Brooklyn, aka “Little Caribbean”, has long been home to many families of Caribbean linea

Brooklyn, aka “Little Caribbean”, has long been home to many families of Caribbean lineage, and has been significantly enriched by the flourishing arts and culture brought with them. On August 6, Jamaica’s Independence Day, The Brooklyn Museum partnered with local arts nonprofit CaribBEING, to curate an energetic community celebration of Caribbean culture and heritage. As a Family Programs Summer Intern, I had the incredible opportunity to witness friends, families, and museum goers of all ages come together for this cultural celebration, exploring Caribbean music, film, dance, and participating in some hands-on art making.In preparation for August’s First Saturday, I helped to create an art project for the evening’s Hands on Art program, drawing inspiration from Caribbean music. While researching traditional Caribbean instruments, I found that most island music incorporated drums and percussion instruments. Using simple, everyday objects such as cardboard tubes, balloons, pebbles, and colored paper, I designed a percussion instrument-making activity that gave guests of all ages the opportunity to explore a variety of materials and let their creativity run wild.Every session of Hands on Art saw our three studios packed with adults and children alike. As we worked, we listened to Caribbean music, which contributed to the fun, high-energy environment. As I was instructing, participants eagerly dove into the project and I overheard many adults appreciating how accessible it was for their younger children. While my fellow instructors and I had participants work in a step-by-step order, everyone’s projects turned out looking uniquely different from the rest. We saw many creative additions, such as a drum stick holder or bell tassels. To wrap up our art making, participants shook and played their new instruments, filling the studios with a powerful rhythm. An overall feeling of community was present, as guests happily shared their materials and socialized with other families in the class.Check out the next Hands on Art program on Saturday, October 1 for more surprises and creative family fun.Posted by Francesca Volerich -- source link

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