Bronx Children’s Museum finds a natural spot for art-making and education in Mill Pond Park

Museum Guide Mona Dressler shows a festival visitor how to create a natural habitat terrarium. Photo: Nicole Wallace

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BRONX, NY - SEPTEMBER 27 - Bronx Children's Museum is presenting its second of four art-making festivals entitled ArtSpot for children and their caregivers this Saturday in Mill Pond Park along the shores of the Harlem River. ArtSpot is a day of creative STEAM-based art activities and experiences for children ages 3-9.

During its first weekend, ArtSpot welcomed more than 100 children and caregivers throughout the day who camed to engage in activities that included bridge building, pattern drawing, nature collages, natural habitat terrariums and traditional folk dancing. The theme of the day was "Growing and Building Together" inspired by the Museum's "Waters On the Go" suitcase exhibit which focuses on the natural flora found in the Bronx.The festival runs three more Saturdays-September 28, October 5 and October 12- from 11 am to 4 pm.

Each weekend focuses on a different theme with correlating activities. This coming weekend's theme is "Water Connects Us All" where children can learn about the cycle of water, build a boat from recycled materials, create abstract watercolor artwork and build their own "rain cloud" jars. The final two themes for the art festival will be "Life Cycles and Metamorphosis" and "Animal Adaptations Everywhere."

"The Parks Department is excited to welcome Bronx Children's Museum's ArtSpot festival to Mill Pond Park," said NYC Parks Bronx Borough Commissioner Iris Rodriguez-Rosa. "It is a perfect partnership for us to be able to host quality, educational, STEAM-based programming in our outdoor classroom space for which it was particularly designed. We look forward to the Museum moving in to its new facility next year and bringing more programs to the park."

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Iris Rodriguez-Rosa, NYC Parks Bronx Borough Commissioner (c) welcomes Bronx Children's Museum Nicole Wallace, BxCM Director of STEAM Programming and External Affair (l), and Takisha Dozier, Special Assistant to the Executive Director (r) to Mill Pond Park on the festival's opening day. Photo: John Boudreau.

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The Museum's future home, currently under construction, is located in the former powerhouse building at the north end of the park. ArtSpot is the first art-making festival the Museum is hosting right in its own backyard. ArtSpot is open to the public and is free of charge. For more information, visit www.bronxchildrensmuseum.org/artspot19 Funding is provided by New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature, and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs. Additional support provided by the Office of City Council Member Vanessa Gibson, Michael's and Gotham Stadium Tennis Center.