Represent!
A fun-filled family program featuring the art of Michaela Goade, Bryan Collier, S.D. Nelson, and Christopher Myers
First Four Saturdays in March, 10:30 - 12:00
At LAA, we are all about representational art – but what exactly is representational art? What does it mean to represent something or someone artistically? And whose stories and experiences are being represented?
Join us this March for a fun-filled exploration of four fabulous artists whose diverse backgrounds and artistic styles bring stories to life!
We invite elementary-aged children and their families to participate in REPRESENT! at the Lyme Art Association. Each week will feature a different artist. We will start by reading the story and talking about the artist, their background, and their style. Then we will get creative and make a fun art project inspired by the book.
This program will run on March 2nd, 9th, 16th, and 23rd, from 10:30 am until noon. It is designed for children ages 5 through 10, although younger and older children are very welcome! No drop-offs are allowed – parents or guardians must stay and supervise their children. Art projects will be designed for both younger and older elementary-aged children.
Featured artists and stories:
- Week 1: Berry Song by Michaela Goade
- Week 2: Trombone Shorty by Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews & illustrated by Bryan Collier
- Week 3: Greet the Dawn The Lakota Way by S.D. Nelson
- Week 4: Firebird by Misty Copeland & illustrated by Christopher Myers
Learn more about each artist below!
Cost: Contribute what you can; suggested donation per week is $10.
Register for one week, two weeks, three weeks, or all four!
Registration Closed.
More About the Artists
Michaela Goade is a Caldecott Medalist and #1 New York Times Bestselling illustrator of “We Are Water Protectors,” also a 2020 Kirkus Prize Finalist. Other books include the New York Times Bestselling “I Sang You Down from the Stars,” “Encounter” and “Shanyaak’utlaax: Salmon Boy,” winner of the 2018 American Indian Youth Literature Award for Best Picture Book.
Over the last few years, Michaela’s work has focused on Indigenous KidLit. She is honored to work with Indigenous authors and tribal organizations in the creation of beautiful and much-needed books. An enrolled member of the Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska, Michaela’s Tlingit name is Sheit.een and she is of the Kiks.ádi Clan (Raven/Frog) from Sheet’ká.
“Following the artist path has enabled me to reconnect with my culture, a true gift that has become both an anchor and a north star. It’s been an incredibly enriching experience and I’ll keep learning and working to honor the culture and tribe.”
Michaela was raised in the rainforest and on the beaches of Southeast Alaska, traditional Lingít Aaní (Tlingit land). Today she lives in Sheet’ká (Sitka), Alaska, a magical island on the edge of a wide, wild sea.
Bryan Collier is a beloved illustrator known for his unique style combining watercolor and detailed collage. He is a four-time Caldecott Honor recipient for Trombone Shorty, Dave the Potter, Martin’s Big Words, and Rosa. His books have won many other awards as well, including six Coretta Scott King Illustrator Awards. His recent books include By and By, Thurgood, The Five O’Clock Band, and Between the Lines. He lives in New York with his family.
SD Nelson is descended from Norse and American Indian heritage. He is an enrolled member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe and his Lakota name is Maȟpíya Kiny’An, or Flying Cloud. His many children’s books, inspired by this heritage, offer unique interpretations of Indigenous stories, themes, and imagery that reveal the richness and depth of Lakota life.
Christopher Myers is an award-winning author, illustrator, and fine artist. Myers is the acclaimed illustrator of Love: Selected Poems by E. E. Cummings; Harlem: A Poem, a Caldecott Honor Book; Jazz, a Coretta Scott King Honor Book; and Blues Journey, a Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Book. He is also the author-illustrator of Black Cat and H.O.R.S.E.: A Game of Basketball and Imagination, both Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Books; We Are America: A Tribute from the Heart; A Time to Love: Stories from the Old Testament; Looking Like Me; Wings; and Fly! While he is widely acclaimed for his work with literature for young people, he is also an accomplished fine artist who has lectured and exhibited internationally.