Art of the City 

Chicago's art and architecture highlights creativity and vibrant expression in every neighborhood. I'm particularly a big fan of public art like sculptures and murals that are free and accessible in the streets and parks. But I also love the many unique museums and cultural institutions in our great city, which have incredible modern and historical art to treasure. Do you have a favorite place you like to see art? Or maybe a favorite place for creating art?

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Cat Nap: One of my new favorite art-related books is by Caldecott Honor-Winning Artist Brian Lies. A curious cat slips into exhibit halls of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, literally becoming one with the pieces he encounters - from Egyptian antiquities to what’s been documented as the earliest African American folk-art painting. All of the artworks from different periods in history are described in detail at the end. 

Christo and Jeanne-Claude Wrap the World: Two rebellious, smart and funny people explored art as a form of freedom, including using it as a means to help people see things differently. They fell in love when they decided to wrap "everything!" People argued that their work was not "art," but this excited them because they wanted people to question everything and really look at it. In fact, it was hard NOT to look at their art, because it was often on the street (and not in a museum). They even wrapped trees, a Medieval Tower and the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago! And they expanded their technique to explore fabric, umbrellas and floating paths. Now that's an imaginative couple!

Ed Emberley's Fingerprint Drawing Book: Did you know no two fingerprints are the same? That's why I like the easy - albeit messy - act of making fingerprint drawings. You can make them too!

Brain-Building Art Activities

One of my favorite brain-building adventures is to explore murals in the city, like the one featuring the artist William Shakespeare - photographed and featured in this blog. Here's a few more options;

• Have you ever seen the Chagall Windows at the Art Institute? Maybe there’s a park or building (or pothole!) in your neighborhood with a beautiful mosaic. Mosaics are an easy craft you can do at home. They are especially helpful for developing fine motor skills, color recognition and spatial awareness in younger kids. 
• The National Museum of Mexican Art in Pilsen has a lot of great art activities to do at home. Try Sugar Painting if you want to make art with materials you have at home or print out their free  Mexican Artist Coloring Book to learn about some cool Mexican and Mexican American Artists! 
• If you’re looking for a sensory-friendly art activity, why not make a sensory sculpture? You can use some of Chicago’s many public sculptures as inspiration.