MORE Play at the Park!

We've had a great time playing at parks across Providence so far this summer, although the weather hasn't been nearly as cooperative as we'd have liked! And we have 4 more events at coming up in August, including one new addition.

PLAY AT THE PARK 
with Providence Children's Museum!

Friday, August 2 • 5:00 - 8:00 PM

Roger Williams Park | Broad Street entrance

Performance by ECAS (bilingual music, dance and theater) from 3:00 - 7:30 PM

Tuesday, August 6 • 5:00 - 8:00 PM

Fargnoli Park | Jastram and Smith Streets

Performance by Island Farm Bluegrass Band from 6:00 - 7:30 PM

Wednesday, August 7 • 5:00 - 8:00 PM

Brown Street Park | Brown and Creighton Streets

Performance by Smith & Weeden from 5:30 - 7:30 PM

Tuesday, August 13 • 3:00 - 6:00 PM

Burnside Park | Downtown in Kennedy Plaza

Plus the Downtown Farmer's Market and other playful activities with Kidoinfo

JOIN US!

After the Beanstalk: Jack, Jill and the Giant

This post about a new interactive Museum performance was shared by AmeriCorps Museum Educator Francesca Montanile.

When the theatre team assembled for our first meeting, we had no idea what our new play would be.  Despite the uncertainty, there was an excitement in the air.  Dozens of ideas were tossed around, but we kept coming back to a sequel to Jack and the Beanstalk. The ideas for different scenes, participatory challenges, and plot twists came naturally, buzzing with possibility. We gathered a team of theatre makers and educators to refine our storyline and the script was born.

The 20-minute performance tells the story of Jack, who is kidnapped and taken to Cloud Town after breaking the Giant’s crown. His sister Jill enlists the audience to help rescue him.  In Cloud Town, they tackle a series of spatial thinking challenges to escape. In the end, they must meet the Giant face to face!

One of our guiding principles throughout the process was to make the play as participatory as possible. The Museum is a place for play and exploration, and we wanted our audience to be a part of the story.

To me, the creation of the play itself felt like a puzzle. It was inspiring to see how many people from the Museum’s community chipped in and added an essential piece to the final product. From the backdrop sewn by Philenda, to the rock set piece made by the exhibits team, to the contributions of fellow AmeriCorps members – finger puppets sewn by Amanda and brilliant set and props by Sarah and Mandy – the play was collaborative in every sense of the word. The Giant’s evolution was like a visual timeline of our process.  From its humble beginnings as a huge blue yoga ball to a loveable big-eyed puppet, many hands helped apply paper maché and many minds brainstormed its mechanics.

When the morning of the opening performance arrived, I began to get a little nervous. It felt like a piece of our puzzle was missing.  As I spoke my first lines, it became immediately clear: the children in the audience were the missing piece! All of a sudden, the story was alive and exciting. The challenges were urgent. The Giant was gigantic!

The play is a joy to perform because the energy kids create is infectious. Their tendencies to speak aloud, get the “wiggles,” and experience the story in real time might be a challenge in a conventional theatre setting but become assets as they transform into our play’s heroes.

After the Beanstalk is presented Mondays through August 12 at 10:30 & 11:30 AM and 12:30 & 1:30 PM; recommended for ages 3 and up.

New in Play Power!

The most recent addition to our Play Power exhibit is an intriguing tabletop activity that invites visitors to use colorful metal chains to create imaginative designs on magnetic easels.  Adults and kids of all ages have been delighted as they “draw” lines and squiggles, form shapes and letters, make patterns and figures – then wipe it clean and start again!

We’re committed to providing a range of activities that promote different types of play and to keeping fresh by frequently changing elements of our exhibits.  This new station enhances the existing Play Power activities with additional opportunities for creativity, artistic expression and tactile exploration.  Visitors can create designs with varying degrees of detail, perfect for engaging older kids and grown-ups.  In the words of a kid tester, it’s “supremely awesome!”

Exhibit intern Cory's chicken creation.

