What: Saturdays in the UNT Galleries, which will focus on a bookmaking activity, "How to Make and Illustrate a Simple Book." The gallery will also have a free exhibition on display.
When: 1-3 p.m. Feb. 7
Where: UNT Art Gallery, 1201 W. Mulberry St. in Denton, on the first floor of the Art Building
Parking: Guests can park for free near the Art Building on Mulberry and Welch.
Cost: Free
What else: Reservations can be made at UNT Galleries online
DENTON (UNT), Texas -- Students from kindergarten to 12th grade and their families will learn to make and illustrate their own book at the next UNT Art Gallery Saturday Series program, organized by the University of North Texas Art Galleries in partnership with the UNT chapter of the National Art Education Association.
The free event aimed at children from kindergarten to the 12th grade takes place from 1 to 3 p.m. Feb. 7 (Saturday) at the UNT Art Gallery, located at 1201 W. Mulberry St. in Denton.
Collage artist, novelist and poet, Christine Irving, will lead the event. After reading and discussing a traditional tale, Irving will teach students how to create their own six page book out of a single piece of paper.
Irving will then explore different media and materials – such as crayons, stickers and markers – which participants can use to illustrate their books.
Irving has been a collage artist for more than 30 years. Much of her early work was created in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where she lived with her family for 17 years.
Irving thinks that storytelling is an important part of everyone's education. To Irving, storytelling is "the oldest, most natural and most pleasant way to teach or learn any truth, from the most mundane to the most lofty and philosophical." By combining storytelling with bookmaking, young learners will be inspired to create art.
Her recent projects include a year-long collaboration with fellow artist Michelle Anglin to uncover, through collage, modern meaning in a series of ancient tales.
Volunteers from the National Art Education Association, who are studying to become art teachers, will help guests with the activities.
Saturdays in the UNT Galleries, takes place four times each academic year. The other spring program is scheduled for April 11 and will feature activities about photography.
The series is sponsored by a grant from the Texas Commission on the Arts and aims to have children and their families engage with visual art through interactive and performance-based interpretation.