The National Building Museum 3/26/11

Inside the National Museum Building

Saturday, March 26th the National Building Museum hosted "Family Day" to celebrate the arrival of the annual National Cherry Blossom Festival.  The building was blooming.  There were all sorts of activities inspired by the Cherry Blossoms and Japanese Culture.  Everything was pretty in pink, but my favorite site had to be larger than life Japanese paper lanterns draped from the ceiling.

MG Stout gears up to challenge young artists to show off their blossoms

There were all sorts of Japanese inspired workshops for children to try.  

So what did we do?

We created recycled sketch books from outdated Workhouse Art Center Course Catalogues.  Saving trees!  A perfect activity to honor the Cherry Blossoms.  After participants made their drawing pads we encouraged them to go out into the festival and render the blossoms their way.  We asked parents to photograph the artworks and upload them to our Facebook page.  Our hope is to share all the works with the general public.  We thought kids would be stoked about having their work become a part of our virtual gallery.  

volunteers and staff help youngsters bind their books

artists very busy creating

Fun was had by all.  Families also enjoyed live entertainment.   Dancers moved gracefully across the stage, musicians played, and lively skits were performed by lovable characters.  One highlight of the day was when the star of the new movie HOP came into the building.  The kids went CRAZY!  

The HOP Star (I don't know his name)

If you missed family day there is still time to check out all the exciting events associated with the National Cherry Blossom Festival.  Click this link and plan to spend the day in the District.  It really is the perfect time to visit our Nation's Capitol.

Cherry Blossom Festival Launch Party

Last week or the week before, my good pal Julie Booth, Community Relations Manager of the Workhouse Arts Center, and I attended the Cherry Blossom Festival Launch Party.  We met with the organizers and vendors and witnessed the unveiling of their newly renovated website! It was cold outside, but spring was in the air. The CBF is the nation's greatest springtime celebration.

On March 26, 2010 from 10AM - 3:30PM the National Building Museum, 401 F Street NW, will host Family Day and the Workhouse Arts Center will be represented by Julie and I.   Come by and enjoy hands on activities, exciting indoor and outdoor performances that explore Japanese arts and design. 

I've been tasked with developing an interactive art demonstration for the event.

 I put on my thinking cap and got to work.  After many minutes of thinking I had an idea. What is the best part of the festival?  For me, it is all ABOUT the sites.  There is just so much to see.  I liken it to a Thanksgiving Day feast were you stuff your eyes, with the sublime and return from whence you came unable to look at one more exhibit.  Now I ponder, what better way to savor and digest this empirical extravaganza than with a sketch book? 

We are going to make sketch books. Oh yeah!

 In honor of the trees, sketchbooks will be made from recycled Workhouse Arts Center Course Catalogs.  The pages will already be prepped with a coat of gesso and spattered with the primary colors.  Visitors will assemble their very own sketch book and be schooled on how to "see" as an "artist." I've created two optional coloring pages for those who need a little help getting their eye-venture started.

Include them or not it is entirely up to you.

I'll be demonstrating drawing techniques and challenge guests to:

SHOW US YOUR BLOSSOMS

Everyone and anyone can upload their images to the Workhouse Arts Center Facebook page to be included in a virtual art show.  Plus we will be awarding prizes and raffling off original art created by me especially for this event.  More details to come.