Friday, February 27, 2015

Let It Snow!

Peer into the whimsical winter wonderland of Let It Snow!, the newest display featuring the Museum’s collection of historic Betty Huestis marionettes.  Creator Sam Polon, school-age learning programs developer, shared her process and inspiration behind her playful puppet display:

"I was inspired by nature and the natural world that surrounds us all.  Remembering the joy and delight of outdoor sports and children playing, I wanted to bring the outside in.  I started my selection with the boy and girl puppets and the idea of two people being lost in their own fantastical world.
I love knitting and crocheting so I knew right from the beginning that I wanted to add textile arts to this display.  Each snowflake was hand-crocheted and the trees, snow, ice and background were all made out of recycled materials.  Even the small banks of snow were created from painted bundles of bird litter. 
This display allows you to step out of your everyday life and enter a world of fantasy and pretend.  I wanted to show people that the outdoors is a great space to play and you don't even need any tools or modern technology to do it.  Just have fun!"

Let it Snow! is on display for the next several months, so join in this wintery adventure upon your next visit.  No hats or mittens required!

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Shadow Puppets on Display

The “geometry gallery” in ThinkSpace features changing displays of natural and man-made objects that provide strong visual representations of spatial thinking, highlighting shapes in everyday life and the designed environment.  Discover the newest installation: intricate and colorful Chinese and Indonesian shadow puppets on loan from the collection of Hillary Salmons – executive director of PASA and friend of the Museum – whose family collected the puppets on their travels in the 1980s. The display will be on view through June.


Shadow puppetry, an old tradition in Asia and other parts of the world, is a form of storytelling performed with flat jointed puppet figures made from leather or paper used in conjunction with music and singing.  Puppeteers use rods to move the puppets between a light source and a translucent screen, creating the illusion that the figures are walking, dancing, laughing and more.  The use of color and the way they are cut can reflect different personalities and characters.

“Shadow puppetry is a great example of spatial thinking as it involves changing, manipulating and transforming shapes in space – changing perspective, orientation, scale and more,” said Exhibits Director Robin Meisner.

Inspired by the puppets?  Use the silhouettes and wooden geometric solids in the ThinkSpace shadow box to create a scene and tell your own shadow story!

Monday, February 16, 2015

Scouts as Stewards

This article, by Museum Learning Programs Developer Samantha Polon, was also posted on Kidoinfo.

Scouting is often a springboard for youth to learn how to be stewards of their communities. Learning about teamwork, problem solving and even meeting workers from fireman to teachers to find out about their professions are all common and enriching activities Scouts participate in. But what about teaching youth to be stewards of the environment? Expressions like “going green” and “eco-friendly” are commonplace these days, everywhere from the grocery store to schools, but what do these ideas really mean? What actions can we take and what visions can we share about our future that will help to preserve and protect the natural resources we see threatened around us?

As a Girl Scout growing up, I was presented with the opportunity to spend time in the out-of-doors, hiking, camping and swimming all over New England.  My mother, a lawyer, loved the chance to take a group of suburban girls on overnights where we got away from the hustle and bustle of our everyday lives. While we were on those trips, we did so much more than roast marshmallows, sing songs and learn to identify different varieties of birds. Those times in the forest taught us to look for and appreciate the nature all around us. They offered us a place of respite and a moment to reflect. After those trips, we sought the same feelings of peace and joy in local parks and hunted for leaves in our neighborhood playgrounds.


Providence Children’s Museum’s Eco Explorers adventures present Scouts with the opportunity to learn about conservation by working through hands-on problem solving activities that explore finite natural resources – like water and wildlife – that can be found in the deep wilderness and in the city. Scouts investigate simple circuits and the energy expenditure of LED and traditional bulbs, which can help them support their schools and families in making energy conscious decisions. They learn how to look for signs of animals and recognize shelters so they can preserve these creatures’ habitats. Most importantly, Scouts learn to value the natural world that is all around them – and is a critical part of their communities and everyday lives.

During the first Eco Explorers event in December, I watched as Scouts built simple water wheels from plates and cups. One boy exclaimed, “I never knew that water could make energy!” It’s realizations like these, which arise through fun, hands-on learning, that will help kids become the next generation of stewards our planet needs.



Eco Explorers Scout Adventures
Cub Scouts | February 27
Brownies/Junior Girl Scouts | March 13, March 27, April 10 and May 1

Scouts learn about conservation, recycling and the wonder of the natural world through creative interactive science experiments and art activities. Explore energy and create circuits, construct a water wheel, create an animal habitat story and more! Events include engaging educator-led activities, a Scout skill badge or Science Belt Loop, an Eco Explorers fun patch, a snack, and a pass for a future Museum visit.

Space is limited; register NOW to join the fun!  Click here to learn more.

Tuesday, February 3, 2015

Metal Miniatures!

Come discover Metal Miniatures!, a charming collection of intricate miniatures located in the atrium walkway window boxes and handcrafted by talented metal artist Abraham Megerdichian (1923-1983).


From an elegant violin to an impressive set of trains, the delightful creations fashioned from solid blocks of metal are a testament to their maker's skill and humor.

The Megerdichian family is proud to share Abraham’s wonderful miniatures in museums around New England and loaned the collection for this display. “The miniatures made by my father are a tribute to the skill of a trained machinist combined with an artist’s eye and a generous man’s heart,” said his son, Robert Megerdichian.


Born in Franklin, MA to Armenian immigrants, Abraham lived and worked as a machinist for most of his life in Cambridge, MA. He often used his 20-minute lunch breaks to craft precious keepsakes as gifts for family and friends, including replicas of things that were special to kids – like his son Robert’s wagon. As his skills flourished, his creations became more complex, imaginative and humorous. Each of Abraham’s pieces is a unique and inspiring example of creativity and inventiveness.

Metal Miniatures! will be on display through April 27, so check them out on your next visit!