Mix ‘n Match Faces
Each month brings a new challenge with the Children’s Museum of the Arts (CMA) CIVIC KIDS campaign! Their theme for November is “Equity”…. perfect for election month, don’t you think?!
equitynoun1 the equity of society: fairness, justness, impartiality, egalitarianism; objectivity, balance, open-mindedness.”
The challenge is open to kids everywhere… you don’t need to live in NYC to participate! Simply create a project inspired by the theme of the month and share it on Instagram with the hashtag #CMACIVICKIDS.
For this month’s theme, CMA chose a drawing game inspired by the Surrealist artists of the early 1900’s, folding a piece of paper so that each child works on an equal section (hence the equity!). Each section of the drawing is completed independently, without seeing what comes before or after. The big reveal at the end will have everyone laughing! You can see their project idea here.
For my “twist” on CMA’s project, I wanted to share a fun variation I call “Mix ’n Match Faces”, adapted from a project in the classic book Gene Baer’s Wild & Wonderful Art Lessons.
Keeping with the theme of “Equity”, each student works on an equal, three-part section of a single piece of paper to create a face. Then, with the help of a few strategically-placed cuts, the paper can be re-folded again and again to create so many silly variations! It’s fun for a group of students to collaborate on a single Mix ’n Match, but each student could also make their own.
My talented artist/friend, Bridgett Spicer, did the drawings for my sample project below! Be sure to check out her website to see more of her art, and follow her on Instagram! If you happen to be in Portland, you can see her work in person at Sidestreet Arts.
- 12” x 18” white construction paper
- 6” x 9” card stock (I use an old file folder)
- scissors
- pencils, markers, crayons, etc.
Add some color with markers or crayons, if you want. You can make Mix ’n Match Booklets with people, animals, or any crazy creatures you can imagine! For subjects that are more horizontal than vertical, simply turn your paper so that the flaps move up and down, instead of right and left.
Be sure to share your projects with the hashtag #cmacivickids!