Eureka! The New Childrens’ Museum does it again.
By Cathy Breslaw
The New Childrens’ Museum just launched its newest thematic exhibition Eureka!, with a variety of wonderful experiences for young people. ‘Car-a-oke’, for example incorporates science, technology, music, art and design. Artist, Nick Rodrigues transforms a California car into a play space where kids can pretend to drive a car while singing whatever song comes on the radio. ‘Desert Derby’ created by artist Roman de Salvo is a car track where kids can roll cars down roads but also see a water dam and reservoir and can learn about aqueducts and California’s water system. ‘Globus’, the most exciting new addition to the museum, is a monumental balloon made from gold tissue paper, glue, strings, and vinyl printed images that is ‘blown up’ with a simple box fan. Collective Magpie held dozens of workshops in San Diego and Tijuana to create this suspended humongous light weight balloon in the tradition of Globos de Cantoya, unmanned hot air balloons made all over Mexico.
Also in the exhibition is ‘Sandbox Gallery’ – an 11’ x 14’sandbox that acts like a platform for presenting new video artworks. ‘Connect the Drops’ is an ecology center that raises awareness for California’s water shortages and shares educational tips on reducing our ‘water footprint’. ‘Go West’ is a model historic covered wagon inspired by the trails and adventures of the wagon trains who settled the west a few hundred years ago and children are provided materials to paint the wagon. ‘Reconnecting to Home’ , created by Alison Pebworth, is a four story house featuring architectural styles from different periods throughout the state of California. ‘Eureka’ focuses on the state of California, providing lots of educational and fun things to see and activities for children and people of all ages. San Diegans are lucky to have this innovative children’s museum in their midst.