Museum Exhibit Bares Patriotic Souls of Youngsters

In February, the Children’s Museum at La Habra asked elementary school students to submit artwork featuring a patriotic theme, and they responded with gusto. Nearly 400 La Habra-area students--kindergarten through fourth grade--contributed and their works are now on exhibit through April 30.

Some produced splatter paintings under the heading “Fireworks!” Others carved shapes of the 13 colonies out of soap.

Another group covered a flag with essays describing what it means to be an American. For the El Cerrito Elementary School student who wrote, “I am proud to be an American because there is lots of food,” it means never having to go hungry. To another youngster at the same school who wrote, “I am proud to be an American because nobody pushes you around,” it means security. To the Las Positas creator of the Liberty Bell covered with copper pennies, it means freedom and prosperity.

The exhibit, which opened March 29, is a prelude to the museum’s Children’s Arts Festival Day on Saturday, a free celebration of performing and visual arts sponsored by Target Stores. This year the museum is working with the La Habra Bicentennial Committee on the U.S. Constitution and the La Habra Emblem Club Americanism Project to explore a patriotism theme for the exhibit and festival.

The show is not a judged exhibit, but rather a collective expression of the children’s artistic and patriotic interests.

“It’s not competitive because we believe there are enough competitive shows for children and that kids needed a place to exhibit where they wouldn’t be judged,” said Cathy Michaels, museum director. “All children’s art has value; it’s not better just because an adult puts a blue ribbon on it.”

Visitors to the museum’s Gallery Three follow exuberant signs and displays to the hands-on booth, where children can use panels and other props to mix colors and experiment with the elements of design. Following this is a display of American symbols, such as the flag and Abraham Lincoln’s log cabin.

The rest of the show is given over to the children, whose enthusiasm produced a bounty of original designs, including a huge flag made of hundreds of pieces of rolled paper, and a mobile of dangling Abraham Lincoln and George Washington heads. The final portion of the exhibit is a flag-making workshop, where students are urged to create their own versions of Old Glory.

“What we’re really encouraging back here is individual design, rather than the usual U.S. flag,” Michaels said. “Their flags can be anything with the pieces we provide, or they can cut their own paper into pieces and use those. Then they get to take them home.”

The museum’s Arts Festival Day on Saturday takes place at the museum and adjacent Portola Park and will include the folk music of John Yeiser, puppetry by Judy Sofer, storytelling by Kashka Warden, Chinese dancers and the Huff ‘n Puffs dancers. Art workshops will be offered in Portola Park, including balloon-painting, easel-painting, wood-sculpting and kite-making. Also, a giant inflatable sculpture by Michael Marks will be on display at the free, daylong event.

The Children’s Arts Festival continues through April 30 at the Children’s Museum at La Habra, 301 S. Euclid St., La Habra. Admission: $1 for children, $1.50 for adults. Information: (213) 905-9793.