Museum is housed in a building owned by the City of New York and its operation is made possible, in part, with public funds provided through the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs with support from the Staten Island delegation to the NYC Council. Significant operating support is also provided by the NYS Council on the Arts, Corporations, Foundations, the Trustees and Members.