It’s such a joy to be a sponsor and participate in The Current’s Rock the Cradle event. This art and music event “for kids and their adults” brings thousands of our city’s youngest, creative minds together at the Minneapolis Institute of Art and Children’s Theatre Company.
The kids were clearly proud of their creations and did an amazing job sharing and respecting each other’s work.
We loved learning and laughing alongside the kids – they’re such an inspiration!
By coloring a paper house and building with wooden blocks, we invite kids to express their imaginations through favorite colors and forms. It’s a wonder to watch and listen as some execute an idea with careful intention and others simply begin and let the process guide their thoughts. In a way, we all begin as little architects exploring the world around us, building upon what inspires us and reshaping those things that challenge us.
It was fascinating to see the kids’ thought processes play out in real time and how some kids are predisposed to think symmetrically while others gravitated towards asymmetry and balance.
At the table of blocks, there was a constant clank and clatter as ideas went up and came down. It was amazing to watch the kids’ personalities shine through as they played with these timeless toys.
There were animals, arches, houses, whole cities! Creating is both an individual and collaborative endeavor, and it was fun to see these dynamics as kids negotiated sharing and building upon each other’s ideas.
Building the animate with inanimate objects – a llama and sea turtle.
Several kids took on the challenge of building for height, this one confidently placing them to balance with every move, never losing the look of serious intent.
Building with empathy, this kid built a ramp and platform for his stuffed dachshund.
At the coloring activity, we saw a rainbow of houses – some that resembled kids’ own, others that stemmed from dreams. Some kids focused on the materials and colors of the house and others drew plants and animals they imagined outside. The possibilities were endless!
There was a trend of roofs colored red and one house with “Home Depot” orange trim. The world through children’s eyes is surely one that will make you smile.
The kids were often happily surprised to learn they could take their custom house home; though, an exhibit displaying a neighborhood of their art would be equally as fun to see!
Thank you to all the kids and families who joined us on Sunday! Where else can you build a museum in a museum or pose for a picture with your masterpiece among master works? We sure had a blast and hope you did too.
