Crazy Arty Fun For Kids at the 2008 Art Under the Bridge Festival

Jodi Call wrote a great piece for us this summer with four excellent outings and I thought it was so great I invited Jodi to write for us more often. Jodi thought it was so great, she started her own blog; Pistols and Popcorn follows her amazing adventures around New York with her son, Roan. Here's, hopefully, one of many awesome posts from Jodi:

“What kind of thing do you want to do this week-end?” It’s the question I pose to my son, Roan. But we both know I’ve always got something in mind. This week he tried to trip me up with this: “I want to do nothing, but we can do it outside.” Oh brother, mister. You’ve no idea who you’re messing with.

This weekend is the 2008 Art Under the Bridge Festival. This is the 12^th year of the festival, and my 3^rd year as a devotee. After a summer full of orchestrated outings and a few weeks of structured school days, the timing couldn’t be better for an entire weekend of chaotic fun with your kids.

Art Under the Bridge takes place this weekend, Friday 09/26 through Sunday 09/28 and is free. It is held in DUMBO, everywhere in DUMBO; streets, sidewalks, storefronts, elevators, lobbies, the water, the waterfront, parks, nooks, crannnies, on the NY Water Taxi, and more. My approach is to show up when ever I can, and leave when I’m done, but the official hours are Friday 7 – 9 pm, Saturday and Sunday 12 – 9 pm.

Artists open up their studios and welcome walkers-by to come inside and check out their work. It is a treat to take a child through the cavernous corridors of some of these places and let them see what is behind almost any random door. One door in particular will welcome your child: 68 Jay Street, Studio 709. This is the studio of Lori Nelson, whose work I am a huge fan of. Particularly the piece pictured above.

It reminds me of someone. Full disclosure: ok, she’s my sister, and the painting is of Roan. Lori also helped Anson and I on a room we were working on for a friend by hand-painting this piece in it:

Lori tells me that anybody could do this, and will be more than happy to show you how if you stop by. Also, she’s promised me that if you name-drop Mommy Poppins to her, she’ll give you/your child a piece of fruit. Hey – it can’t always be candy!

You can easily just show up in DUMBO and go to the park to see what interactive installation is happening, but if you want to plan, here are a few things to look into (descriptions via the official website):

Antonia Wright 
Antonia Wright will bring a garden to the streets of DUMBO with Pick Me. Participants are invited to walk on the grass, pick flowers off the artist and disperse them throughout the area. 
WHERE: Plymouth St. between Washington and Main Streets. WHEN: Sat. & Sun. 2-3pm

Ted Southern 
Play with Ted Southern’s light sensitive electronic musical instrument, Photophone, where sound is manipulated through a series of switches, buttons, knobs, and light sensors. WHERE: 55 Washington exterior stairway. 
WHEN: Ongoing

Bruno Billio & Mahan Javadi
Touch and play with Laser Pendulum, a highly sensory experience by Bruno Billio and Mahan Javadi, which draws on people’s curiosity and natural attraction to light. In association with: Laserglow Technologies. WHERE: 45 Main St. loading dock WHEN: Ongoing

Kylin O’Brien 
Giant monsters roam DUMBO in The Monster Project! Working collaboratively with schoolchildren from PS8, artist Kylin O’Brien has crafted massive creatures to serve as guardians and a commentary on our collective fears. With Bey Redding-O’Brien (age 8), Madison Kendall (age 8) and Maya Kendall (age 5). 
WHERE: Pearl St. between John St. and Plymouth St.; Water St. between Pearl St. and Jay St.; Dock St. between Front St. and Water St.

What I Wish I'd Known: Some artists intend to shock and awe. I know, shocking! While most artist's studios are kid-friendly, it is worth it to do a quick preliminary glance around before you bring the kids through the door.