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Arts & Culture for Kids

Scrap Arts Music at the Edison

March 12, 2015 jlin Leave a comment

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“Fantastic visual and aural display of percussive precision full of energetic gymnastics and vibrant vitality. Original music expertly played and choreographed into a remarkable show.” — The Belfast Telegraph

Don’t miss Scrap Arts Music, an exciting and unique celebration of percussive music and movement at the Edison Theatre on March 20 and 21. Entertaining for families of all ages!

Scrap Arts Music
Friday, March 20, 2015 at 8 pm ($20 to $36 ticket)
Saturday, March 21, 2015 at 11 am ($12 ticket)
Edison Theatre, 6445 Forsyth Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63105
Call 314.935.6543 or purchase tickets online.
Parking Map

About Scrap Arts Music

Gregory Kozak and Justine Murdy, the artistic directors of Scrap Arts Music, invented and created all the musical instruments used in the show. These are not found objects “played” like instruments, but completely new tune-able inventions made from a variety of “scraps” welded, bent, and transformed into entirely new sculptures. Mr. Kozak wrote and choreographed the original music and performs alongside the other world-class musicians.
Scrap Arts Music is rooted in a green message: “Before you throw away something — whether an idea, a relationship, or an object, think about its usefulness from a bunch of different angles. You will likely discover a whole new world of possibilities.”
The performances bridge music with athleticism. All of the highly trained, professional musicians have strong athletic backgrounds. Percussion is the most physical of all the instrument families, after all.
Scrap Arts Music includes humorous moments within its nuanced and sophisticated percussion ensemble music. Listen for their sometimes humorous instrument sounds, instrument names, and composition titles.
All Scrap Arts Music instrument designs are based in a knowledge of the physics of sound and leader Gregory Kozak’s compositional style draws upon world music traditions.

History of Scrap Arts Music

Musician/composer Gregory Kozak and architecture-trained Justine Murdy began their collaboration under the name “Scrap Arts Music” in 1998. Their multi-disciplinary approach is a synthesis of Justine’s architectural work in and fascination with vernacular design and material culture studies; and Gregory’s musical training in Afro-Cuban jazz, piano composition, world percussion, contemporary classical music, North Indian raga, modern dance, and West African drum and dance. The artistic objective of Gregory and Justine’s collaboration is to create an orchestra of invented instruments created from materials collected in and around their home base of Vancouver Canada, and to use these in original performance-based works. Gregory and Justine wanted to reflect their own time and place while demonstrating that contemporary ‘throw-aways’ could be up-cycled to make culturally valuable artifacts, in their case sculptural musical instruments.

Since the 1990s, in addition to the beautiful condo towers lining the downtown core, Vancouver’s massive building boom has generated mountains of high-quality construction salvage. Building and marine activities generate lots of high-quality cast offs-that frequently are just taken to landfills or to sites where energy is expended to recycle. Justine and Gregory decided to interrupt this movement by upcycling choice scrap —including shaped metal ‘seconds,’ Douglas Fir wood offcuts, and PVC tubing.

Over three years of research and development (1998-2001) they created 145+ large-scale, mobile, sculptural instruments designed to be tune-able and suitable for repeat performances around the world. Many of the larger instruments are mobile. Gregory and Justine developed an “action-choreography” style of movement and sculptural instruments reflective of Vancouver and the energy of percussion.

In the spirit of “art music” they give consideration to the visual dimension of musical performance. Gregory and Justine take SCRAP, transform it through the ARTS of sculpture and choreography, and create original MUSIC performances for global audiences. Since 2001, they have taken their interdisciplinary project around the world, performed in front of hundreds of thousands of people, and offered numerous workshops, educational performances, and concerts featuring original choreographed sculptural music made from the materials around them.

Photos: Tineke Van Brederode and Coen Halmans

Arts & Culture for Kids

Walking the Tightrope at COCA

February 9, 2015 jlin Leave a comment

“Every year right at the end of summer just before the leaves turn brown and fall from the trees, Esme comes to stay with her Nanna and Granddad…” But this year something is different; Nanna Queenie is gone. Though Grandad and Esme do the fun activities they usually do, things aren’t the same without Nanna Queenie. Grandad can’t bring himself to say that Nanna has died, so he explains that Nanna has joined the circus. “She looked like an ordinary woman, but inside beat the heart of a tightrope walker.”

