Art Spark Texas and the McBeth Recreation Center are partnering once again for our Annual Art in the Park Festival! We are excited to provide this Virtual festival in 2022, until we can all gather safely again.
As we did at the in person events, we launch Art in the Virtual Park with a live dance performance by Wings! Watch at 11:30 am CDT Wednesday, April 6th.
This year we are focusing on the landscape, flora, and fauna of parks around the world. We invite you to watch this introductory video with Art Spark Staff members Eric and Silva below.
Then, check out this great list of videos of virtual activities in Art, Performance and Dance. Mix and match to create the best experience for your students. The Video of the Day will be posted on our social media each morning at 8:30 am from April 6-21. 2022, so don't forget to follow us on FB or IG @ArtSparkTx
Art Activities
Thaumatropes
Provided by Thinkery
Middle School and Up
Make an optical toy that tricks your eyes into seeing two pictures as one! What kinds of pictures or patterns can you combine when you make your own “wonder-spinners”?
Mess Free Finger Painting
Provided by South Austin Recreation Center
Ages 2 and Up
Using paint, a ziploc bag and a coloring sheet, sqeeze dots of paint onto the image, then place gently into baggie. Squish paint around by using fingers on the outside of the baggie.
Plantsportation
Provided by Art Loves Math
Elementary and Up
Plantsportation was made using Froebel Gifts and art supplies, as an example of an elementary school multi-media report that might be made by a single student or a small group. For more ways to use Froebel Gifts see www.artlovesmath.com
Create Your Own Illustrated Story
Provided by Art Spark Texas
High School and Up
Learn about a book publishing company in El Paso, Texas called CInco Punto Press. Create your own illustrated story bilingual book based on what you learned about Cinco Punto Press.
Create Your Own Paper Art House
Provided by Art Spark Texas
High School and Up
Learn about Casa Neverlandia and create a paper house that you can paint.
Homemade Clay Pottery
Provided by Art Spark Texas
High School and Up
Learn about Texas Sand Fest and create a clay pot from dirt in your own yard.
Leaf Creations!
Provided by Thinkery
Ages 4 and Up
Take a walk to find different shapes of leaves. Cut them into new shapes to make a collage.
Exquisite Creatures
PROVIDED BY THINKERY
Middle School and Up
A group activity with three people working together to create a creature using paper and markers.
Yarn Art
Provided by Metz Recreation Center
Ages 4 and Up
Dip coils of yarn into paint, then arrange inside folded paper. Pull the strings to reveal an abstract painting.
Make your Own Mini Zine
Provided by Austin Bat Cave
Middle School and Up
Austin Bat Cave's Leticia teaches us how to make your own zine. In English and Espanol.
Sensory Gel Bag
Provided by South Austin Recreation Center
Ages 4 and Up
Make a sensory gel bag by putting liquid soap, food coloring, and glitter in a ziplock bag.
Leaf Art
Provided by Rudy Mendez Recreation Center
Ages 3 and Up
Make leaf art with Britanny from the Rudy Mendez Recreation Center.
Corn Husk Doll
Provided by Great Promise for American Indians
Middle School and Up
Make a corn husk doll while learning about the Haudenosaunee origin story of the Corn Husk Doll.
https://austinpowwow.net/donate/
Dream Catcher
Provided by Great Promise for the American Indians
High School and Up
Create a dreamcatcher and learn about the story of this traditional native craft.
https://austinpowwow.net/donate/
Lizard Key Chain
Provided by Great Promise for American Indians
High School and Up
Try your hand at beading by crafting a pony bead keychain in the shape of a lizard.
https://austinpowwow.net/donate/
Equinox Finger Balance
Provided by Northwest Recreation Center
Elementary and Up
Create a cool balance toy! Jordan from Northwest Recreation Center shows us how to complete this fun craft that evokes the beauty of the Sun and the Moon, and bends your perception of gravity.
Pajaki: A Polish Paper Chandelier
Provided by Dougherty Arts Center
High School and Up
Learn how to make a Pajaki, a paper chandelier traditionally made in Poland.
Upcycled Toy Frame
Provided by Dougherty Arts Center
High School and Up
Artist Andrea Patin shows you how to make a decorative frame from upcycled materials.
Munching Fish
Provided by art spark texas
Elementary and Up
Art Spark Texas is providing virtual versions of some of our make-and-take arts and craft activities from our annual Art in the Park Festival. Enjoy this Munching Fish activity.
Card Making
Presented by Art Spark Texas
Elementary and Up
Learn how to make a card for any occasion, or perhaps no occasion at all! Find a picture and create a saying to go with it!
Volcano Painting
Provided by Art Spark Texas
Elementary and Up
Join Art in the Virtual Park 2022 as we take a journey to Parks Around the World. Explore your creativity with fun projects as we move across the globe to all 7 continents.
Desert Diorama
Provided by art spark texas
Elementary and Up
Art in The Park 2022 is headed to Parks Around the World! Join in on our creative journey through all 7 continents.
Paper Dragonfly
Presented by Art Spark Texas
Elementary and Up
Join us as we take a trip through parks around the world. In this video, we are making a dragonfly inspired by the Demoiselle Damselfly that can be found in Croatia's Plitvice Lake National Park.
