Over the past two years of the pandemic we’ve learned what it means to be flexible and adapt. This proved itself out in our very own Great Lakes Bay Region and the around the world. The ability for business, organizations, and families to maneuver through the dynamics of doing things outside of norms is evidence of a deep seeded spirit of creativity found at all ages, but especially in kids.
The Saginaw Art Museum is proud to be a part of cultivating creativity in children. Our permanent and temporary exhibitions give the opportunity for kids to notice details, ask questions, and wonder about the stories beyond the artwork. Our garden is a zone for movement in nature. The museum classroom provides a space to get a little messier and play with all the elements that make art so engaging.
During the month of March, the museum classroom will be open on a weekly basis for what we are calling Maker Space March. Using found objects as well as other odds and ends, we are excited to watch what children will create using the simplest of materials. We’re curious to see the way kids work/play to transform an idea into a piece of art. Each week they can start with a theme and prompts then take it from there. Our hope is that this exercises those mental muscles needed later in life to find creative
solutions to what ever problems life might lay across their paths.
But this is not just about the kids. Art provides the space for connection between parents (or grandparents, or favorite aunts or neighbors) and children. While the child may be in the driver’s seat during Maker Space March, the expectation is that the adult is able to help the child complete his or her vision. This may include helping unplug the glue or hold a length of string or help find a missing pink crayon, all of which may not seem very important, but collectively tie up and tighten the bond between the child and parent.
It’s true, most will not become professional artists, but that does not mean art should be sidelined or sitting on the bench. The critical creative thinking, ability to solve problems, and skill of being able to closely observe the world around oneself that come from active art engagement is important for all ages, but especially our young ones. Encouraging children’s imaginations through structured and unstructured art activities plants the seeds that will slowly grow with them as they mature.
Maker Space March at The Saginaw Art Museum
Thursdays 2pm-5pm /
March 3 – Mardi Gras
March 10 – Neighborhoods – In cooperation with the Marshall M. Fredericks Sculpture Museum and
the Great Lakes Bay Big Read Project
March 17 – All Things Green
March 24 – Invention Design – In cooperation with the Ennis Center
March 31 – Thinking Spring
Pre-registration requested but not required: https://bit.ly/makerspacemarch2022
Participation is free with regular admission (Adults $7, Students/Seniors $5, children & Museum members free). Parents or guardian are expected to stay with their kids for the duration of their visit.
Learn more about the Saginaw Art Museum by visiting their website and following them on social media – Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.
Visit in-person: 1126 N. Michigan Ave. Saginaw, MI 48602
Call for more information: (989)754-2491