With one of the nations most enthusiastic art communities, it’s no surprise that Pittsburgh places so much emphasis and importance on the role art plays in child development. From family friendly shows in the Cultural District to Children’s Festivals to Museums that engage and inspire, parents and families have come to appreciate the support the city shows. Art has many development benefits including motor skills, language development, decisions making and cultural awareness. If you’re looking to get your child involved, there’s no better opportunity that the upcoming Art All Night in Lawrenceville.
Art All Night is an annual community art show in Pittsburgh’s Lawrenceville neighborhood that goes from 4 pm, Saturday April 26th until 2 pm Sunday, April 27th. Members of the community started the event as a way to showcase art–with no fee, censorship or jury. The mission of Art All Night is to include everyone’s art, regardless of age or experience level. The event grew to include on-site painting, a live art auction, and interactive activities for children and adults. The entire event is always free for everyone–artists and visitors alike. Each year, hundreds of kids submit their own pieces to Art All Night and then return to see their artwork displayed for over 15,000 visitors.
The Children’s Team at Art All Night have been working hard to provide a great line-up of family friendly exhibits and installations. Children will have the opportunity to silkscreen their own print, color large chalk murals, and make their own wearable creations out of recycled materials. Parents note, all the creations made are able to be taken home! Capture some funny moments in the Photo Booth and create your own still life drawings. While you’re there you definitely won’t want to miss the cardboard city! Use the large pieces of cardboard to build rooms, passageways, and towers that take over an entire part of the warehouse. The cardboard city encourages kids to work together to build the larger-than-life structures.
Other activities include storytelling, magic shows, drums, puppets, and hula hooping at various times during Saturday and Sunday. Be sure to stop by and paint with marbles, visit the button making station and a participate creating a “White” room that will be a collaborative art piece, based off Yayoi Kusama’s “Obliteration.”
The children’s activities are from 4 – 8 pm on Saturday the 26th and 10 am – 2 pm on Sunday the 27th. The warehouse is located at the corner of 40th Street and Willow Street, in Pittsburgh’s Lawrenceville neighborhood. (15201) Street parking is your best bet for this event.