COCA presents “Walking the Tightrope” in the Founders’ Theatre February 21 and 22, 2015. Winner of three LA Drama Critics Circle Awards and honored with more than a dozen nominations for acting, music, video design, and more, this production is an experience adults and children can enjoy together. Written by Mike Kenny, one of England’s leading writers for young audiences, and produced by 24th STreet Theatre in Los Angeles, “Walking the Tightrope” is a sweet, funny, and moving story of a grandfather who tries to tell his 5 year-old granddaughter that Grandma is gone, and in the process builds a beautiful new relationship with her. With the help of a single clown, they discover the meaning of family. 24th STreet Theatre’s acclaimed production uses world-class acting, sophisticated video, sound design, and original music to transport audiences from Grandad’s quaint 1959 English seaside cottage to the spectacular big top of circus. Look below for a special half off ticket promotion!

PARENTAL GUIDANCE: “Walking the Tightrope” gently and creatively addresses the theme of loss and is recommended for ages 7 and up.

DETAILS
COCA Presents 2014-2015: “Walking the Tightrope”
Founders’ Theatre at COCA
524 Trinity Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63130
Saturday, February 21, 2015 at 2 and 5 pm
Sunday, February 22, 2015 at 1 and 4 pm
Run time is approximately one hour.
General seating tickets are $14-$18 online or by phone at 314.561.4877, or in person at COCA.

SPECIAL PROMOTION for Culture Mama readers! Take 50% off any ticket with the promo code: tightrope50. Be sure to enter this code in the promo code box at the top right hand side of the screen when ordering online or tell a COCA staff person when calling or buying tickets in person.

Walking the Tightrope Study Guide

Arts & Culture Events for Preschoolers, Arts & Culture for Kids, Community

Ready Readers presents “Winter Story Fest”

January 23, 2015 jlin Leave a comment

Ready Readers presents “Winter Story Fest” with The Rep’s Imaginary Theatre Company and Whole Foods Market in Brentwood on Sunday, February 8, 2015, Clayton High School, 1 Mark Twain Circle. The fun begins at 2 pm with children’s activities led by top area family friendly organizations including The Magic House and Mad Science, face painters, magicians, clowns, a silent auction, and much more. At 3:30 pm, guests are entertained by The Rep’s Imaginary Theatre Company’s production of The Emperor’s New Clothes in Clayton High School’s beautiful auditorium. Approximate run time of The Emperor’s New Clothes is 45 minutes.

The event is recommended for ages 3 to 10. Tickets are $15 per person in advance or $18 per person at the door. You can reserve your tickets online or by calling 314.564.8070. For group reservations, contact Lisa Greening at lisa@readyreaders.org.

Proceeds from Winter Story Fest benefit Ready Readers and its mission of inspiring preschool-age children from low-income communities to become readers by reading aloud to them, increasing their exposure to quality books, and providing literacy-related experiences.

The entire Ready Readers event is 2 to 4:30 pm, including announcements and acknowledgments prior to the theater performance. Depending on how old your children are (and how they are feeling on that particular day!), you may want to adjust your arrival time so that your experience is a relaxing and fun one. Be sure to allow yourself a few moments to bid high on the great silent auction items.

Can’t make the event? Consider a tax-deductible contribution to Ready Readers.

About The Emperor’s New Clothes
One of Hans Christian Andersen’s tales gets a quirky new look in this silly satire about a vain man and his clever wife. Determined to teach her husband a lesson in humility, the queen and her loyal handmaiden pose as two weavers who make the most beautiful garments in the world. There’s just one catch—only the most intelligent people can see these clothes. Will the Emperor admit he’s had the wool pulled over his eyes or embarrass himself in front of the entire kingdom?

Book by Kim Esop Wylie
Music by Joe Dreyer
Lyrics by Sheila Schultz
Directed by Kat Singleton

The Emperor’s New Clothes Study Guide

About Ready Readers
Ready Readers is a St. Louis-based nonprofit organization dedicated to inspiring preschool age children from low-income communities to love books and to have the emergent literacy skills necessary to become readers when they enter kindergarten. Trained, passionate volunteers read high-quality books aloud to the same classroom of children for 30 minutes every week, and then provide stimulating reading-related activities. Six times during each school year and once during the summer, the volunteer readers also distribute new books for each child to take home and keep.

