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To Venus and Back: Lure of the Flytrap

Over the weekend, NCM’s very own Kara Hayes performed her original poem titled To Venus and Back: Lure of the Flytrap…

To Venus and Back: Lure of the Flytrap

Shh! Be very, very quiet;
Do not make a sound.
For a strange creature called Venus
Heaves and hovers above the ground.
Listen to her hum.
Hear her growl and snore;
See how her head looms and droops-
She’s hollow right to the core.
Hush, she moves.
Quiet, she stirs.
She is growing restless;
Hear how she purrs.

Wondering whispers surface the crowd.
As they guess her identity aloud.

Chorus:
Is she a sea horse or a monster of the sea?
A dinosaur or a glass figurine?
A giant worm or a chandelier?
A polar bear or a queen to revere?
A periscope or a hydra genus?
Or a telescope to marvel at Venus?
What in the world could she possibly be?
Neither goddess nor planet,
She is a mystery.

Wait, methinks she lifts her heavy head.
As she opens her lips, yawning, she says:

Venus:
Who disturbs my scintillating slumber?
Who, in jest, intercepts my beauty rest?
Who would dare wake me from my cocoon?
Do you take me for some ballooned buffoon?
Don’t worry, my darlings, you will know my identity soon…

My white petals breathe in the wind.
My neck is long and lean and thin.
Absorb my hourglass physique.
Take your photos, and make your critiques.

Don’t be shy.
Don’t be so meek.
I am harmful
Only to those who are weak.
For I am a carnivore,
Craving crunchy critters,
Starving for more.
From up here, you all look so small-
A bite-size snack
Who can barely crawl.

Come closer if you dare.
Don’t just gawk and stare.
Little insects, I have you under my spell.
You are becoming very sleepy…
And my thirst is deepening.
Another step forward will make things right.
Yes…good. Banish your fright,
And spare you, I just might.

Trick or treat?
Almost there, my sweets.
Another inch
Should be a cinch.
Don’t retract;
Don’t step back.
Don’t be crude;
This plant needs food.
Tap tap.
I’m ready for my nap.
And with just one snap,
I’ll catch you in my trap.

— Kara Hayes, Museum Guide

Target Arts & Wonders Family Free Weekend

NCM will be extending free admission to visitors on Saturday, July 17th and Sunday, July 18th. We will be open from 10am-4pm on both days.

Target has provided a mosaic tile project that will be held in the park all day on Saturday and Sunday. Bridget Allen is a San Diego based singer/songwriter and cofounder of the children’s music and movement program, Snap Tap-N-Sing. She captivates her audience with her warm smile and delightful voice, playing classic children’s tunes on the guitar for the entire family to enjoy. She will be performing at 11am on both days as well.  Other new things that museum goers can enjoy include dances by He Nani O Polynesia Dancers and Magdalena Ecke Family YMCA Performing Group. Be sure to check out our website or Target’s website for more information.

In June, NCM was proud to host a performance from the middle school, Creative Performing Media Arts. The kids performed traditional drumming songs and dance of  Ghana, West Africa. The talent these kids harbor is outstanding. We can’t wait to have them back!

Win front row seats to The Wiggles!

Can’t get enough of The Wiggles? They’re coming to Balboa Theatre for a special performance on July 29. You could be the lucky winner of front row seats! Just come to The New Children’s Museum and enter to win at the Welcome Desk. It’s that easy!

Balboa Theatre
Thursday, July 29
2:30pm & 6:30pm

Purchase tickets at San Diego Theatre Ticket Office (1100 Third Avenue at B Street), ticketmaster.com, or by calling 619 570 1100. $5 off promo code available at the Museum.

Winners of front row seats will be selected the week of July 19.

Congratulations, Olivia!

Congratulations to our June Artist of the Month raffle winner, Olivia.

This month’s question was: If you were a barnyard animal, what would you be?