Painted Rock Stack
Provided by Art Spark Texas
Elementary and Up
Join Art in the Virtual Park 2022 as we take a journey to Parks Around the World. Explore you're creativity with fun projects as we move across the globe to all 7 continents.
Paper Fish
Provided by art spark texas
Elementary and Up
Art in The Park 2022 is headed to Parks Around the World! Join in on our creative journey through all 7 continents.
Nature Names Collage
Presented by Art Spark Texas
Elementary and Up
Uluru Rock Picture
Provided by Art Spark Texas
Elementary and Up
Join Art in the Virtual Park 2022 as we take a journey to Parks Around the World. Explore you're creativity with fun projects as we move across the globe to all 7 continents.
PERFORMANCE
Raggylug
Provided by Austin Playhouse
Elementary and Up
"In the early days of COVID, Lara Toner, producing artistic director of Austin Playhouse, looked for virtual pieces to place on its youtube page to entertain subscribers during quarantine. Bernadette Nason, professional storyteller as well as actor, answered the call. Her husband filmed Bernadette telling Raggylug on his phone in their living room and she sent it along. It's ideal for EC through 4th grade, but grown-ups seem to enjoy it, too!"
www.austinplayhouse.com www.bernadettenason.com
Anthropos Arts Music Video
Provided by Anthropos Arts
Elementary and Up
Our first ever Anthropos Arts music video! As live performance opportunities and rehearsals became unrealistic due to the pandemic in 2020, we quickly launched a program component called ‘Voices From Home’ where students learned the art of recording music at home via SoundTrap. The result is a professional sounding EP completely recorded by our very own #AnthroKids.
Hot Seat
Provided by Dougherty Arts Center
Ages 3 and Up
Instructor: Ariel Ximenes In this video, we will learn about emotion and expression through a simple acting game that’s easy to play for all ages, called Hot Seat. Hot Seat takes at least 2 players, but can be played with as many people as you’d like. Player 1 will sit down in a chair, or The Hot Seat. Player 2 will come up, and give Player 1 a reason to stand up. Player 1 will then react to the suggestion, and get out of The Hot Seat. The players can get trade spots, and play again (for players 8+, try adding the challenge of no repeat reasons, or allow Player 1 the ability to offer a counter-argument to Player 2, causing Player 2 to expand on their suggestion).
Fairytales in Opera #1 What is Opera? Opera Quiz
Provided by Austin Opera
In this video, we will dispel some of the stereotypes and misconceptions people have about opera. Students will be introduced to opera by participating in a fun and interactive Opera Quiz.
Sing Opera
Provided by Austin Opera
learn basic opera vocabulary and hear a performance of a Mozart aria.
Cielito Lindo Singing Performance by Salma Saenz
Provided by Mexican American Cultural Center
Elementary and Up
Salma Saenz from South Austin performs the song Cielito Lindo in Spanish as part of the Mexican American Cultural Center's Viva Mexico 2020 Online Celebration
Dance
Just Ask with ASL
Provided by Art Spark Texas
Elementary and Up
The story Just Ask is read in English and ASL. Throughout the reading, you can participate in movement exercises.
How Walking through a World of Aromas I Dance
Provided by Art Spark Texas
Elementary and Up
The story Walking through a World of Aromas is read in English. After the reading you can participate in movement exercises.
Winter Dance
Provided by Art Spark Texas
Elementary and Up
Creative movement exploration based on the reading of the book Winder Dance.
My Brother Charlie
Provided by Art Spark Texas
Elementary and Up
The story My Brother Charlie read in English. Then, with a group of friends, create body puzzles.
All the Way to the Top
Provided by Art Spark Texas
Elementary and Up
The story All the Way to the top is read in English. Then, create movements to go with words inspired by the story.
Post it Dance Experiment #4
Provided by Ariel Dance
High School and Up
This improvisation features music by Graham Reynolds and the talents of AADT dancers Whitney O’Baugh, Luis Ordaz, Ceci Proeger, Rebecca McLindon, Kevin Armstrong, and Sandie Donzica.
Hawaiian Dance -Hula
Provided by Ballet Austin
Elementary and Up
Join us for a Beautiful World Hula Lesson with Ballet Austin's Director of Community Education, Pei-San Brown.
Nature Yoga Flow
Provided by Ballet Austin
Elementary and Up
Practice a Nature Yoga Flow with Ballet Austin's Director of Community Education, Pei-San Brown.
Mindfulness Butterfly Medication
Provided by Ballet Austin
Elementary and Up
Practice a Butterfly Meditation Activity with Ballet Austin's Director of Community Education, Pei-San Brown.
Thank you to our Art in the Park 2022 contributors: South Austin Recreation Center, Metz Recreation Center, Thinkery, Art Loves Math, Austin Bat Cave, Great Promise for American Indians, Northwest Recreation Center, Dougherty Arts Center, Ariel Dance, Ballet Austin, Austin Playhouse, Anthropos Arts, Austin Opera, and the Mexican American Cultural Center.
Art in the Park is supported in part by the Cultural Arts Division of the City of Austin Economic Development Department.