Product Review: Art in a Box {Hardcover Activity Pack} (Geared for Children Ages 5-11)
20 Activity Cards for Children Based on Works from the Tate Museum of Modern Art
Although somewhat embarrassing as a young child, I now feel very fortunate that I had a mother who was a very creative out-of-the box person who was the epitome of a free spirit of the 60s sans the psychedelic drugs. She was an artist, a musician, a social worker who related more to children than adults and wore ponchos and sandals (if forced to wear shoes) and would look at you with a puzzled expression if you told her she needed to comb her hair that was mostly kept in constant disarray. When I painted an ‘under the sea’ mural all over my bedroom walls in middle school or cut up my lamp shade to have cut out suns and moons to light my walls at night my mom did not bat an eye. When I used chocolate pudding on a dining room table to make art or used shaving cream to color all over our kitchen, my mom laughed as encouragement. Nothing ever seemed too absurd or extraordinary to accomplish in the realm of artistic creativity and that has always given me an abstract appreciation of art. Unfortunately, I couldn’t tell you the difference between a Pollock or Picasso, but I could tell you how they make me ‘feel’ when I look at artistic pieces. My hope for my daughter is that she not only has the artistic freedom of her own expression, I also hope she gets to learn from the great modern art masters of our history.
Art in a Box through Abrams Books is a artistic toolbox of sorts for our kids based on the modern art works through Tate Publishing, As in the Tate Museum of Modern Art in London whose works of art are impressive and are put together in this collection to help inspire children about learning and creating art. This sturdy keepsake box is full of twenty large art activity cards based on the works from the world-famous Tate museum collection. The art range is quite expansive from painting, photography, sculpture, collage and even textile works. Classic modern artists like Calder, Blake, Picasso and Pollack are showcased in easy to understand background and activities for children as young as five. The activity cards show the work of art on one side of the card while featuring a How-To ‘Your Turn’ project on the opposite side. There are lots of great art and educational tips, a color card for mixing colors and a ‘warning’ hand print sign on the card if the activity is considered messy! Just a fair warning, as this is published in London (distributed by Abrams Books in the US), words like color are spelled in the British-English as ‘colour’, etc. This inspirational box is perfect for home use, in the classroom or even a great motivation for wannabe art teachers or artists everywhere. Making art fun does not have to be a challenge and with Art in a Box as a guide, it also makes it educational!
About Abrams Books: The Art of Books Since 1949. Abrams Books is a New York, New York company that was founded by Harry N. Abrams. Harry’s main focus was to publish high quality art-centric illustrated books. Abrams has a very impressive catalog from adult to non-fiction although I am particularly interested in their children’s works. Check out their children’s catalog here. Another inspiring children’s book about an artist through Abrams is called Me, Frida about Frida Kahlo.
Art in a Box {Hardcover Activity Pack} (Geared for Children Ages 5-11)
List Price: $ 21.95
Momma's Bacon 