Event Sponsors of the Winter Story Fest include: First Bank, The Rep’s Imaginary Theatre Company, Whole Foods Market in Brentwood, The Magic House, Circus Kaput, the St. Louis Science Center, Mad Science, KC Creative Inc., Bricks 4 Kidz, and The Puppet Guild of Greater Saint Louis.

Arts & Culture for Kids, Community, What to Read

Used Book Sale at the J

January 21, 2015 jlin Leave a comment

The Used Book Sale at the J is one of my favorite sales of the year. In the past, some of the great family friendly items that I have discovered are out-of-print children’s books, newer beginning readers and board books, unused sticker books, massive atlases, piano scores, children’s dictionaries, old textbooks with fascinating drawings that are excellent for art projects, cookbooks, kids joke books, and much more. The bargain priced items vary of course from sale to sale, but you never know what you will find.

The volunteers are very helpful and the sale is well organized. Be sure to keep an eye out for books underneath the tables as some of that stock does not get looked through as often. Plastic bags are provided but feel free to bring your own sturdier bag in case you end up with more than an armful of books. I have also seen friendly volunteers help Moms if they have a squirmy or non-stop chatty child or need assistance loading their car.

Proceeds from the sale benefit the Roswell and Wilma Messing Cultural Arts and Education Department.

Details about the event:

Jewish Community Center
Staenberg Family Complex Arts & Education Building
2 Millstone Campus Drive
FREE parking in lot

Sunday, February 1, 2015
Preview Day, 10 am to 4 pm
Admission $10/per person (free for ages 16 and under)

February 2, 3, and 4, 2015
FREE admission, 10 am to 7 pm

Thursday, February 5, 2015
FREE admission, Bag Day (Fill a bag for $5–bag provided)
10 am to 6 pm

Questions? Call 314.442.3169.

Have books to donate?

Books may be dropped off at the Jewish Community Center’s Arts and Education Building. Please limit drop off at this location to one box or less. You may also drop books off at H. F. Epstein Hebrew Academy located just minutes from the “J” on 1138 Warson Road. All donors should report to the school office where you will connect with a building and grounds staff member who will assist you in unloading your books.

Drop Off Hours at Epstein Hebrew Academy:
School Hours (August 18 – May 20)
Monday – Friday: 9 am to 4 pm

Volunteers needed!

In preparation for the bi-annual Used Book Sales, volunteer markers are needed at Epstein Hebrew Academy to work on Tuesdays during the day. Volunteers will be trained and there is no heavy lifting. Volunteers can work a full shift or only a portion, 10 am to 3 pm. If you have any questions or wish to volunteer, please contact Zelda Sparks, 314.442.3169.

Photos: Shutterstock and Janis Christie/Getty Images

What to Read

Once Upon an Alphabet

January 9, 2015 jlin Leave a comment

My seven year old’s latest love is Oliver Jeffers’s beautiful and humorous book, Once Upon an Alphabet: Short Stories for All the Letters. Although the book celebrates the alphabet which might lead you to buy this for your toddler, the clever words chosen for each letter of the alphabet and the at times dark and quirky tales that celebrate them, make this book more engaging for elementary school age children or adults. You will adore the funny, quirky, and dramatic conclusions to the adventures of an astronaut who is afraid of heights, a rival who burns a bridge (that he needs to get back to his side), a cup who dreams big, a boy who grows old waiting forever, a king who forgets his keys, a puzzled parsnip who just doesn’t get his true being, a terrible typewriter that makes what is written on it come true, and much more. The exquisite and expressive illustrations bring the stories alive, capturing emotions in a dreamy, surprising, brilliant, and Edward Gorey-esque spirit. My daughter is fascinated by the subtle ink and watercolor drawings.

We’ve enjoyed other Oliver Jeffers books as well–the Hueys series and The Incredible Book Eating Boy are some of our favorites. Oliver Jeffers is a smile inducing and poignant writer, artist, and all around insight-instigator. Learn about his projects on his web site, Oliver Jeffers World, and his store (limited edition prints, books, and more).

