By Karen Rubin, Travel Features Syndicate, goingplacesfarandnear.com
Visitors to the Gold Coast Arts, in Great Neck, Long Island, were treated to a book-signing with the eminent children’s book author/illustrator Roxie Munro, at the October 16 opening of an exhibit of her exquisite art, “Storytelling Through Art,” on view through early 2023.
Munro will be giving presentations and art workshops to visiting school groups during the exhibition, which was curated by Jude Amsel, Gold Coast Arts Gallery Director.
Munro has created more than 45 nonfiction STEM/STEAM and concept books for children, many that incorporate “gamification” – interactive games – to encourage reading, learning and engagement.
Her latest book, “ABCity,” is an amazing alphabet book that integrates the letters into fantastical cityscapes. It integrates a maze, a seek-n-find game and giant fold-out, two-sided poster.
The exhibit showcases her art from other prominent books, including the entire ABCity alphabet, plus many featuring the natural world from her books, “Anteaters, Bats &Boas: The Amazon Rainforest from the Forest Floor to the Treetops”; “Dive In; Swim with Sea Creatures at Their Actual Size”; “Rodent Rascals: From Tiny to Tremendous, 21 Clever Creatures at their Actual Size.” A really interesting puzzle-style book introduces children to the different genres of art, in “Masterpiece Mix,” where she actually reproduces in miniature some of the most famous works of art.
She also makes available many fun free activities, including mazes, coloring sheets from her books; Activity and Students Guides; sets of bookmarks; how-to-draw videos at the For Kids Page at her website (https://www.roxiemunro.com/kids-parents-teachers.html).
Munro’s books have been translated into French, Italian, Dutch, Chinese, and Japanese. She also creates oils, watercolors, prints, and drawings, primarily cityscapes, which are exhibited widely in the US in galleries and museums and are held in numerous private, public, and corporate collections. Fourteen of her paintings have been published as covers of The New Yorker magazine.
Born in Texas, and raised in southern Maryland, Roxie studied at the University of Maryland, the Maryland Institute College of Art (Baltimore), earned a BFA in Painting from the University of Hawaii, attended graduate school at Ohio University (Athens), and received a Yaddo Fellowship in Painting. She has been a working artist all her life. Clients included CBS, the Washington Post, and the Associated Press. She also lectures in museums, schools, libraries, conferences, and teaches workshops. (More information at www.roxiemunro.com).
Family Art Day
The author booksigning and exhibition opening was held in conjunction with a Family Film and Arts Day at Gold Coast Arts.
Children could take part in activities including: a demonstration by world-renowned graffiti artist Zimad; mask decorating; and a free showing of the ‘best of : Family Shorts, films from past Gold Coast International Film Festivals, as part of the ongoing Gold Coast International Film Festival.
In addition, children could take part in special workshops ($20 per child for an all-access pass): a glass painting workshop, a pumpkin painting workshop, and a crafts project organized by The Blue Bus Project, a colorful, fully equipped alternative art space that travels into neighborhoods to host hands-on projects that enable children to explore their creativity.
Gold Coast Arts is an independent 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization serving the Long Island and greater New York community for over 25 years, dedicated to promoting and supporting the arts through education, exhibition, performance and outreach. Since its founding in 1995, more than 100,000 people of all ages and backgrounds have taken advantage of its wide selection of classes in many different media and forms from art to dance, live performances including Comedy Festival, musical programs and year-round film festivals; workshops, and art exhibits.
Gold Coast Arts Center, 113 Middle Neck Road, Great Neck, NY 11021 (entrance from the Maple Avenue parking lot), 516-829-2570, www.goldcoastarts.org.
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