Terry McNamee
Special to the Beaver
Children crowded the Lennox and Addington Museum and Archives on Saturday to learn to make their own version of a beaded Remembrance Day poppy originally created by Mi’kmaq artist Killa Atencio to honour both Indigenous and non-Indigenous veterans.
Parents and grandparents worked alongside the children as they all learned beading techniques from Indigenous artists Tina Brant and Joy Brant from Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory. So many children signed up that the event had to be split into two sessions.
“We had 60 kids,” said museum and archives program coordinator Amber Meyer. “Our museum kids’ program is usually very popular. It’s a free program that introduces children to different forms of the arts.”
Meyer said the Museum Kids program is held the first Saturday of the month from October to May, except for January. Each event offers a different type of art or craft. This was the first time a beading workshop was held, she said.
“We see lots of new families today, which has been lovely,” Meyer said.
The next children’s event will take place on Saturday, Dec. 7, from 10 to 11:30 a.m.
“It’s called Ballet Behind the Scenes,” Meyer said. “For that one, there’s no pre-registration required.”
This event will introduce children to The Nutcracker ballet and even teach them the Candy Cane Dance. They also will see some dancers perform from The Conservatory in Kingston and will be doing some crafts related to the famous ballet.
This program ties in with the museum’s upcoming exhibition, Crazy for Crackers, which will feature a large display of nutcrackers. Anyone that has nutcrackers they would like to loan to the museum so they can be included in this special display, they can bring them to the museum on the morning of Nov. 25 at 97 Thomas St. East, Napanee. Call 613-354-3027 for details.