Here are some photos of Once Upon an Alphabet:

Here are some views of the wonderfully drawn expressions:

Interview with Oliver Jeffers about Once Upon An Alphabet on NPR.

What to Read

Leaving perfectionism behind

October 21, 2014 jlin 1 Comment

What is perfect?

Although my 7-year-old often craves to achieve that imaginary ideal and has had her share of running to get the white out, erasing through her paper, or crying through an assignment, as she grows, she is beginning to become comfortable with the imperfect. We talk a lot about process, how even machines have variances, how “perfect” can be boring, how doing your best at any particular moment is all you can do, how famous musicians and dancers still have to practice every day, and how letting go of trying to reach “perfection” means opening yourself up to taking chances and maybe even discovering something new while doing something wrong. Both my husband and I also try to regularly acknowledge making mistakes every day (e.g. I burned the bacon again… oh well. Time to start over!) and demonstrating how to adapt to situations.

I’m not sure how much of these heart to heart talks seep into her head, but what has made a huge positive impact recently are children’s books about making mistakes, creative thinking, perception, and inventors.

Here are some picture book recommendations for your young perfectionist:

The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes | By Mark Pett and Gary Rubinstein
A great story about a girl who is known for her error free life. When she makes a very public mistake during a school talent show, her humorous recovery is both reassuring and a welcome relief!

Sky Color | By Peter H. Reynolds
Young perfectionists will enjoy reading about Marisol, a girl who is so confident in her art abilities but surprisingly is faced with not having the color blue to paint the sky in a school mural. After some thought, Marisol eventually is able to see the sky as more than just blue.

A classroom guide to Sky Color from Peter H. Reynolds.

Ish | By Peter H. Reynolds
Another sweet book from Peter H. Reynolds, Ish presents a frustrated boy who crumples up all his artwork that isn’t perfect. When he learns that his sister has been saving all of his “bad” artwork and has put them up on her bedroom walls, he begins to free himself from perfect expectations and embraces the “ish” of his artistic renditions.

Mistakes That Worked | By Charlotte Jones
Popsicles, potato chips, Silly Putty, Velcro, chocolate chip cookies, and many other familiar items are fascinating examples of how unintentional mistakes and experimentation evolved into wonderful inventions. Mistakes That Worked offers forty of these entertaining tales.

Now & Ben: The Modern Inventions of Benjamin Franklin | By Gene Baretta
This colorful book gives children a fun look at the enormous number of inventions and talents Benjamin Franklin shared with the world as a writer, printer, diplomat, musician, humorist, scientist, postmaster, and more. While not necessarily “mistake” oriented, the story values creativity, persistence, and experimentation.

More inventor books from author and illustrator Gene Baretta.

Happy reading! (Now go make some mistakes!)

Top photo: Bryan Smith, Freelance, NY Daily News

Arts & Culture Events for Preschoolers, Arts & Culture for Kids

Halloween Family Day at CAM

October 1, 2014 jlin Leave a comment

The Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis (CAM) presents “Halloween Family Day” on Saturday, October 25, from 10 am to noon. Recommended for ages 3 to 12. FREE admission.

Celebrate Halloween at CAM with a fun-filled morning of artist-led workshops, face painting, music, and more. Enjoy the festivities, express yourself creatively, and learn about the art on view.

Visitors in costume will be entered in a drawing to win a special prize.

Event activities include:

+ Face painting

+ Local musical and comedy act Babaloo performs at 10:15 am.

+ Artist Maria Ojascastro leads a workshop on making “Model Magic Minions.” Create your own good, evil, or Halloween minion with colorful model magic and googly eyes.

+ Artist Tracy Drissell leads an art activity inspired by current CAM exhibition, Mark Flood: Another Painting, using stencils to create language-based artwork.

+ The New Art in the Neighborhood students lead a wacky and fun Halloween art activity.

+ In tandem with current exhibition Mel Chin: Rematch, CAM presents a special Fundred Dollar Bill Project workshop. Participants are invited to creatively decorate their own one hundred-dollar bill which symbolizes raising money to help end childhood lead poisoning. Lead Safe St. Louis will be on site to promote lead poisoning awareness, and this event wraps up National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, which runs October 19–25 this year.

The Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis (CAM) is located at 3750 Washington Boulevard. Questions? Call 314.535.4660 or email info@camstl.org.

