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February 4, 2024

Scranton Black History Month event focuses on healing through arts

SCRANTON — Black History Month opened here on Saturday with a kickoff event at the Center for Arts and Culture, which drew over 70 area residents for a celebration of both art and history.

Glynis Johns, founder and CEO of the Black Scranton Project, said the event was centered on food, art, community and local history.

Johns said she started in 2019, simply focused on sharing Black history with Scranton area residents. Now, five years out, she’s overwhelmed that the organization has been able to establish the Center for Arts and Culture, which found its home in a beautiful space which was previously a bank.

The focus of the month-long celebration this year is “Healing through the Arts,” Johns said, pointing out that mental health has become a key issue everywhere. The organization will provide opportunities for wellness activities this month including yoga, mediation and wellness workshops, she said.

Norma Jeffries, who grew up in Scranton and returned about a decade ago, said she’s happy to help the organization get the word out about their activities and message. Jeffries said that she’s often called an “activist,” but that in reality she just enjoys sharing her story and helping others.

Jeffries said she would like to see equal opportunities for young people in regard to education and jobs.Jeffries remembers her husband telling their sons to be respectful to police and to never run from officers. These were reminders that served as safeguards for Black men, she said.

Jeffries also said she is seeing increased diversity and understanding across the community. She points out that Saturday’s event was a collection of all sorts of different kinds of people, including youngsters.

The recently upgraded Center for Arts and Culture, filled with Black artifacts and artwork, provided the perfect background for fellowship between different kinds of people, she said.

Former Scranton Mayor Jim Connors said he believes that the city is increasingly diverse. Connors pointed out that Ty Holmes was named president of the Scranton School district in December, the first minority to serve in that role.

“That says something,” he said.

Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti said the city began the day by raising the Pan-African Flag at City Hall. Cognetti said she enjoyed seeing the community come together to spend time enjoying the art and food the event provided.

Danielle Breslin said the event provided a chance to learn more about black history. “There’s so much to learn,” she said. “I’m confident that when I leave here, I’ll know something more.”

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February 4, 2024

6 major Lil Nas X revelations from HBO’s documentary “Lil Nas X: Long Live Montero”

Lil Nas X is a jack of all trades. The acclaimed rapper continues to deliver hit song after hit song following the release of his debut single “Old Town Road,” which went viral. He’s also quite the celebrity on social media, where he invites fans and haters alike to indulge in his brash yet comical online shenanigans. And, he’s a queer icon who became the first openly LGBTQ+ Black artist to win a Country Music Association award — and the first openly LGBTQ person to win an MTV Video Music Award for song of the year.

Lil Nas X has enjoyed many successes since he made it big back in 2018. But he’s making it clear that he’s only just getting started.

The 24-year-old rapper’s world, both on and off the big stage, is showcased in the verité-style HBO documentary “Lil Nas X: Long Live Montero.” The film spans 60 days of Lil Nas X’s debut concert tour “Long Live Montero,” which began in Detroit, Michigan, on Sept. 6, 2022 and concluded with an exclusive show at the Hordern Pavilion in Sydney, on Jan. 4, 2023. The film is also divided into three acts — Rebirth, Transformation, and Becoming — which highlights key moments in Lil Nas X’s own tale of identity and liberation.

Co-directed by Carlos López Estrada and Zac Manuel, the documentary features Lil Nas X along with his closest acquaintances — choreographers, dancers, stage directors and more — family members and Madonna.

Here are six major revelations from the documentary:

Lil Nas X from “Lil Nas X: Long Live Montero” (Photo courtesy of HBO)

In the documentary, Lil Nas X said he initially wanted to be a cardiovascular surgeon because many of his family members — including his grandmother — suffered from heart problems.

Once he began college, however, his career aspirations changed. “I got, like, so immediately bored,” he said. “I made a song for fun and immediately posted it onto Twitter. I told my parents, ‘Oh yeah, I’m just gonna take a semester off.’” He ultimately decided to pursue a career in music after his great-grandmother passed away that same year.

