Children's Museum of the Arts leads programming specially designed for children on the Autism Spectrum but welcoming to all. Each session is focused on multisensory material exploration and accessible artmaking practices.

Thursday, October 5:
Inside the Upside Down, Inspired by Kevin Chin
Get topsy-turvy in Open Studio! Inspired by Australian artist Kevin Chin, artists embark on a creative journey to flip their favorite places inside out and upside down.  How can we exaggerate reality through art? What looks the same versus different?

Monday, October 9:
Corn Husk Dolls, Inspired by Antoinette Scott
Iroquois-Seneca Nation artist Antoinette Scott creates cornhusk dolls that weave together the history and stories of the Native American people that call Turtle Island (or North America) home. Scott’s grandmother, Mrs. Lillian Kane, introduced her to the craft, demonstrating how the intricate clothing tells the story of a particular time or era in history.

Thursday, October 12:
Animal Maps, Inspired by Courtney M. Leonard
Dive into the world of environmental art inspired by Shinnecock Nation artist Courtney Leonard, whose ceramic sculptures highlight the relationship between human activity and the aquatic environment. Begin by reflecting on animals who have gone extinct, then breathe life back into these creatures by creating clay versions. What extinct animal do you want to bring back to life? What body of water will it call home?

Thursday, October 19:
Halloween Candy Collages, Inspired by Félix González-Torres
Who’s ready for a Halloween adventure? Take a page from the delightful candy sculptures of artists Félix González-Torres and Peter Anton and create a collaborative candy bucket for everyone to share. Artists use tissue paper, pipe cleaners, and fabric to create their own sweet treats and add them to a massive candy collage.

Monday, October 23:
Creature Masks, Inspired by Wangechi Mutu
Guided by innovative collagist Wangechi Mutu, artists design and assemble unconventional objects and cutouts of body parts into uncanny creature masks. By blending traditional facial features with unexpected objects, colors, and materials, kids can create an array of wearable attire both familiar and strange.

Thursday, October 26:
Inside Out Silhouettes, Inspired by Kara Walker
Silhouettes with a twist! Artists look to the work of Kara Walker to create intricate silhouette artworks that capture the essence of movement. These shadowy creations become a canvas for artists to add their unique artistic interventions.

 Monday, October 30:
Spooky Mazes, Inspired by Tim Burton
Tim Burton is the mastermind behind Halloween classics Coraline and Nightmare Before Christmas and the subject of two blockbuster exhibitions at MoMA and LACMA. Artists create a large-scale collaborative spooky maze and contribute their own mixed media artworks that reflect the spirit of the fall season!

Register online in advance.