Directions and parking information.

Photos: Courtesy of the Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis.

Arts & Culture Events for Preschoolers, Arts & Culture for Kids

Upcoming Family Friendly Performances

September 13, 2014 jlin Leave a comment

Photo above: Scrap Arts Music, by Anneke Janissen.

Experience the magic of live theater with your family this Fall and Winter! Musicals, favorite books brought to the stage, acrobats, circus performers, a world famous symphony, truly unique percussionists, and more are ready to inspire and entertain you. Also be on the lookout for a vivid demonstration of what a whole lot of practice, perseverance, and passion can create.

OCTOBER 2014

The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley
A Dallas Children’s Theater Company Production
October 10-12, 2014
Florissant Civic Center Theatre, 1 James J. Eagan Drive, Florissant
Tickets $7

Stanley Lambchop is your ordinary, everyday, run-of-the-mill ten-year-old: normal Mom and Dad, normal little brother, normal life. That’s just the problem… for Stanley, life is too normal. He wants to travel the world, do something amazing, something no one’s ever seen before. Careful what you wish for, Stanley! One night, the bulletin board on the wall above Stanley’s bed comes loose and falls right on top of Stanley. The next morning, Stanley Lambchop wakes up flat. Not just a little flat… really, REALLY flat! In a whirlwind musical travelogue, Stanley, the ultimate exchange student, scours the globe for a solution to his unusual problem. He’s stamped, posted, and canceled from Hollywood to France to Honolulu and beyond. And whether he’s thwarting a robbery at the Louvre Museum in Paris, or “hanging ten” off the coast of Hawaii, Stanley is closing in on his goal of being a three-dimensional boy once more. Approximate run time is one hour.

NOVEMBER 2014

Stella, Queen of the Snow
A Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia Production
November 22-23, 2014
COCA, 524 Trinity Avenue, St. Louis
Tickets $14 to $18

Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia, creator of Guess How Much I Love You… (COCA, 2013) and Treasured Stories by Eric Carle (COCA, 2012), has joined forces with popular Stella and Sam author Marie-Louise Gay in a new stage adaption of the beloved storybook, designed especially for young children integrating imaginative puppetry and striking scenic effects. Stella, Queen of the Snow is a delightful romp in the snow with Stella and Sam as they discover the world of winter together. Approximate run time is one hour.

Click, Clack, Moo, Cows That Type
A Theatreworks USA Production
November 23-29, 2014
Florissant Civic Center Theatre, 1 James J. Eagan Drive, Florissant
Tickets $5.25

“Cows that type? Hens on strike! Whoever heard of such a thing!” Farmer Brown cries. When his granddaughter Jenny comes for a visit, Farmer Brown declared the farm a “tech-free zone.” He confiscates her laptop in the cold barn along with the shivering cows who use her computer to type messages requesting blankets. “No way,” replies Farmer Brown. “No blankets!” So the cows go on strike and the chickens join them in solidarity. No blankets: no milk, no eggs! Will Farmer Brown give in to the animals’ demands? Will Jenny get her computer back? Find out in a hilariously “mooooo-ving” new musical about negotiation and compromise. Based on the Caldecott Honor book by Doreen Cronin and Betsy Lewin. Approximate run time is one hour.

DECEMBER 2014

Annie
National Touring Production
December 2-7, 2014
The Fabulous Fox Theatre
527 North Grand Boulevard, St. Louis
Tickets $25 to $75

Leapin’ Lizards! The world’s best-loved musical returns in time-honored form. Directed by original lyricist and director Martin Charnin and choreographed by Liza Gennaro, this production of Annie will be a brand new incarnation of the iconic original. Featuring book and score by Tony Award®-winners Thomas Meehan, Charles Strouse, and Martin Charnin, Annie includes such unforgettable songs as “It’s the Hard Knock Life,” “Easy Street,” “I Don’t Need Anything But You,” plus the eternal anthem of optimism, “Tomorrow.” Approximate run time is 2 hours and 30 minutes.

