Colorful canvases, 3D sculptures, and the squeaks and hums of first-time brass and string players filled the Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota (CMSM) on Thursday, August 13, as the community gathered for the third annual Kids Art Show reception and Mankato Symphony Orchestra (MSO) Instrument Petting Zoo.
Held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., the special celebration marked the culmination of the museum’s summer arts programming. Young creators who submitted original artwork over the preceding week received VIP artist badges upon entering, giving them star treatment as their work was displayed for family, friends, and museum patrons.
Walls Packed with Youthful Creativity
Personal artwork spanned across the museum’s exhibition walls, showcasing a vibrant array of mediums including paintings, drawings, collages, photographs, and sculptures.
Among the standout selections on display:
- A whimsical underwater scene depicting a school of sea creatures, including whales, octopuses, crabs, and dolphins.
- Intricate 3D-printed butterflies and fan-art illustrations of the Pokémon character Eevee alongside its original evolutions.
- A striking painting of a young girl seated at a piano, with vibrant musical notes blooming from the keys to fill the canvas with visual rhythm.
- A breathtaking painting of a lighthouse perched atop a cliff, demonstrating remarkable technique and depth from a young local talent.
In addition to admiring the gallery walls, young visitors were encouraged to roll up their sleeves at an interactive hands-on painting station. A large plastic panel served as an open blank canvas, giving children free rein to paint collaboratively. The station quickly turned into a flurry of creative energy—with one young artist skipping the brushes entirely to cover her hands in paint and press them directly onto the wall, resulting in an energetic, Jackson Pollock–inspired splatter piece that invited smiles and curious questions from onlookers.
From Grant-Funded Roots to a Growing Tradition
The origins of the annual showcase stem from a grant obtained by the museum to expand arts education and hands-on projects throughout the region.
Rachel Gemlo, Director of Programming at the Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota, holds a Master’s degree in Studio Painting and has been a driving force behind the initiative. Gemlo noted that community interest in the art show has surged significantly each year since its inception. “Running out of wall space is a good problem to have,” she shared, highlighting how eager young families have become to participate in the end-of-season showcase.
A Musical Symphony for Young Explorers
Adding to the evening’s sensory experience, the Mankato Symphony Orchestra returned to the museum for another year of its popular “Instrument Petting Zoo.” The Instrument Petting Zoo activity was made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.
The interactive station offered children an up-close introduction to orchestral instruments. MSO musicians provided brief demonstrations—playing simple scales on cellos, violins, clarinets, flutes, trombones, and trumpets—before placing the instruments directly into the hands of awestruck beginners.
The result was a joyful cacophony of musical discovery:
- Brass & Woodwinds: Trombones emitted low, rumbling bursts, trumpets squeaked, and flutes shrilled as kids tested their breath control.
- Strings: Children stood side-by-side with cellos nearly as tall as themselves, learning to guide bows across strings to produce deep, resonant harmonies. Violins posed a unique posture challenge under tiny chins, drawing amused facial expressions before settling into steady notes.
- Percussion: The rhythmic chime of the xylophone and the crisp snap of the snare drum rounded out the soundscape. Some drummers took creative rock-n-roll liberties, clacking their sticks together before letting loose a vicious solo.
Though missed notes were frequent, the excitement of making real music brought an undeniable glimmer to the children’s eyes.
Nurturing the Next Generation of Artists
Events like CMSM’s reception highlight the vital role community-funded arts initiatives play in fostering early creativity. Whether buzzing a trumpet for the first time or seeing their paintings showcased on museum walls, the young participants left with a sense of pride and inspiration—and perhaps, the first spark of a lifelong journey in the arts.