“I’d never had somebody close to me pass, and my grandmother had passed. That’s when I started getting bad anxiety attacks and s**t like that, and then I found music,” Lil Nas X said. “I feel like music was also great for escaping that. I felt a f**king spiritual presence over me, that [said], ‘OK, this was not a mistake. This is what I’m supposed to be doing in life.”

Lil Nas X from “Lil Nas X: Long Live Montero” (Photo courtesy of HBO)

“Around 2019, I became way more spiritual, and I started to trust what I would see as spiritual signs and guides and whatnot, and I feel like coming out was very important if I wanted to continue to progress,” Lil Nas X revealed. “Burying parts of yourself will keep you further away from finding the truest version of you as you go.”

Lil Nas X from “Lil Nas X: Long Live Montero” (Photo courtesy of HBO)

Lil Nas X confessed that he knew in his heart that his debut mainstream single “Old Town Road” would help him “blow up” to stardom. But prior to its release, the rapper said he felt “doomed” when he realized that the song’s guitar-heavy instrumental — which he purchased online for $30 — is a sample of Nine Inch Nails’ 2008 track “34 Ghosts IV.”

“I didn’t even know it was a sample at first, so when I did figure out it was a sample, I was like, ‘Oh my f**king God, I am doomed,’” Lil Nas X said.

Trent Reznor, the principal songwriter of Nine Inch Nails, later told Rolling Stone that he was fine with the sample and was completely blown away when he first heard the song a few weeks after its release. Reznor was also asked to make a cameo in Lil Nas X’s music video but turned down the opportunity. “I don’t feel like it’s my place to shine a light on me for that,” he said.

Reznor and fellow Nine Inch Nails member Atticus Ross are both listed as producers and songwriters for the track.

Lil Nas X got emotional after listening to the “Old Town Road” instrumental. “I think the moment that I heard the loop, the original instrumental of that song, that feeling I always talk about, it was on an astronomical level,” he said. “That’s why I guess I’m so spiritual now — you can’t mistake a feeling that . . . When I heard that, I got emotional, and it’s just a loop and drums. I’m just like, ‘Oh my God, this is going to be something great.’”

Lil Nas X from “Lil Nas X: Long Live Montero” (Photo courtesy of HBO)

Following his breakout moment, Lil Nas X became the target of several far-fetched allegations. Many conservative critics claimed he made kid-friendly music to brainwash the youth into a “gay agenda.” Others claimed he was at the forefront of an evil, gay Satanic agenda.

Even when he’s met with hate, Lil Nas X has always responded with love. In one instance, he even bought pizza for homophobic protesters who gathered outside the Boston concert of his inaugural tour.

“I think it’s really great when people have a sense of belonging to something or feel like they’re part of something bigger, and I feel like that’s what those people feel like they are doing,” Lil Nas X said of his haters in the documentary. “So, part of me is like, ‘Oh, I wish they weren’t hateful toward this,’ but another part is like, ‘Oh, that’s kind of dope. These people have their own group where they feel like they’re doing something to change the world. That’s really nice for them,’ you know?

“I guess I actually paid attention to one of the videos. I was like, ‘Oh, it’s kind of f**ked up, what they were saying,’” he continued. “It was like, ‘You see what he did? He comes out with a kid-friendly song, and then he goes and becomes super sexual and tries to convert.’ I don’t know, and I was like, ‘That’s not exactly what happened.’”

Lil Nas X and father Robert Stafford attend the 2019 American Music Awards at Microsoft Theater on November 24, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Taylor Hill/FilmMagic/Getty Images)

In early June 2019, Lil Nas X came out to his father Robert Stafford, who he said was initially skeptical of his son’s sexuality.

“It was just kind of awkward, and you know, he was kind of like, ‘It could be the devil tempting you’ and whatnot, which I understood to a degree,” he explained. “I mean, you gotta think about it; your son gets rich and famous, and suddenly he’s gay. It just sounds like everything the YouTube things warn you about.”