National Acrobats of China
Saturday, December 13, 2014 at 2 and 8 pm
Lindenwood J. Scheidegger Center for the Arts
2300 West Clay Street, Saint Charles
Tickets $29.50 to $59.50

The entire family is sure to enjoy this colorful and acrobatic adventure. Direct from Beijing, The National Acrobats of the People’s Republic of China was founded in 1951 and has been one of the most acclaimed acrobatic troupes in China. Over several generations, the company has developed many unique acrobatic acts like “Global Motorcycling,” “Kicking Bowls to Heads on High Unicycles,” “Russian Bars in Chinese Traditional Style,” “Chinese Poles in Shaolin Style,” “Diving through Moving Hoops,” “Aerial Bungee Tumblings,” and “Aerial Tissue Flowers.” These acts have been praised by Chinese and foreign audiences for decades. Approximate run time is two hours.

Bah! Humbug!
The Imaginary Theatre Company
of The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
December 13-23, 2014
Heagney Theatre at Nerinx Hall High School
530 East Lockwood Avenue, Webster Groves
Tickets $7 (Tickets go on sale October 1, 2014.)

Mr. Scrooge throws his TV remote at ghosts while Bob Cratchit works inside the ATM in this hilarious modern update of a beloved holiday classic. Travel with the three spirits on a journey through past, present, and future as old Ebenezer learns the joys of kindness and giving. Can Christmas be saved for the Cratchits? You’ll find out in this musical romp that is sure to put a smile on the “Scroogiest” of faces. Adapted from A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens.
Approximate run time is 45 minutes.

Circus Flora: A Winter Fable
St. Louis Symphony
December 13-14, 2014
Powell Hall, 718 North Grand Boulevard
Tickets $25 to $65

Circus Flora joins the St. Louis Symphony in high-wire holiday fun for the family. A Winter Fable is a classic fairy tale with an edge of romance and deceit. Circus Flora imagines a strange and wonderful world, in which the pairing of symphony and the circus arts is only the beginning of the magic you will experience. See your favorites including the gravity-defying Flying Wallendas and much, much, more. It’s Christmas, with a circus twist! Approximate run time is one hour and 50 minutes.

Pixar in Concert
St. Louis Symphony
December 27-28, 2014
Powell Hall, 718 North Grand Boulevard
Tickets $30 to $65

Watch as all your favorite characters come to life on the big screen as the St. Louis Symphony performs music from 14 Pixar films including Toy Story, Brave, Cars, Monsters, Inc., and more. Fun for both the young, and the young at heart! Steven Jarvi, conductor. Approximate run time is two hours.

JANUARY 2015
Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse
An Omaha Theatre Company Production
January 16-18, 2015
Florissant Civic Center Theatre, 1 James J. Eagan Drive, Florissant
Tickets $7

Lilly loves everything about school, especially her cool teacher, Mr. Slinger. When he confiscates her prized possession, a purple plastic purse that plays music, joy turns to misery. Lilly, who is used to being the brightest and loudest mouse around, will also have to get used to sharing the spotlight with her new baby brother in this charming adaptation of Kevin Henkes’s award-winning children’s book. Gripped with anger after losing her purse, Lilly draws a mean portrait of Mr. Slinger and hides it in his book bag. When she gets her purse back and opens it outside of school, she finds a surprising note: “Today was a difficult day. Tomorrow will be better.” Suddenly wracked with guilt, Lilly sets out to make up with her teacher, but villainous bicycle-riding bullies, a spotlight-stealing baby brother, and the dreaded “uncooperative chair” will test our heroine’s resolve. Approximate run time is one hour.

The Science of Sound and the Art of Noise
St. Louis Symphony
Sunday, January 25, 2015 at 3 pm
Powell Hall, 718 North Grand Boulevard
Tickets $12 to $19

Maestro Steven Jarvi and a special guest will lead demonstrations of sound waves and sound creation in the various instruments of the orchestra. Featured works include Copland’s Fanfare for the Common Man, Beethoven’s The Creatures of Prometheus Overture, selections from Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and more! Approximate run time is 45 minutes.

BARTÓK, Romanian Folk Dances
BEETHOVEN, The Creatures of Prometheus Overture
COPLAND, Fanfare for the Common Man
MENDELSSOHN, Scherzo from A Midsummer Night’s Dream
BRITTEN, Playful Pizzicato from Simple Symphony
BEETHOVEN, Fourth Movement from Symphony No. 7 in A major

Photo: Conductor Steven Jarvi, by David Bickley.

