For families looking to keep the kids entertained during these final weeks before the school doors open, Nassau County Museum of Art is worth a visit. The museum unveiled a new exhibit last month with kids and families in mind: POP UP Fairy Tales. It opened July 22, at NCMA's Tee Ridder Miniatures Museum, and remains on view through Oct. 14.
To hold, touch, turn, pull and play with a pop-up book is a stress-free alternative to today's high tech world of computers and television screens. Children and adults alike appreciate the way a pop-up book invites surprise and fascination. POP UP Fairy Tales combines that "wow" factor of pop-ups with the classic appeal of children's fairy tales.
Favorite storybook characters, including Cinderella, Goldilocks, Alice in Wonderland, Robin Hood, Pinocchio, Winnie the Pooh and much more, spring to life because of inventive multi-dimensional styles that only moveable books can offer. Museum-goers can expect to see dragons jump off the page and see castles and cottages opened up for
viewing.
POP UP Fairy Tales is offered as part of NCMA's ongoing effort to attract young audiences. "Showcasing this whimsical collection of pop-up books is a perfect complement to Tee Ridder's dollhouse miniatures," explained Guest Curator Debra Wells.
The exhibit showcases items lovingly selected from the bookshelves of Long Island collector Leah Fiterstein. Her personal collection consists of more than 1,500 pop-up books, both vintage and contemporary. Each book was chosen for its literary value, age, paper engineering and illustration techniques, as well as fitting into the fairytale theme. A member of the Moveable Book Society, Ms. Fiterstein has been collecting books and other treasures for many years at antique and book fairs, and from her travels throughout the world.
Ms. Fiterstein relishes the hunt for more books and comments, "I always grin with pleasure at the expressions of surprise and the smiles that a pop-up book never fails to evoke. I especially love the fact that the reader is not just a bystander, but plays a significant part in the action that takes place. What an amazing job the brilliant paper engineers are capable of achieving with their artistic and intricate creations!"
For those who want to handle the pop-ups at the show, there is a quaint garden cart filled with specially selected books. Weekend activities complement the exhibit, including storytelling and children's art activities. Free how-to sheets from award-winning author Robert Sabuda are available for those who want to try their skills at this unique 700-year-old art form.
Following POP-UP Fairy Tales, the fun continues through January, with POP UP Holidays, featuring books themes including Halloween, Hanukah and Charles Dickens' Christmas stories.
POP-UP
Fairy Tales
On view through Oct. 14, Tuesday through Sunday, 11 a.m.-4:45 p.m.
Admission: $10 adult: $8 seniors 62 and older: $4 children 12 and older. Docent-led tours offered at 2 p.m. daily except Sunday; no reservations needed. On Sundays, from 12:30 to 3 p.m., the museum offers live music, supervised art activities for children and their families and family tours of the exhibitions. Tours and Family Sundays at the Museum are free with museum admission. One Museum Dr. (off Northern Blvd.), Roslyn Harbor. (516) 484-9338 or www.nassaumuseum.com.
