ColorLab
BCM’s Family Art Studio
ColorLab is BCM’s art-making space where artists of all ages can explore, make, and celebrate art. ColorLab programs are rooted in the creative works and cultures of Black artists. Each month our projects are inspired by a muse artist’s work and practice. Families have the opportunity to explore print-making, collage and sculpture projects inspired by artists such as Chakaia Booker, Romare Bearden, Faith Ringgold and Kehinde Wiley, among others.
ColorLab is open Wednesday through Friday afternoons from 2:30 pm – 4:30 pm, and weekends from 10:30 am – 4:30 pm. Entry to ColorLab is included in general admission.
Projects
This Month
April: Earth Homes
What colors and textures remind you of home? This month in ColorLab, we’re exploring sculptural storytelling inspired by artist Beverly Buchanan, who created small house sculptures and environmental art that told stories about home, history, and the land around us.
Create an Earth Home sculpture in BCM’s art studio using clay, sticks, rocks, and other natural materials. Mold your clay structure and add texture with natural elements, then personalize it with details like doors, windows, or a yard. Takeaways: You’ll take home your unique sculpture and learn the artistic skill of sculpture as storytelling!
Up Next
May: My Pixel Self
How do we navigate the digital world? This month in ColorLab, we’re exploring textured collage portraits inspired by artist Qualeasha Wood, who uses tufting and stitching techniques to tell stories about identity and her relationship to digital and physical spaces.
Create a pixelated self-portrait in BCM’s art studio using colorful paper, felt, and glitter foam. Cut out your silhouette shape using colorful paper and paste it onto your “home screen” background – then customize your self-portrait by adding soft felt pieces and glitter foam as if they’re sparkling pixels straight from the digital world. Takeaways: You’ll take home your Pixel Self and learn the artistic skill of working with textured collage!
June: Gee’s Bend Legacy Book
How does a book bring together many voices, perspectives, and stories? This month in ColorLab, we’re exploring book-making inspired by the vibrant quilts of Gee’s Bend, an ongoing community of artists who make unique, abstract quilts to share their collective stories and histories.
Create your own book in BCM’s art studio using colorful cardstock, stickers, and fabric. Be inspired by the legacy of Gee’s Bend and create your own dynamic abstract patterns alongside their quilts using weaving, collaging, and book-binding techniques. Takeaways: You’ll take home your creation and learn the artistic skill of book-making!
Art programs at Brooklyn Children’s Museum are made possible by The Pierre and Tana Matisse Foundation, the Milton and Sally Avery Arts Foundation, the Einhorn-Lasky Family, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the New York City Council.