A Book, Then We Look is a new drop-in workshop for preschoolers at Walt Whitman Birthplace. Taught by Lena Massari Sawyer, former Museum Educator at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Come and join us every week as we read various stories including the award-winning Caldecott books. Learn about artists of the past and create your own artwork.
**NEW DATE ADDED: 12/28/2023 10:00AM
Thursdays, starting November 9th 10AM – 11AM
(11/9, 11/16, 11/30, 12/7, 12/14, 12/21, 12/28)
Members: $10 Non Members: $15
(Per workshop)
Tickets can be purchased at the door or in advance at:
https://www.waltwhitman.org/product/a-book-then-we-look/
Picture Books are a crucial tool for developing a child’s literacy and language skills in their early years. They help build self-confidence as the child learns to read through visual thinking. The children will read a book, then tell their own story through collage and other multimedia materials. They will look at the different elements of art such as changing perspective, scale, as well as multiple points of view through drawing and using collage materials. In addition, each child will be given a small plastic magnifying glass to explore a tinker box filled with objects from nature such as seashells, rocks, etc.
Lena Massari Sawyer has been an educator for over 25 years. She taught Art History and Studio Art to children for over two decades at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. While at the Met, she specialized in early childhood education, creating and teaching numerous art history and children’s literature classes. Lena has been a long-time resident of Long Island. She teaches art history, painting and other multimedia classes both at the Birthplace at the Little Studio in Northport Village. Lena holds a bachelor’s degree in art history and performed her graduate studies in Museum Education at New York University.
November 9th
Make Van Gogh’s Bed
by Julie Appel and Amy Guglielmo
Vincent’s Colors
by: Metropolitan Museum of Art
Art Project: Make your own Vincent inspired Sunflower drawing
November 16th
Over the River and Through the Woods: A Thanksgiving Poem
by Lydia Marie Child
Take a Walk in Walt’s Garden, once a month we will read Poems from John Updike’s A Child’s Calendar. The children will then take a walk in Walt’s Garden. This month we will examine the Fall season through changing color, textures of leaves, engaging and reinforcing the children’s senses and elements of art.
Art Project: Textured collage
November 23rd
Thanksgiving Day – no class
November 30th
Run, Hare, Run!
by: John Winch
The Story of a Drawing & Can You Find It?
by Metropolitan Museum of Art
Art Project: Collage
December 7th
Catch Picasso’s Rooster
by Julie Appel and Amy Guglielmo
Pete the Cat & I Love My White Shoe
by James Dean and Eric Litwin
Art Project: Make Pete a new pair of holiday sneakers
December 14th
Joseph Had a Little Overcoat
by Simms Taback
Art Project: Fabric, Buttons and other collage materials and A walk in Walts Garden!
December 21st
Dream Snow
by Eric Carle
Art Project: Paint a picture with watercolor crayons.