Check out Olivia’s one-of-a-kind submission…

Make a Pet

Create your own animal companion and bring it to life! Learn how to make a 2 dimensional drawing pattern and experiment with basic hand-stitching and embellishing techniques to design your very own stuffed animal. During the second week, build homes for your pets and work as a group to form a habitat for all of the animals.

Check out this video of  Pets already  in action! Click here to sign up today!

Aleesha’s Last Day

Every time I step foot into The New Children’s Museum I have a blast. My mini-two week immersion was just what I needed to see the transition from high school to the real world. I have to admit my time spent out of the classroom has evoked a bit of fear in me but, I’m ready. Throughout my time at NCM I was able to be a part of some amazing workshops, exhibits, and volunteer sessions. The best part of interning with the museum is the amount of different things you can do, while still serving the museum.  On Wednesday I had a chance to do some volunteer prep work with the men and women from the legal department of Solar Turbines. They were awesome!! Who knew prep work could be so fun! I was lucky enough to end my week here with the fun activity of finger painting! It was fun and messy, two qualities I see in myself. The kids loved it, and I even got to lead story time while the little ones were waiting for their creations to dry. Overall I will always consider NCM my art home, from the people who run it to the artists who make the magic. NCM is the best place in San Diego to learn something and have fun doing it!

—Aleesha Rackley, Intern

You know it’s been a good day at NCM when you..

You know it’s been a good day at NCM when you…

1. Say good morning to passionate and talented co-workers with a smile.
2. Speak a bit of Italian with a member.
3. Engage with children at the rock climbing wall.
4. Make thunder in The Rain House.
5. Wash paint and clay off your hands at the end of the day.
6. Inspire a child to create art and express themselves.
7. Tell a magical story in Toy an Horse.
8. Have the balloon creation, Venus, shining in the center of the museum.
9. Receive a hug from a child who remembers your name.
10. Watch an elementary school choir perform Michael Jackson’s “Man in the Mirror”, and a young guest begins to sing.

— Kara Hayes, Museum Guide

Aleesha the intern is BACK!

Today was a hectic day at the Museum, so much to see so little time! My first day back at the museum was monumental. So much has changed since the childsplay installation and I love it! After touring with a school group to acquaint myself with the Museum again, it was off to my first engagement activity. Barn Dance, our engagement activity for our youngest age group was amazing. The goal of the activity is to help the little ones with balance and coordination while on a Rody. They learn their left from their right, up and down, forwards and backwards. They are learning and having fun at the same time—its adorable. I had the chance to drop in on a couple of more engagement activities, my favorite being Animal Aktion! Located on the main level, Animal Aktion is a cool space with amazing activities. During the activity guest have the chance to do some non-traditional drawing, no pen and paper needed! The kids are surrounded by a big, bright orange, faux fur-covered wall, which they get to mimic artist Perry Vasquez and draw all over the wall using special tools. Their movements are captured on camera and projected alongside the projected video of the animals. The space has many different ways to engage the visitors such as the animal themed costumes the kids can dress up in and play pretend,  that are similar in appearance to the dress of the Pacific Northwest Coast Indigenous people. Despite all the awesome spaces I had the chance to be apart of today, Animal Aktion was my personal favorite, Come check it out!

Congratulations Rowan!

Congratulations to our May Artist of the Month raffle winner, Rowan.

This month’s question was: If you were a mythical creature what would you look like?

Check out Rowan’s one-of-a-kind submission…

Drawing & Painting Technique Camps

NCM is excited to welcome highly experienced arts instructor Rivian Bütikofer to their Summer Camp line up. Rivian has taught art courses at the Atheneum in La Jolla, the San Diego Unified School District, UCSD, and her own art school, The Magic of Art. NCM is proud to have Rivian offer three Summer Camps this year: Drawing & Sketching Technique (June 28-July 2, Grades 1-3), Painting Like the Masters (July 5-9, Grades 1-3), and Painting Like the Masters (July 12-16, Grades 4-6). At each of these camps participants will learn important technical skills while developing their own artistic style! Space is limited, register today for a camp experience your child will never forget!

http://www.thinkplaycreate.org/education/education-camps.html