QUEENS — Local kids will get to unleash their inner Pollock and paint whatever they want on a temporary "mural" during an event in Kew Gardens this weekend that will also offer a host of other art-making activities, organizers said.
The annual Kew Gardens Kids Art in the Park event will take place this Sunday at Kew Gardens Cinemas Park, offering something for children and parents alike, organizers said.
“The goal of the event is to engage the community in art making activities and celebrate creativity,” said Carla Reyes, a painter and mixed media artist, who is organizing the event.
One of the biggest attractions of the event, she said, will the paining of a temporary "mural" — actually a 6 x 12 foot large piece of vinyl or similar material.
“The kids line up, collect their paints (...) and brushes and paint whatever they like side by side with other children,” she said. “Once the canvas is complete, we take a short break to flip the canvas over or expose a new one.”
The event, which in past years has attracted 200-300 participants, is modeled after a similar event held annually in Tompkins Square Park.
Reyes, who grew up in Forest Hills and has numerous ties to Kew Gardens, said she participated in the Tompkins Square event and wanted to bring a similar experience to Queens.
The event will also offer other art making activities. There will be an open arts and crafts table for coloring, drawing and making various objects. In the past kids made kites and hats, Reyers said. “This year we will be working on Tibetan prayer flags and decorating masks,” she said.
There will also be a puppet-making workshop where kids will be making paper bag puppets and popsicle stick puppets, Reyes said. Children can later take the puppets they made to a mini puppet stage to play with.
The Potter's Wheel — a local ceramics studio — will host a variety of clay crafts.
“We also have plenty of sidewalk chalk and bubbles and there's always a long line for face painting,” Reyes added.
Kew Gardens Kids Art in the Park will take place on Sunday, June 2, from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in Kew Gardens Cinemas Park on Austin Street off of Lefferts Blvd. (Rain date: Sunday, June 9). The event is free.