Lil Nas X has since grown closer to his father and his family. Speaking about his relationship with his stepmother Mia Stafford, Lil Nas X said they are close but he still finds it difficult to truly be himself with her. “It still feels really weird being flamboyant or closer to myself that I show most people around her.”

He also claimed that he felt like a “stepchild” in his family. His sexuality still remains “the elephant in the room.”

“I feel like even now though, I guess, it’s still kind of hard to be open when I’m dating someone,” Lil Nas X said. “My dad actually talked to me about it. He was like, ‘You know you can let me know what’s happening on that side’ and stuff like that, so that was really great, but it’s still a fight to get that out there. But we’re getting closer.”

Lil Nas X’s own unapologetic pride in his sexuality ultimately encouraged his older brother Tramon Hill to come out as bisexual.

Lil Nas X from “Lil Nas X: Long Live Montero” (Photo courtesy of HBO)

Lil Nas X said his 2021 single “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)” was his most liberating track yet, even though it elicited negative reactions from countless conservative commentators.

“I feel like I’ve been the same me for like two years,” Lil Nas X said. “Through, like, the Montero era, you know? And I wanna be a new me now.” He added, saying that in order to find this new version of himself (that’s both new to him and his countless fans), he has to “get lost.”

“I feel like there’s something brewing that’s gonna be so amazing for me. And I trust that feeling. I can’t explain it,” Lil Nas X continued. “It’s, like, this anxious excitement . . . Right now, it’s glowing all over me. I can’t explain that. I cannot explain that.

“Maybe it’s not, like, escapism as in ‘I don’t wanna be alive,’ but ‘I wanna be more alive.’”

“Lil Nas X: Long Live Montero” is currently available for streaming on Max. Watch the trailer, via YouTube:

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about Lil Nas X:

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February 4, 2024

Vermont creatives honor Black history through art

WINOOSKI, Vt. (WCAX) – February is Black History Month, and this year’s theme celebrates Black artists throughout time who use art to inspire change.

Black artists in Vermont are tapping into their identities to make a difference.

“Art is infectious. Art is the pulse of our society,” says Will Kasso Condry, co-owner of Juniper Creative Arts. He owns the collective with his wife. They paint murals across Vermont that center and celebrate the Black experience.

“The only time Black excellence seems to be celebrated is in our death. And it’s like wait a minute, there’s a disconnection here, because the Black experience is not a monolithic culture, it is a diverse 360 experience. And we want to bring some of that within our work,” Kasso Condry says.

At Juniper Creative Arts, this year’s theme of art means giving Black Vermonters, especially of the younger generation, positive representation. “It’s always that sense of pride that no matter what, as they grow they know that they matter, now and forever,” he added.

Down the street, Onyekachi Aklonu works on his latest graphic design project. A first-generation American with roots in Nigeria, Aklonu draws inspiration from his identity for his illustrations.

“I like to make a lot of designs that highlight the things that I think are really great about being a Black person in America,” Aklonu says. As a Black artist in Vermont, he says he’s grown a lot from creating in a predominantly white space. “It kind of did push me out of my comfort zone to collaborate with different companies and different people that are not people that look like me. It kind of also allowed me to broaden my horizons in a way,” he said.

“Art is everywhere. History is alive,” said Grimm Noir.

Recognizing the struggles many local Black artists face, Grimm Noir created Grimm’s Domain. They organize pop-up events showcasing Black artists, from dancers to crafters. Noir says it’s a way for artists to get their foot in the door to the art scene while tapping into their identity.

Everyone’s just here to have a good time and benefit themselves and the community together,” Noir said.

Their first event of the year is coming up on Valentine’s Day. Noir says it means even more to uplift Black artists this month.

“So much of our culture is created through art. So many stories and histories are kept like in record by art. Art is one of the things that kind of gives life flavor,” said Noir.

