Japanese Woodcuts for Kids at Foosaner May 5

Children Will Explore Technique Featured in Current Museum Exhibit

MELBOURNE, FLA. — In conjunction with Foosaner Art Museum’s current exhibit of Japanese woodcuts, the Renee Foosaner Education Center is offering two workshops for children ages 5-10 that will allow them to explore Japanese culture and learn the art techniques on display in the show.

Japanese Art Studio Night will be held Tuesday, May 5, at the education center, 1520 Highland Ave. in the Eau Gallie Arts District of Melbourne. There will be two separate workshops, both taught by Heather Everett.

The first, from 4-5:30 p.m., is for children 5-7 years old. Adult accompaniment is required. During the workshop, the adult/child team will create a carp-shaped windsock known in Japanese as “koinobori.” Students will design a fish scale-shaped block from soft block printing material and apply it to outdoor-safe fabric that has been cut in the shape of a fish. After they add details like eyes, fins and a tail, the koinobori will be ready to hang and “swim” through the breeze.

From 6-7:30 p.m., a workshop for children 8-10 years old, which does not require adult accompaniment, will have participants making their own Japanese woodblock print design using scratch foam and then experimenting with printing. Block printing is a great way to produce multiples of the same image and allows for variation in color and backgrounds.

At both workshops, Gemini Elementary School fourth grader Pierson Mast will present an origami lesson and demonstration. Pierson began practicing the art of origami at age 4 and has since had his pieces shown in libraries and art fairs.

This workshops are offered in conjunction with the Foosaner Art Museum’s current exhibition of Japanese woodcuts, “Ukiyo-e to Shin Hanga: Japanese Woodcuts from the Syracuse University Art Collection” which is on view through May 24.

The cost for each workshop is $40 for museum members and $50 for non-members. The price includes all materials, the origami lesson and a Japanese snack. Pre-registration is required either online at www.foosanerartmuseum.org or by calling the Renee Foosaner Education Center at 321-674-8923.

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