The Muny Kids: Broadway Here I Come
Saturday, January 31, 2015 at 11 am
Sheldon Concert Hall, 3648 Washington Boulevard, St. Louis
Tickets $5 to $12

The talented Muny kids and teens take you on a musical journey to the “Great White Way” with favorite Broadway songs, old and new. The Muny is a St. Louis institution, bringing musical theater to life every summer for over 90 years. Approximate run time is one hour.

MARCH 2015

Scrap Arts Music
Saturday, March 21, 2015 at 11 am
Edison Theatre, 6445 Forsyth Blvd, St. Louis
Tickets $12

Take some old bike parts, shiny construction salvage, PVC pipes, and other recycled odds and ends. Add five hyperactive hipsters and a dozen drumsticks, and the result is a dizzying barrage of beats. Vancouver-based ensemble Scrap Arts Music bounces around on stage with a combination of gymnastic agility and percussive drive. They alternate between hitting, moving, and bowing their instruments. The choreography is intricate and eye-catching! Approximate run time is one hour.

Arts & Culture Events for Preschoolers, Arts & Culture for Kids

Fall family events at Laumeier Sculpture Park

August 23, 2014 jlin Leave a comment

Ready to explore contemporary art in lush fields, free your imagination, create your own works of art, and see dance on riding lawnmowers? Be sure to experience Laumeier Sculpture Park‘s fun and free family friendly events this Fall. All ages are welcome, although the tours may be more interesting to children age 8 and up.

Friday, September 5, 2014 at 5 pm
Family Tour: “How’d They Do That?”
The Way Field at Laumeier Sculpture Park
12580 Rott Road, St. Louis
FREE

Join Laumeier Sculpture Park for a visual tour and scavenger hunt. Enjoy a behind-the-scenes look at how large-scale sculptures are built and maintained. Learn how natural phenomena and the environment affect the preservation and deterioration of works of art.

Friday, September 5, 2014, 5 to 7 pm
Family Activity: Feast for Your Eyes
The Way Field at Laumeier Sculpture Park
12580 Rott Road, St. Louis
FREE

Participants in this activity will experiment with color and work together to create an expressive work of art.

Sunday, October 5, 2014 at 2 pm
Family Tour: Poetry in Motion
Meet at the sculpture: Tony Tasset, Eye, 2007
Laumeier Sculpture Park
12580 Rott Road, St. Louis
FREE

View kinetic works of art and those with implied movement, including the current Kranzberg Exhibition Series installation, Tom Huck: Bugs, 2014 (this exhibition opens October 3, 2014 in the Children’s Sculpture Garden at Laumeier). The whimsical installation will inspire visitors to take a closer look at how art can amplify or reframe both the beautiful and creepy-crawly in nature.

Sunday, October 5, 2014, 2 to 4 pm
Family Activity: Art Moves!
Education Center Deck at Laumeier Sculpture Park
12580 Rott Road, St. Louis
FREE

Rhythm and movement in nature can serve as wonderful inspiration! Join Laumeier Sculpture Park for kinetic creations and take home a family-focused activity book, featuring original drawings by 2014 Kranzberg Exhibition Series artist Tom Huck.

Saturday, October 4, 2014 at 11 am & 1 pm
American Arts Experience St. Louis 2014
Laune Dance Performance
The Way Field at Laumeier Sculpture Park
12580 Rott Road, St. Louis
FREE

Dancer, choreographer, and 2015 Kranzberg Exhibition Series artist Ashley McQueen will honor the labor that goes into the manicured landscape at Laumeier Sculpture Park. Through a series of dance performances using riding lawnmowers, hedge-trimmers, and watering hoses, Ms. McQueen and her dancers will explore Laumeier Sculpture Park’s unique relationship with the St. Louis County Parks staff—highlighting the passion and hard work that are involved in the care and maintenance of the 105-acre park.

Questions about these events? Call 314.615.5278 or info@laumeier.org.

Laumeier Sculpture Park Site Map

Laumeier Sculpture Park Visitor Information (Please do not climb on sculptures!)

Laumeier Sculpture Park Discovery Guide

Laumeier Sculpture Park Family Activities for Home

The Arts, Culture, & More for the St. Louis Parent & Beyond