Open Studio at Pier 57

Open Studio at Pier 57 invites children to explore hands-on projects across a wide range of artistic disciplines. Each session introduces children to the elements and principles of art while surveying artists across generations and continents.

Specially designed for children on the Autism Spectrum but welcoming to all, each session is focused on multisensory material exploration and accessible artmaking practices. Participants will explore art materials (such as clay, paper, or textiles) at their own pace alongside movement breaks and ample time for storytelling and social interaction.

Open Studio at Pier 57 is recommended for ages 12 and under.

Upcoming Programs

Monday, May 6: Pop-Out Stories

Books offer a window into a new world — some even utilize interactive features that invite readers to take an active role in story creation! Children will look at works by Colette Fu, who explores the lifestyle and traditions of her Chinese heritage through pop-up books and large-scale installations. After brainstorming fantastical storylines, they’ll create their own interactive books that engage and surprise the reader.

Thursday, May 9: Reimagined Cities

From the height of the buildings to the width of the sidewalks, every city is different — that’s what makes them special! Children will learn about Mahmoud Hariri, who, along with other refugees, recreated the ancient city of Palmyra using clay and wooden skewers as a means to preserve their Syrian culture and heritage. They’ll become city planners, designers, and architects as they draw, sculpt, and paint a city from the past, present, or future.

Monday, May 13: NYC Neighbors

New York City’s rich cultural heritage is reflected in its residents, whose diverse ethnicities, languages, and cultural traditions make our city the very best it can be. Children will look at Kisha Bari and Jasmin Chang’s Hey Neighbor NYC installation in Flatbush, which showcases photographs and stories of community organizers and advocates from across the boroughs. Next, they’ll create a portrait of a community leader that they respect and admire.

Thursday, May 16: Power of Community

Artists are intrinsically linked to their surrounding communities. In this session, children will look at artists who celebrate the diverse culture of New York CIty’s northernmost borough — the Bronx! They’ll glean inspiration from the exhibitions of Bronx-based curator Kiara Ventura and the work of native Bronx multimedia artist Estelle Maisonett as they build their own mini-exhibitions that represent their community and culture.

Monday, May 20: Public Seating

All across the boroughs, visitors can find public seating that is both functional and sculptural. Examples include Elizabeth Akamatsu's Stardust in Fort Tryon Park, The Mosaic Rolling Bench by CITYarts in Riverside Park, and benches painted by public school students at Cunningham Park, Queens. After discussing the function of public art, children will design and sculpt their own benches and chairs that are meant to be admired and used.

Thursday, May 23: Our Many Selves

Children will examine Faith Ringgold’s 1971 work, For the Women’s House, which provided inspiration to female inmates on Rikers Island by depicting women in nontraditional roles, such as basketball players and bus drivers. After considering their many different “selves,” they’ll create a painting that encapsulates the unique aspects of their identity.

Monday, May 27: All About Me Flags

In honor of Memorial Day, children will design and create their own flag representing their individual identities. They’ll gain inspiration from artists such as Yoko Ono and LaToya Ruby Frazier, who create politically conscious flags that raise awareness for society’s pressing issues.

Thursday, May 30: The Art of Self-Love

"The ultimate act of resistance is self-love." —Billie Zanwega

Making art promotes positive well-being and provides a clear avenue for self-expression. Children will look at the works of Billie Zanwega, whose fabric-based artworks celebrate her various identities as an African woman, a mother, and an artist. Encouraged to think about the things they love about themselves, children will collage and paint self-portraits that celebrate their uniqueness.

What To Expect

This activity takes place in the Community Classrooms at Pier 57, located just beyond the food hall.

The program’s curriculum is rooted in accessible artmaking practices and Children’s Museum of the Arts’ pedagogy of Look, Make, Share. Take a peek at one of our virtual “Inclusives” lessons, catered to children with Autism, that families can try at home: here!

Please be advised this is not a dropoff session. While caregivers are welcome to stay with their children, families are encouraged to enjoy the extraordinary setting of Pier 57 in the adjacent Family Living Room for the duration of the session. Caregivers are advised remain on the premises while children are working.

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Meet Emma!

Emma Waldman (she/her) is an artist and educator who is passionate about encouraging creativity in all of us. She is an oil painter who uses mixed-media materials such as newspaper, fabric, and wax to create intuitive, energetic action sculptural-paintings. She is currently CMA's Lead Artist Instructor and Inclusive Programs Specalist, where she leads the museum's experimental arts program for children with Autism in partnership with Sinergia and hosts multisensory studios for children with disabilities in parks and community spaces across the city. Emma holds a B.A. with Honors in Studio Art and Psychology from Skidmore College.

About Children's Museum of the Arts

Children's Museum of the Arts is on a mission to unite children and artists to create and share ambitious works of art with their communities and the world. Since 1988, CMA has crafted innovative programs that change the way New Yorkers value its youngest artists and their aesthetic contributions. Our programs are 100% free and designed to inspire cultural change — by publicly celebrating what's possible when you give children the materials, access, and encouragement they deserve to be recognized and appreciated as real artists.

About Pier 57

Located within Hudson River Park between West 14th and West 17th Streets, Pier 57 is a year-round cultural destination on the Hudson River that celebrates New York City and its diverse community. Pier 57 includes plentiful public spaces, both indoors and outdoors with sweeping views of NYC, where visitors can gather for a waterfront experience filled with food, art, culture, nature, and more. Its public spaces include a new rooftop park stewarded by Hudson River Park Trust which offers inspiring views, lawns and seating. The ground floor is home to a food hall, mission-centered showcase kitchen, dining and demonstration space called PLATFORM by JBF, and a rotating chef residency program called Good to Go by JBF, all curated by culinary nonprofit the James Beard Foundation. pier57nyc.com

Children's Museum of the Arts' Open Studio at Pier 57 is generously supported by the Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation, Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation, Ruth Foundation for the Arts, William Talbott Hillman Foundation, First Republic Bank, The LeRoy Neiman and Janet Byrne Neiman Foundation, Milton and Sally Avery Arts Foundation, Google Community Grants Fund, Amazon, Bloomberg Philanthropies, Harriet Ames Charitable Trust, The Cowles Charitable Trust, Hammitt, and the Viniar Family Foundation.

Additional support is provided, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council and by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature.