DuPage Children's Museum announces new summer artist-in-residence program
This summer, the DuPage Children's Museum will give young children the chance to create side-by-side with a working artist as the museum launches a new artist-in-residence program.
This program will bring professional artists with a variety of expertise to DCM's Studio.
Claire Reynes, a Chicago-based artist, papermaker, and educator, kicked off the program on July 5.
As the artist-in-residence, Reynes will bring a pop-up papermaking studio to the museum.
Reynes explained, "The papermaking process is extremely inclusive. Because of the range of the craft and the sensory quality of materials, children as young as 12 months old can engage in the experience by pouring pulp into a container or squeezing colored pulp onto a wet sheet. A five-year-old can stand next to their grandparent, both working with the same tools, and each will come out of the vat with completely different interpretations of the material."
Reynes graduated from University of Illinois with a degree in art education and is certified to teach art for kindergarten to 12th grade. She has taught different ages and in a variety of settings including a creative seminar at Walter Payton High School, a summer program for After School Matters at the Puerto Rican Cultural Center in Humboldt Park, and an after-school art program at Longfellow Elementary in Oak Park. She currently teaches art at Mark Twain Elementary in Chicago.
"No matter where I am teaching or who I am working with, I am always striving to cultivate that sense of community which in turn fosters an open, creative energy," Reynes stated.
Reynes will be in DCM's Studio July 5 to Aug. 9, on Thursdays and Fridays from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
She also will be at Naperville's Riverwalk Fine Arts Fair Sept. 15-16 at the museum's booth.
The artist-in-residence program is an opportunity for children and families to observe, learn, and interact with a professional artist. The artist and children will share in a collaborative, open-ended process of creating art together.
"This enriching environment and creative arts experience provides opportunities to further a child's understanding and appreciation of visual art, helps children find the artistic potential in unlikely materials, and engages children in the joy and freedom of self-expression, discovery, and imagination," said Theresa Suchy McGraw, art specialist at DuPage Children's Museum.
This residency is partially funded by the City of Naperville's Special Events Cultural Amenities Fund. The museum is currently seeking funding to expand the artist-in-residence program to a yearlong experience.
For more information about the program or sponsorship opportunities, contact Theresa Suchy McGraw, (630) 637-8000, ext. 3100 or tsuchymcgraw@dupagechildrensmuseum.org.
Admission to DuPage Children's Museum is $12 for adults and children age 1 and older, and $10 for seniors; it's free for members and children less than one year. For information, check the website at www.dupagechildrens.org and follow DCM on Facebook and Twitter.
About DuPage Children's Museum
The museum helps develop curiosity, creativity, thinking, and problem solving in young children through its mission: "DuPage Children's Museum ignites the potential of all children to learn through hands-on exploration by integrating art, math, and science." Interactive exhibits and programs make learning fun for children and adults playing together. The museum serves mare than 300,000 visitors annually representing all 50 states and 575 ZIP codes in Illinois. Its reach and support represent well beyond the Chicago area. The museum's impact extends across cultural, financial, and educational boundaries. It touches the lives of children from all regions, providing the building blocks for success in school and life. The museum is located at 301 N. Washington St. in Naperville. Visit www.dupagechildrens.org or call (630) 637-8000.