Knock Knock Children’s Museum’s
Artist in Residence Program 2020
Knock Knock Children’s Museum Artist in Residence Program kicks off in February with Finn Kelley and continues in March and April with Madeleine Barber. This program funded by a Project Assistance Grant from the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge was created to bring professional artists into the museum to develop activities, lead programs and hold open studio sessions for visitors to experience what it means to be a professional artist.
Finn and Madeline were selected through a formal juried process comprised of museum staff, a local educator, an arts professional and a child.
The Artist in Residence program grew out of the museum’s Creative in Residence Series which brought teaching artists into the museum to present Saturday workshops. Having artists working in the museum is a great opportunity for children and families to get a better understanding of what it means to be creative. This new program will allow all of our visitors to have an opportunity to participate in and learn more about creative expression.
Each artist’s residency will include a collaborative activity which will culminate in an art exhibition displayed in the museum/or museum grounds.
Check our calendar to see when the artists will be in residence, and don’t miss the opportunity to be part of this exciting new program.
There’s something magical about changing a space. Even rearranging furniture can have an enormous impact, and of course, who can forget the iconic pillow fort. I’m also interested in the way our view changes when the pillow fort comes down. Costumes have a similarly interesting effect. During Mardi Gras, we transform familiar spaces into other worldly carnival grounds, and put on outrageous costumes to complete the experience. There’s something so wonderful about these breaks in our routine: in the experiences themselves, but also the way that they allow us to return to our daily lives with new eyes, like a new seasoning on top.
At Knock Knock, I plan to host a robot costume building workshop, with a robot dance party as the grand finale! Knock Knock’s dance studio will be totally transformed to welcome the new robots, as a way to kick off Robotics Month at the museum. I also plan to lead a two part learning session on sound waves, using lasers, slime, and more!
“Interacting with children in a creative setting is one of my favorite ways to get inspired! Their endless imagination is something I strive to relearn. With my Choose Your Own Adventure project, I want to challenge children to exercise their imaginations by playing around in hypothetical situations. What would you do if you were stranded on an alien planet? What if you actually DID go to school without pants on? I hope that the interaction I have with the children at Knock Knock Museum will inspire both them and me to move forward on this creative journey.
A college professor told me, “creative people tell stories.” Whether that’s through dance, writing, painting, or weaving, artistic expression tells a story. What motivates an artist is how to share that story. Personally, I don’t know what my story is yet. It’s an ongoing investigation I am excited to explore, and in the meantime, I want to create work that invites artists (both tall and small) on that same creative journey. It’s never too early to start telling your story. To motivate children to express themselves is why I continue to create!”
***Supported by a grant from the Louisiana Division of the Arts, Office of Cultural Development, Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, in cooperation with the Louisiana State Arts Council, as administered by the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge. Funding has also been provided by the National Endowment for the Arts, Art Works. ***
Dee Scallan is an award winning Louisiana author and storyteller. She is a national artist with the National Endowment of the Arts, and Montessori teacher, owner, director who will be preforming the last Saturday of each month at Knock Knock Children’s Museum.
Dee is the author of the CrawfishTales® series of children’s books staring Moby Pincher, the largest most kindhearted crawfish in the South. The illustrator of the CrawfishTales® books is nine-year-old Daniel Myers, a former student of Ms. Dee’s Montessori Pre-School. The BESE Board and the Louisiana Department of Education presented Ms. Dee an award for the CrawfishTales® books. Also, Dee has co-authored fifty books with entire grades of children in Louisiana, Texas, and Alabama. These fifty books can be found on her website, www.mobypincher.com under free books.
Ms. Dee was awarded the Blue Cross Blue Shield Angel Award for outstanding work with Louisiana children for the writing project, “We Want to be Authors” ©. View these free books on www.mobypincher.com. These books are read by Ms. Dee as the illustrations are shown. There are five comprehensive questions following each book for teachers and parents to implement for reading comprehension. The latest CrawfishTales® book, ” Moby Pincher’s Artie’s Big Challenge” is also free and read by Ms. Dee on the website. Check out her website for free printable Moby Pincher coloring books, games, teacher guides, Louisiana facts, videos, and a television show.
Ms. Dee’s performances at Knock Knock Children’s Museum will be presentations of the CrawfishTales® books as well as the books co-authored with children. The children will be entertained at each performance with storytelling, interactive song and dance, and make and take crafts in Knock Knock Square. The stories and make and take crafts will follow the monthly themes of the museum.
*This educational service is made possible by the Louisiana Crawfish Promotion and Research Board who supports children, literacy and education.