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February 4, 2024

24 Ways you can Celebrate Black History Month in Milwaukee Celebrate Black History Month in Milwaukee

24 Ways you can Celebrate Black History Month in Milwaukee Celebrate Black History Month in Milwaukee – Milwaukee Courier Weekly Newspaper

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February 3, 2024

‘This rich tapestry’: Black youth art showcase comes to Bradford

Bradford is highlighting the accomplishments of aspiring young artists.

Dozens of people gathered to celebrate the opening gala of Canvas for Change: Black Youth Art Showcase at the Bradford West Gwillimbury Public Library on Thursday evening, the first day of Black History Month.

The group exhibition featured 20 art pieces from nine Simcoe County youths ranging in age from 13 to 18 who participated in the Canvas for Change program. Offered by the group Making Change, the program invited those with lived Black experiences to participate in three workshops where they learned about conceptualizing, communicating, and visually representing ideas unique to their own stories and perspectives, under the mentorship of Toronto artist Ashante Blackwood.

One of those artists is David Moseri, 18, who had two paintings in the exhibit including Black Panther, which was inspired by the Black rights group of similar name, as well as Freedom, which tells the story of a slave who was forcibly taken from his homeland and brought to a different county. Moseri wrote the word “freedom” in red to symbolize the blood shed by Black slaves who were beaten while in bondage.

The young Black artist said he moved from Africa to Texas when he was six and didn’t begin to learn about Black history until middle school, but that it stuck with him.

“I was shocked at what happened to Black people,” he said.

While he’s been creating art since he was a child, Moseri said this was his first time being in an exhibit, and hopes to be part of more, especially with the newfound skills he learned under Blackwood, who taught him to paint.

“I feel like this allows a lot of people to come out and show their skills and how they feel about their own artwork to express a deeper meaning of themselves in the canvas,” Moseri said of the program and exhibition, adding he would do it again if he had the chance.

Because she’s more accustomed to working with adults, Blackwood said mentoring younger artist was a challenging but “amazing” experience.

“I feel like they gave me a lot of creativity and gave me a lot of inspiration,” she said, adding that she was “very shocked” by how talented the youths were, and appreciated the experience of teaching them while learning about their backgrounds and upbringings.

Blackwood also said she was impressed by how much the artists challenged themselves to get our of their comfort zones and try new mediums.

“I had so much fun, and I think the kids did amazing,” she said. “In the end, they learned and came through in all aspects of the exhibition. I’m super proud of them.”

In addition to snacks, refreshments and music by Freez’ Careeb, a high-energy Caribbean dance band, the gala also included guest speaker and Ward 1 Coun. Cheraldean Duhaney, who was recognized among the country’s Top 100 Black Women to Watch 2023 by Canada International Black Women of Excellence in October.

She thanked everyone involved in the program and event for “setting up our young people for a better and brighter future,” before praising the artists for their talent.

“This is your gift and your passion and your story through your art and you should be proud,” she said.

Making Change board chair Keisha-Ann Shaw Hill emphasized the importance of launching the gala on the first day of Black History Month, which she said is “a time to share the beautiful parts of Blackness with other members of our communities,” with the exhibition giving people “a chance to step into (the artists’) worlds and view this rich tapestry of their experiences.”

The library was happy to be partnering with Making Change for a second year, cultural services manager David Di Giovann said.

Because the artwork will remain on display at the library until Feb. 11, he’s hoping it will have “a bigger impact” with “more folks connecting to the artwork.”

The exhibit will move to the MacLaren Art Centre in Barrie from Feb. 15 to 29.

Publicly launched late last year, only 13 people applied (none from Bradford) and only nine of those could commit to all three workshops and two exhibits, according to Laura LaChapelle, program director for Making Change.

As a result, the program pivoted to allow each artist to showcase more artwork.

“We weren’t expecting a huge number for the first year,” LaChapelle said. “Next year we expect it to be much higher.”

