Museum Unveils First Toshiko Horiuchi-MacAdam Art PlayScape in the United States on June 13

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C., June 13, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- This innovative art playscape, installed in the Children's Museum's outdoor patio, will open to the public Thursday, June 13th.

Similar crocheted Toshiko Horiuchi-MacAdam art playscapes have been installed in Japan, China and Spain, and the Children's Museum is honored to receive the first crocheted art installation in the United States from this award-winning artist. Ms. Horiuchi-MacAdam noted "I have spent decades creating these tremendous playscapes and the joy that the children experience while playing on them gives me purpose."

"This Kaleidoscape is a true collaboration of art and play" said Elizabeth Dampier, Executive Director of the Children's Museum. "In light of current research highlighting the benefits of art, education and play, the Museum continues to serve the children of the community through projects that directly address issues of local and national importance."

Educators, parents, and education professionals are attentive to the growing body of research linking the time children spend playing with improved health, wellness and behavior. Research also suggests that play and down time may be as important to a child's academic experience as reading, science and math. Reduced playtime has certainly reduced child activity rates, which has short-term and longer-term health implications. In the past 4 decades, U.S. children have lost an average of 12 hours per week in free time, specifically, a 25 percent decrease in play, a trend that disproportionately impacts minority and disadvantaged children. The Kaleidoscape provides the ongoing opportunity for families and school children to engage with ever-changing, self-directed, compelling play and this large, outdoor playscape encourages physical activity, group play and social interactions among young children.  

The Children's Museum of Winston-Salem is located downtown at 390 South Liberty Street, Winston-Salem, NC, 27101.  Learn more

About the Kaleidoscape

The Kaleidoscape interactive playscape was created by artist Toshiko Horiuchi MacAdam with Interplay Design & Manufacturing, Inc. and was made possible by a major grant from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services. Additional funding and support was provided by the Sam N. Carter and Pauline H. Carter Fund, The Cannon Foundation, BB&T, the Richard J. Reynolds, III and Marie M. Reynolds Foundation, The Arts Council of Winston-Salem and Forsyth County in our City of Arts & Innovation and Frank L. Blum Construction Company.

About the Children's Museum

The Children's Museum of Winston-Salem is a nonprofit 501(c) (3), that enjoys more than 80,000 visits annually, through individual and family visits, programs, events and school field trips. The Children's Museum opened in 2004, and since that time, has welcomed more than 600,000 visitors. www.childrensmuseumofws.org

Contact:
336-723-9111

Photos:
http://www.prlog.org/12155613

Press release distributed by PRLog

SOURCE Children's Museum of Winston-Salem