At the Art Table: Springy Flower Stencils!

Sun, 04/19/2015 - 2:14pm by manz

The next time you're at the downtown library, bring the kiddos into the youth department to check out what's out at the art table. This month we're exploring texture by using crayons and stencils to make flower rubbings! We have a bouquet of flower stencils for you to work with. And afterwards take a look at the children's art books that are on the kiosk right next to the art table. We have a lot of books on a variety of art styles as well as individual artists!

At the Art Table: She’s Like a Rainbow

Thu, 03/19/2015 - 1:32pm by manz

This month at the art center in the youth department downtown we’re making rainbows! This will help to spread spring cheer! What colors make up a rainbow? Why are they always the same color? Explore rainbows and ROYGBIV with art and make your own rainbow.

Here are a few books about rainbows to help get you in the mood.

At the Art Table: Shapescapes!

Thu, 02/05/2015 - 3:04pm by manz

At the art table in the downtown youth department we're featuring playable art! This time it's Shapescapes. Shapescapes are amazing, colorful and sturdy shapes that are interlocking. They can be put together in a myriad of ways to form a variety of neat sculptures! Children will enjoy putting them together, taking them apart, and creating something all new with the same pieces. Check it out and start shapescaping!

At the Art Table: Dinosaurs!

Wed, 01/07/2015 - 10:04am by manz

Roar! The next time you’re in the youth department downtown visit the art table and see what we’re making. This time around we have out dinosaur stencils and primary colors! Test those fine motor skills by outlining dinosaurs. Make a blue T-Rex. Make a yellow stegosaurus.

For more inspiration, check out some books on how to draw dinosaurs.

New at the Art Table!

Fri, 11/07/2014 - 9:19am by manz

The next time you visit the youth area at the downtown branch, check out the CUBEBOTS! That’s right, CUBEBOTS are ready to be manipulated and played with. We also have out bright colored CUBES that can also be twisted into different shapes. CUBE CRAZY!

The CUBEBOT was designed by David Weeks and inspired by the Japanese Shinto Kumi-ki puzzles, these wooden sculptures are a non-traditional take on the toy robot by joining ancient Japanese traditions with modern toys. CUBEBOT can achieve many poses and folds again into a perfect cube. And as for the colorful CUBES - there’s no puzzle to solve. Move the CUBE pieces in many directions to form a colorful structure that you would enjoy playing with. It's playable art!

At the Art Table: Poppies for Vets!

Thu, 10/23/2014 - 5:09pm by manz

For the next few weeks the art table will feature a chance to make Veterans Day cards featuring pretty poppies! We have all the supplies on hand. We have a spot to collect the cards you make and they’ll be delivered to the VA Hospital in Ann Arbor. Feel tree to make yourself a poppy to also take home and put on the fridge!

Why poppies for Veterans Day? This symbol of remembrance was inspired by the poem In Flander’s Fields by John McCrae. The poppy emblem was chosen because of the poppies that bloomed across some of the worst battlefields of Flanders in WWI.

Want to learn more about Veterans Day? Here are a couple book to look at.

At the Art Table: Leaf Rubbings

Mon, 09/15/2014 - 3:10pm by manz

The next time you’re at the Downtown Library, pop into the Youth Department and check out the new art project at the art table.

This month we're making leaf rubbings in fall colors! Celebrate fall with this easy and fun project.

At the library we'll be using plastic leaf rubbing plates, but did you know you can make your own leaf rubbings at home using real leaves?! Try it! It's pretty fun. Happy Fall!

At the Art Table: Chalk It Up!

Wed, 07/23/2014 - 3:05pm by manz

Hey kiddos! Next time you’re in the youth area downtown visit the art table and see what’s new! This month we’re working with chalk. We have colorful sidewalk chalk and chalkboards ready for you to create a masterpiece, erase it, and start all over!

Chalk artist Julian Beever uses a technique called anamorphosis in his amazing 3D effect large scale chalk drawings. To read more about his process and see samples, check out the book Pavement chalk artist: the three-dimensional drawings of Julian Beever.

At the Art Table: Make a Comic Strip!

Wed, 06/11/2014 - 10:15am by manz

This month you can make your own comic strips at the Art Table in the youth area at the downtown branch! We have blank comic strips ready for your stories. Be sure to check it out next time you’re here.

At AADL we’re gearing up for Kids Read Comics which happens on June 21-22. If you’re a fan of comics, this is the place to be.

For the enthusiasts, here are some books on how to draw comics.

At the Art Table: Bookmarks!

Wed, 05/14/2014 - 10:23am by manz

The next time you’re at the Downtown Library, pop into the Youth Department and check out the new art project at the art table. This month we're talking about book art and making bookmarks! Because sometimes it's hard to finish a book in one sitting, and sometimes it's nice to mark your favorite page for easy finding later.

We've got supplies for children to make a dandy bookmark with a pretty ribbon to keep your spot safe.