Says Exhibits Director Robin Meisner:

“Visitors sometimes ask where ideas for new exhibits and activities – like this one – come from.  While we develop, design and fabricate our exhibits in-house, we draw on a variety of sources for inspiration, ranging from conversations with visitors and colleagues to our own memories from childhood to other playful environments (including museums).  We first encountered a version of this new activity at Boston’s Museum of Science in an exhibit on making models and loved the way it allows visitors to “draw” and create without consumable materials.

As one of our labels in Water Ways says, “Kids learn from each other.  Other people’s good ideas inspire new ways of thinking.”  We think this applies to people of all ages.”

We’ve certainly witnessed a lot of interesting thinking and designing since the new activity debuted last week…

Museum director Janice O'Donnell created a summer scene...

...alongside artistic grandson Finn.

The table was buzzing with activity, attracting curious onlookers.

Finn's finished masterpiece – his recreation of the well-known painting "American Gothic!"

The Heart Gallery

Every year, hundreds of Rhode Island children are in state care, awaiting permanent families. The children are generally between the ages of 5 and 17 and many have emotional, intellectual and/or physical disabilities. Nearly all have suffered abuse or neglect. Some have been waiting for several years and have had multiple placements, resulting in numerous losses and separations.

Eighteen of these children are featured in the 8th annual Rhode Island Heart Gallery, an exhibit of professional portraits by local photographers on view in the Museum’s atrium walkway throughout July. A project sponsored by Adoption Rhode Island, the Heart Gallery has helped increase awareness of the need for loving adoptive homes for children in foster care since 2005.

The Museum also exhibited Heart Gallery photographs in 2007 and staff felt – then and now – a powerful connection to the striking portraits and accompanying booklet, featuring the heartfelt stories, hopes and dreams of the children pictured.

“Christopher is hoping for a family that would love to read him a bedtime story, tuck him in and help him feel safe and loved.”

It’s particularly compelling to have the display at the Museum because our Families Together program – a collaboration with the Department of Children, Youth & Families – works on behalf of children in foster care every day, providing therapeutic visitation to help court-separated families rebuild relationships.

All children need the love and support of a family, and adoption is only one of the ways that people can help.

Play at the Park!

For a second summer, play with the Children's Museum at neighborhood parks across Providence! Stack and create with big blue Imagination Playground blocks, build three-dimensional structures from wooden dowels and fabric, blow bubbles with an array of wacky tools, and discover other open-ended fun with loose parts.

These activities build on the Museum’s efforts to support unstructured, child-directed play throughout the community and are part of our participation in Playful Providence – a citywide celebration of play commemorating Providence’s status as a Playful City for the second year, presented in collaboration with the Partnership for Providence Parks and the Providence Department of Parks and Recreation.

PLAY AT THE PARK 
with Providence Children's Museum!

Wednesday, July 17 • 5:00 - 8:00 PM

Harriet and Sayles Park | Harriet and Sayles Streets

Plus DJs, performers and other activities from 5:30 - 7:30 PM

Thursday, July 18 • 5:30 - 7:30 PM

Dexter Training Grounds | Dexter and Parade Streets

Performance by Jesus Andujar & Grupo Sazon (music from the Spanish Caribbean: salsa, merengue and Latin jazz) from 6:00 - 8:00 PM; salsa dance workshop 6:00 - 6:30 PM

Thursday, July 25 • 5:00 - 8:00 PM

Dexter Training Grounds | Dexter and Parade Streets

Contra dance to fiddle, mandolin and guitar music performed by Rachel Panitch, Andy Grover and Max Newman, with contra dance caller Linda Leslie from 6:00 - 8:00 PM

Friday, August 2 • 5:00 - 8:00 PM

Roger Williams Park | Broad Street entrance

Performance by ECAS (bilingual music, dance and theater) from 3:00 - 7:30 PM

Tuesday, August 6 • 5:00 - 8:00 PM

Fargnoli Park | Jastram and Smith Streets

Performance by Island Farm Bluegrass Band from 6:00 - 7:30 PM

Wednesday, August 7 • 5:00 - 8:00 PM

Brown Street Park | Brown and Creighton Streets

Performance by Smith & Weeden from 5:30 - 7:30 PM

Tuesday, August 13 • 3:00 - 6:00 PM

Burnside Park | Downtown in Kennedy Plaza

Plus the Downtown Farmer's Market and other playful activities with Kidoinfo