Brooklyn Children's Museum

This month in ColorLab we're taking inspiration from the work of Ghanaian artist El Anatsui, who creates large-scale woven tapestries using upcycled materials. Join us this weekend and create your own El Anatsui-inspired hanging sculpture, or visit on a Thursday for material exploration during ColorLab drop-in hours! For this week's BCM+You, try experimenting with the technique of weaving over, under and through using simple everyday materials. When you've finished, show us what you've made! Tag us and use #bcmandyou

Thanks to everyone who came out for Trash to Treasure last weekend! Such an outpouring of creativity and on-the-spot critical thinking Stay tuned for our next festival, Earth Rocks, over the week of spring break. More soon!

Come celebrate reusing and upcycling at Trash to Treasure this weekend at BCM! Upcycling, different than recycling, is the transforming of discarded materials in a creative way that results in a new and unique final product. Upcycling can be seen in some of BCM's collections objects, such as this toy tank made from flip-flop sandals (1), as well as a functional kerosene lamp made from a tin can (2), and a one-of-kind model wampum belt made from upcycled electrical wire insula...tion (3 & 4). Trash to Treasure is this Saturday & Sunday at BCM! Tickets at www.brooklynkids.org/tickets Toy Tank Flip flop sandals, rubber, balsam-wood 1997 Mr. Yaweisohn, Loma people, Liberia, Africa Kerosene Lamp Tin can, cotton 1995 Ghana, Africa Model Wampum Belt Electrical wire insulation, leather, twine 1960 Onondaga people

Voting is on our minds at BCM! Voting is a civil right and it's important to remember the long struggle and advocacy that won people the right to vote. Today we're looking at a special collection object tied to the civil rights movement of the 1960s and the grassroots organizing that laid the foundation for national voting and civil rights. This doll is from 1968, purchased by BCM from the Liberty House Cooperative store in Jackson, Mississippi. Liberty House Cooperative sold... crafts of freedom, such as this doll, handmade by the cooperative's employees, who called themselves the Poor People’s Corporation. The P.P.C. was founded by a young civil rights worker named Jesse Morris, who was a leader in the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee. The cooperative's goal was to help provide income and opportunities to African-Americans in the South, some of whom were also facing the threat of job loss because of their involvement in civil and voting rights causes. Eventually, Liberty House opened a store in Brooklyn and helped young African-Americans relocate to NYC from the South. Early voting in NYC started yesterday and will go until November 1st. Election Day is on November 3rd! The power of an object! The power of the people! Image 1: Liberty House Cooperative Doll Cotton, yarn 1968 Jackson, Mississippi Image 2: Una Sewing Co-op - Black Dolls B, an image of a member of the Una Sewing Co-op making a doll. Image from the National Museum of African American History and Culture, 1968. Doris A. Derby Image 3: Liberty House Marketing Warehouse Inventory, an image of the interior of the Liberty House Marketing Warehouse, packaging dolls for shipment. Image from the National Museum of African American History and Culture, 1968. Doris A. Derby

Ever wanted to know what the world would look like if you were taller? For this week's BCM+You, we're making tin can stilts that will give you height and a whole new perspective. With the help of a grownup you can make them and start stomping in no time! Stilts have been used by people all over the world for thousands of years. From the masked stilt walkers of the Dogon people from West Africa, to Moko Jumbie stilt walkers in Trinidad, Han stilt walkers in China, or stilt walkers in ancient Greece, people have been using stilts for celebrations, religious ceremonies, and work. Share a photo of your tin can stilts with us! Tag us & use #bcmandyou

We're back!!! Join us this weekend for the reopening of our indoor exhibits - come play in Totally Tots, World Brooklyn, and the Nest, and explore our newest exhibit, Oyster City, opening this Saturday! Tickets must be reserved in advance online - visit our tickets page at https://www.brooklynkids.org/tickets/. There are two types of tickets to BCM: Play Sessions and ColorLab Sessions. Play Sessions allow families to explore BCM’s signature exhibits including World Brooklyn..., Totally Tots, and more. ColorLab Sessions are workshops in the Museum’s art studio that offer families an opportunity to explore print-making, collage and sculpture projects inspired by artists such as Faith Ringgold, Kehinde Wiley, and more. Book Play Session tickets weekends at 10:00am, 12:30pm, 3:00pm and 5:00pm. Book ColorLab Session tickets weekends at 10:30am, 1:00pm and 3:30pm. Space is limited so book your tickets today. Visitors over the age of 3 must wear masks, and families will be asked to distance in BCM's exhibits. Visit our website for more information.

Design a marble maze using everyday materials! Map the course, create the rules, and build your maze using upcycled materials, tape, crayons, and a cardboard box - the bigger, the better! Making a marble maze is a great way to activate creativity and learn a few new laws of physics Share a photo of your maze with us! Tag us & use #bcmandyou

Join us this weekend for a series of printmaking workshops inspired by the work of Elizabeth Catlett! Explore the process of printmaking by making your own printing blocks, designing your own printed patterns, and printing your work on a canvas tote or set of cards. Elizabeth Catlett was an artist best known for her print work exploring the African American experience. She was also an activist who used her art to make change in her community. Join us Saturday & Sunday, with sessions at 10:30am, 1pm & 3:30pm. Pre-purchased tickets required, tickets at https://www.brooklynkids.org/tickets/. Tickets $10/person, BCM Members free! Space is limited. See you there!

