BxCM Opens New Exhibit Space The Artists’ Studio: ‘Elebooyah!: The C.G. Esperanza Studio Show’
On Saturday, March 18, Bronx Children’s Museum unveiled its newest exhibit featuring award-winning illustrator and children’s book author C.G. Esperanza. "Elebooyah!: The C.G. Esperanza Studio Show" gives visitors a glimpse into the mind of Esperanza.
Children and families climbed a few steps into the loft-like exhibit area, which is a recreation of the Bronx-born artist’s working studio. The exhibit gives children an opportunity to see first-hand what it’s like to be in an artist’s studio. It features a mock up of the artist’s desk including tubes of paint, brushes, sketches and a painting in progress; finished artwork including hand-made costumes and painted sneakers; a library of Esperanza’s books; an inspiration wall of the artist’s sketches and influences; and a video of Esperanza demonstrating his artistic ideas and process. There is also a magnet wall filled with characters and objects from the whimsical world of Esperanza’s books.
“We’re very excited to open 'Elebooyah!: The C.G. Esperanza Studio Show' to our visitors. This show explores all of the influences that an artist uses to create their work,” said Natalie Collette Wood, Bronx Children’s Museum Deputy Director of Arts and Exhibits. "We have all the music, the literature and the history of the Bronx that C.G. Esperanza uses to make his children’s books. This is so important to us and our community because this is exactly what we want visitors to do after they visit the Museum: go out and explore the rich history, culture and music of the Bronx."
The exhibit includes space for children to create their own artwork inspired by Esperanza. He led a mask-making activity during the opening, and an interactive reading of Boogie Boogie, Y’all that led visitors in song and dance from the Museum’s Boogie Down Block exhibit down to the concourse area.
Esperanza is also the artist and creator of the Boogie Down Block exhibit, which includes a recreation of a Bronx casita and neighborhood storefronts.
Coverage of the event is available on News 12 The Bronx!