Making Change is a not-for-profit organization led by a community of Black women who plan and co-ordinate activities, projects and events in the community supporting inclusion and diversity across Simcoe County.

For more information, visit makingchangesc.com.

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February 3, 2024

Edunotify.com provides educational resources and opportunities in the realms of college, higher education and test prep

Edunotify.com provides educational resources and opportunities in the realms of college, higher education and test prep – African American News Today – EIN Presswire

Trusted News Since 1995

A service for global professionals · Saturday, February 3, 2024 · 686,028,047 Articles · 3+ Million Readers

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February 3, 2024

Usher Says His Super Bowl Halftime Show Will Honor Black Artists of the Past

Usher is sharing more details about his upcoming halftime show performance at Super Bowl LVIII.

During an interview with Good Morning America on Friday (Feb. 2), the 45-year-old R&B star said that he plans to use the opportunity on football’s biggest night to pay homage to Black artists who came before him and helped pave the way for his successful career in music.

“I think about what our country has kind of represented for Black artists, you know, having to at some point go through kitchens to even be able to perform for an audience, but they had to leave back through that same door, fear for their lives as they went to the next state to do the same thing,” Usher told reporter Kelley Carter.

The “My Boo” singer added, “So I’m coming through the front door with this one.”

The hitmaker also noted that he remembered his friends and mentors who have supported him over the decades when planning his upcoming halftime show performance.

“I didn’t start where I am now, and I didn’t get there by myself,” he said. “So, everybody that has been a part of it, I’m carrying them with me. All of my fans, my loved ones, the people who may have felt like they have been forgotten, they haven’t. I’m carrying you right with me when I walk on that stage that night.”

Usher will perform during the Super Bowl Halftime Show presented by Apple Music on Feb. 11, when the Kansas City Chiefs take on the San Francisco 49ers at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

Ahead of the big game, the R&B star will release his new album, Coming Home, on Feb. 9. The project serves as his ninth studio album, and it’s his first released independently. It’s a star-studded affair across the 20 tracks, as he’s recruited Latto, Burna Boy, 21 Savage, The-Dream, H.E.R., Summer Walker and BTS’ Jung Kook to join him on the journey.

“I put a lot of heart and time into making sure that this was curated right. Something that felt like this next chapter of my life. It’s the next frontier, the next chapter of my legacy,” the “Love in This Club” singer said of the album in a recent interview with Club Shay Shay.

Ahead of Coming Home, Usher dropped another single on Friday (Feb. 2) with the Afrobeats-tinged “Ruin.”

Watch Usher’s GMA interview about his Super Bowl halftime show in the video below.

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February 3, 2024

Historic Savannah Foundation to Continue 2024 Lecture Series with Kiah House Presentation by Dr. Deborah Johnson-Simon

In honor of Black History Month, Historic Savannah Foundation will host a special presentation by scholar, museum expert and anthropologist Dr. Deborah Johnson-Simon, discussing “The Legacy of Virginia Kiah and the Kiah House Museum” as part of the 2024 Historic Savannah Foundation Lecture Series, “People, Places and Stories That Define Savannah.” Johnson-Simon will speak on Thursday, Feb. 15 at Historic Savannah Foundation’s headquarters, located at 321 E. York St. Attendees are invited to attend a wine reception at 5:30 p.m. The discussion will start at 6 p.m.

Johnson-Simon’s presentation will explore artist and civil rights activist Virginia Jackson Kiah’s important work in creating a space for Black artists in Savannah during segregation as well as her lasting impact in the community. Additionally, she will address the significance of the Kiah House Museum, which — after sitting vacant for years following Kiah’s death — was acquired by Historic Savannah Foundation as a Revolving Fund property and is now being restored by its new owners to become a museum and community space once again.

Johnson-Simon is a museum anthropologist and the founder and CEO of the African Diaspora Museology Institute INC. (ADMI), a research lab that is dedicated to scholarly investigation of Black cultural institutions. This accomplished scholar has worked for more than 20 years on museum and cultural heritage projects in the United States, Canada, Africa and Central America.

