Mini-Factory is an interactive learning program designed for children ages 3-5 years old and their parents or caregivers. Participants are invited to explore, play, and grow! Focused on a variety of themes and installations, participants can enjoy story time and work on a collaborative hands-on project. Mini-Factory is a mobile, adaptable pop-up space students can help to build and ten use to explore ideas inspired by Mattress Factory artists. Upcoming Mini-Factory sessions include:
January 13: HOLDING SPACE
Inspired by MF Artist Vanessa German, Mini-Factory artists will create objects that represent or honor someone important in their lives.
January 27: WE ALL FALL DOWN
Inspired by MF Artist Allan Wexler, Mini-Factory artists will explore gravity as a creative partner by rolling, swinging, and dropping various objects to make art.
February 10, 2018: THE TAKEAWAY
MF Artist William Anastasi experiments with destruction as creation. Taking inspiration from Anastasi’s work, Mini-Factory artists will explore how peeling, unwrapping, carving, and scraping changes objects.
February 24, 2018: FROM HERE TO THERE
Inspired by MF Artist Ezra Masch, Mini-Factory students will learn about different ways to document a journey, such as map making, leaving clues and creating paths.
March 10, 2018: POINT OF VIEW
Because of their height, children see things differently than adults. Inspired by MF Artist Sarah Oppenheimer, Mini-Factory artists will curate what their caregivers see using viewfinders, colored glasses and more!
March 24, 2018: SURPRISE ME
Chicago Collaboration‘s waterfall handrail is both quiet and suprising. In this session, Mini-Factory artists will think about inserting art in unexpected places!
April 14, 2018: BEE TEAM
MF Artist Meg Webster’s Solar Grow Room was made in response to declining bee populations. In this session, Mini-Factory artists will make art that can help the environment!
April 28, 2018: STORYTELLING
Inspired by MF Artist Charlie Jansen, Mini-Factory artists will make and use puppets to tell a story.
Mini-Factory is held on the second and fourth Saturday of each month from 10:00 until 11:00 am at the Mattress Factory. For more information, or to register, visit the Mattress Factory’s Mini-Factory webpage. Visit the MF Calendar to see the most up-to-date information regarding Mini-Factory programs!