Time is almost out: the deadline to complete the 2020 Census is tomorrow, Oct 16th at 6:00 a.m. Take 10 minutes to complete 10 questions which will impact the next 10 years of resources that Brooklyn is allocated. The results of the 2020 Census will help our communities get funding for childcare, hospitals, schools and more. Complete your census online at https://my2020census.gov/ or by phone at 844-330-2020 and make a difference!

We all need some self-care from time to time! Today we're looking at one tool people have always used to care for themselves: the hair comb. No matter what kind of hair you have, everyone spends time taking care of it. The hair comb is a universal tool, but it ranges widely in how it looks, what material it's made out of, and even how you physically use it. For example, take a look at image 6, which shows a comb that has a long white attachment at one end. This is so that if ...you have difficulty raising your arms, you can still comb your hair with the assistance of this mobility extension handle. 1 Hair Comb Bamboo, ivory 1910 China 2 "Wolve" Hair Comb Cattle horn 1967 Mexico 3 Hair Comb Palm splint, bone, feathers, cotton 1970 Arawak people, Guyana 4 Hair Pick Plastic, metal 1970 Liberia 5 Hairbrush Ivory, brass, bristle 1900s United States of America 6 Hair Comb with arm mobility extension handle Plastic, metal 1980s United States of America 7 Hair Comb Wood, metal 1930 Batak people, Indonesia 8 "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" Hair Comb Plastic 1990 United States of America 9 Hair Comb Wood 1967 Akan people, Ghana

Make a family time capsule for 2020 that conveys this historic time! When you open it in the future (in 1 year? 5? 20?) you'll have a personal record of your unique experience. Think of it as a gift to your future self! Did you know there's a time capsule buried underground in front of BCM? The time capsule was created by a group of Brooklyn high school students called the "Y2K Kids." They buried it in 1999 to mark the new century, with plans to open it in the year 2050! Share your time capsule with us! Tag @bcmkids #bcmandyou

Dear BCM Community, Over the weekend COVID-19 rates in Brooklyn continued to rise. It is with a heavy heart that I write to share that BCM will not reopen the Museum's indoor exhibits on October 10 as planned. There have been no COVID cases on BCM’s site, and our neighborhood remains open for business; however, the Museum is acting with an abundance of caution to keep our community as safe as possible. We are pleased to share that our outdoor events are still happening and ...that we are planning MORE outdoor programming throughout the fall and winter. We might have to think differently about what it means to visit a museum and wear our jackets and masks but we will also have LOTS of fun. Here are a few of the programs we have planned over the next few weeks. We hope you will join us for one or more of these events. October 9: Member Day with The Little Orchestra Society Members are invited to join us at no charge for music and art workshops on BCM’s roof. Members have been sent an invitation if you didn't receive it, DM us. October 12: Indigenous Peoples' Day Learn about and celebrate Native American cultures on BCM’s roof with programs and performances in partnership with the National Museum of the American Indian, Taino storyteller Bobby Gonzalez, and dancer Ty Defoe (Giizhig), Oneida and Ojibwe Nations. Buy tickets here for $5 per person. BCM Members are free! Parents and caregivers, you are in our thoughts every day during this time. Do you have an idea about how Brooklyn Children’s Museum can be a resource to families in the borough? Don’t keep it to yourself! We are navigating uncharted territory and we welcome all suggestions. While we can’t do everything, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me directly at [email protected] with ideas, thoughts, questions or comments. With warm regards, Stephanie Hill Wilchfort President & CEO

Join us on our rooftop Monday, October 12 to celebrate Indigenous Peoples' Day through storytelling, performance, games and art-making! Participate in an interactive storytelling and Hoop dance experience by Ty Defoe (Giizhig), Oneida and Ojibwe Nations; hear stories from Taino storyteller, Bobby Gonzalez; play Loteria, family-style bingo and learn about indigenous animals in Spanish and English; create a clay animal inspired by the Smithsonian's National Museum of the Americ...an Indian's collection of ceramics, and explore objects from BCM's own collection! Space is limited to 20 families per session, with sessions at 10am, 1pm, and 3:30pm. Pre-purchased tickets are required. Buy tickets at https://www.brooklynkids.org/tickets/. Tickets are free for BCM Members - please make sure to sign in on the ticket page to get your membership discount! (Members: we just sent an email out with more details - check your inbox, or if you didn't receive it, email [email protected] if you have any questions.)

Making playdough is a fun way to activate your senses! Try this simple recipe that uses everyday ingredients from your kitchen. Molding playdough supports small muscle development and sensory motor skills and is a great tool for creativity. Through pinching, poking, rolling, and squishing, children can exercise fingers and hands, mold shapes and figures, and relax! How many different ways can you shape and mold the dough? Share your sensory playdough creation with us! Tag @bcmkids #bcmandyou