The author of several books and co-editor of the Second Generation of African American Pioneers in Anthropology, Johnson-Simon is currently documenting the life and work of artist and museum founder Virginia Jackson Kiah. She earned a Ph.D. in Anthropology from the University of Florida, an M.A. in Anthropology/Museum Studies from Arizona State University and a B.A. in Anthropology and Sociology from Rollins College. She currently serves as a Scholar in Residence at Savannah State University’s Asa H. Gordon Library, Archives and Art Gallery, where she is developing the Black Museology and Anthropology Archives.

Additional speakers in Historic Savannah Foundation’s 2024 Lecture Series include Rachel Barnett, Lyssa Harvey and Rabbi Robert Haas discussing “Kugels and Collards: Jewish Foodways in the Lowcountry South” on April 18 as well as a special Women in Construction Discussion Panel on March 21. In honor of Preservation Month, Becki Harkness and Sarah Ward of Ward Architecture in Savannah will discuss “Nominating the Kiah House for the National Register of Historic Places.” For more information, please visit myhsf.org.

Historic Savannah Foundation’s 2024 Lecture Series is open to the public. Reservations are recommended, as space is limited. Attendance is free for Historic Savannah Foundation members and $15 for non-members. Members and non-members may RSVP by emailing Kendall Graham at kgraham@myhsf.org or calling 912-233-7787, ext. 109.

ABOUT HISTORIC SAVANNAH FOUNDATION:

Historic Savannah Foundation (HSF), a leading nonprofit cultural institution, saves the buildings, places and stories that define Savannah’s past, present and future. Founded in 1955 when seven brave women banded together to save the Isaiah Davenport House, Historic Savannah Foundation spearheaded the preservation movement in Savannah. The organization continues to preserve and operate The Davenport House Museum, sharing its important story with the community, and operates a Revolving Fund to save endangered historic properties, now totaling over 400 buildings throughout several of Savannah’s historic districts. HSF continues to lead preservation efforts throughout the Savannah community. More info: myhsf.org.

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February 3, 2024

Usher Says His Super Bowl LVIII Show Honors Black Artists: ‘I Didn’t Get There by Myself’

While staying mum on potential surprise guests, the eight-time Grammy award-winning singer briefly discussed artists that he’ll “carry” during the halftime spot.

“I didn’t start where I am now, and I didn’t get there by myself,” he said. “So, everybody that has been a part of it, I’m carrying them with me. All of my fans, my loved ones — the people who may have felt like they have been forgotten, they haven’t. I’m carrying you right with me when I walk on that stage that night.”

During his Las Vegas residency “My Way: The Las Vegas Residency,” which ended last December, he welcomed performers spanning different eras of R&B, like Keith Sweat, Teddy Riley, Robin Thicke, Faith Evans, Ashanti, Keyshia Cole, and more. To accompany his halftime performance, Usher will also release his ninth studio album next week, Coming Home, his first solo LP in eight years.

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February 3, 2024

Looking for family fun for February? Try the Staten Island Children’s Museum

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — For the month of February, the Staten Island Children’s Museum (SICM) will be hosting interactive workshops celebrating Black History Month and welcoming the Year of the Dragon.

During the NYC Schools Mid-Winter Recess, Feb. 19-23, SICM will be open the whole week with activities each day, in addition to offering a Winter Fun Camp for ages 5 through 9. Camps run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and include art-making, science experiments, exhibit play and outdoor exploring.

An inviting place to embrace creativity and culture, the SICM offers children and families a variety of participatory exhibits and events that nurture development and facilitate fun. Visitors can attend exciting and educational workshops hosted by talented guests across various disciplines, including culinary and visual art, literature, science and more. See offerings for February below.

Saturday, Feb. 3: The Cumbe Center for African and Diaspora Dance will present KOUKOU: Gathering Together at the Museum. KouKou is a dance of community that often guides children in learning the fundamentals of African dance. This workshop will highlight the importance of community-building through the magnetic and joyful rhythms and dances of Ivory Coast, West Africa. Program starts at 4 p.m. for 30 minutes.

Sunday, Feb. 4 and Thursday, Feb. 22: Taste the delicious “pastabilities” of pasta at their ShopRite Kidz Cook workshops Participants will be introduced to different kinds of foods and hone their dexterity as they work with cooking utensils to make healthy dishes. Sessions will be held at 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:30 pm and 3:30 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 17: SICM is partnering with the Staten Island Alliance to offer a free admission day from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. along with an informational fair with representatives from local PreK programs who will answer questions about the experience for children and enrollment. There will also be story times, crafts and giveaways. As an additional treat, there will be a special ShopRite Kidz Cook workshop where visitors will make strawberry shortcake with whipped cream. The workshop will be held at 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m., 2:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Free admission for the day is available through advance online registration.

Sunday, Feb. 18: SICM celebrates Black History Month with a Jukebox Jam workshop hosted by choreographer and dancer Walter Rutledge. This workshop takes visitors on a journey through the music and dances of iconic African American artists. Shake and move through the hits of the 1940s to the present, honoring the discographies of Duke Ellington, Billy Holiday, Chubby Checker, Michael Jackson and Beyoncé. Drop in for sessions at 12 p.m., 1 p.m., 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.

Monday, Feb. 19: The fun continues the following from 4 – 4:45 p.m. at DJ Baba Yako’s dance party. Young children will delight in the joy and rhythm of his Afrobeat mixes as they move and groove to the music.

2022 Advance File Photo: Staten Island Children’s Museum, located at the Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden (Staten Island Advance/Paul Liotta)Staten Island Advance/Paul Liotta

Tuesday, Feb. 20: Ring in the Lunar New Year in an interactive celebration of music, dance and Chinese culture with Chinese Theatre Works. This enriching program features a demonstration of Chinese calligraphy at 3:30 p.m., followed at 4 p.m. by two interactive performances: an enchanting Ribbon Dance and a Lion Puppet Dance meant to bring prosperity to the new year.

Wednesday, Feb. 21: SICM helps visitors bring ideas to life in the Storytime Shadows Workshop on At 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2:30 pm, and 3:30 pm, Renaps from IlluminArt Productions will guide visitors in designing shadow puppet characters for their own stories.

Thursday, Feb. 22: At 4 p.m., Citibank and IlluminArt Productions will present Sami the Squirrel and the Great Acorn Adventure, a special show about financial literacy and recycling for children aged 5 though 9. Drop in to see how Sami makes decisions about whether to save, spend, share or invest a gift of acorns from their grandmother.

Friday, Feb. 23: Experience Casey Carle’s Bubblemania: a high-energy mix of visual comedy, quick wit, swing music and amazing soap bubble manipulations that range from intricate bubble art to GIANT bubbles big enough to encase an audience member! See the spectacle at 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. sessions.

Saturday, Feb. 24: SICM will welcome New York City Children’s Theater for a Literature at Play Workshop, from 4 – 4:45 p.m. Visitors can step into the enchanting world of stories. Designed for children aged 3-8, this immersive experience brings beloved children’s literature to life through theater, music, and movement, sparking their imagination and critical thinking.

ABOUT SICM

Staten Island Children’s Museum is open Wednesday through Sunday and many school holidays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Special hours in February include Saturday, February 17, open only 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., and Monday, February 19 and Tuesday, February 20 when the Children’s Museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Tickets are available at https://sichildrensmuseum.org/tickets. All programs are included with admission unless stated. Schedules are subject change. Please check the website for the latest updates: www.sichildrensmuseum.org.

The Staten Island Children’s Museum is located on the grounds of Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden, 1000 Richmond Terrace, Staten Island, NY 10301. For more information call 718-273-2060, email info@sichildrensmuseum.org or visit sichildrensmuseum.org.

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