Northampton County Historical & Genealogical Society’s Sigal Museum Art Series Funded through Crayola

sigal-museum-buildingThe Sigal Museum in downtown Easton announced a new art program offering free workshops for children during summer and fall of 2015. According to director Barbara Kowitz, the museum is “taking inspiration, in equal measure, from the museum’s history exhibits and the museum’s most colorful and creative neighbor, Crayola.”

“We are very grateful for Crayola’s generous support of this art workshop series that inspires young minds to draw inspiration from history. Our Second Sunday program is free, fun, and imaginative!” The historical society has recruited two local artists, Holly Houser and Cotty Kilbanks, both of whom are well known for their children’s art programs and have translated their exploration of the Sigal Museum into unique art projects.

Cotty Kilbanks has a full career in the animation industry on both coasts working for studios such as Warner Bros., Disney, Nickelodeon, and more on many popular cartoon shows such as Bugs Bunny cartoons, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Ironman ,and others. She also has a career as an art instructor on both coasts in the Los Angeles area and in Easton, Pa. Her clients include the Northampton Community College, the Banana Factory, the School of Visual Arts in NYC, ands is owner of Cotty’s Cartoon and Art Studio. She is an accomplished painter as well as children’s book illustrator and has a successful online Anime class on Craftsy. She is a graduate of Syracuse University and St. Martins School of Art in London, England. She presently resides in her hometown of Easton, Pa.

Holly Houser has art experience working with children in a variety of educational and recreational settings and holds a minor in fine arts and a masters degree in Elementary Education. Her children’s art education career has included craft coordination for the MOMS Club of Easton for toddlers and preschool age children, art teacher for 4th and 5th graders, and summer camp programming. She currently also serves as the art teacher for Girl Scout programs offered at the Sigal Museum.

Sunday, August 9 (Sigal Museum’s 5th Birthday Celebration”
Celebrate the Sigal Museum’s birthday by making a flickering candle thaumatrope, a 19th century moving picture toy. Holly Houser will guide young artists in this project, available by drop in from noon to 1pm.

Sunday, September 13 (Grandparents Day) – 2 programs
Based on the popular colonial Jacob’s Ladder toy, children will create a Magic Wallet, using the modern-day be-all duct tape! This workshop is provided by Holly Houser from 2-4pm.
Cotty Kilbanks will explore the timeless beauty of Pa-German Fraktur, the historical art form used to record life’s events. Children will create their own historical birth charts using old pictorial designs, modern calligraphy pens and bright colored art supplies. This workshop begins at 2pm.

Sunday, October 11
Cotty Kilbanks will offer a one-hour Pa-German Barn Sign workshop beginning at 2pm. Young artists will draw and paint imagery for their own take-home circular barn sign.

Sunday, October 18.
This bonus Third Sunday workshop celebrates the Halloween season by chasing away the dark with Paper Lanterns. Holly Houser will show artists how to create their own punched-paper version of colonial punched-tine lanterns. This one hour workshop begins at 2pm.

Pre-registration is recommended for workshops by calling 610.253.1222. Art projects are age appropriate 8 years and older.

About the Sigal Museum of the Northampton County Historical & Genealogical Society
The Sigal Museum, 342 Northampton Street in historic downtown Easton, is a venue of the Northampton County Historical and Genealogical Society, is an interactive museum offering visitors an insiders’ tour of American history made in Northampton County.  The Northampton County Historical and Genealogical Society was established in 1906 and continues to serve Northampton County PA and researchers throughout the world, by preserving, showcasing, exhibiting, and interpreting its more than 60,000 collection items. The Society maintains four locations in Easton, PA – the Mixsell House Museum at 4th and Ferry Streets, the Jacob Nicholas House Museum at 5th & Ferry Streets, the 1753 Bachmann Publick House at 2nd & Northampton Streets, and the Sigal Museum at 342 Northampton Street. The Jane S. Moyer Library for Local & Genealogical Research is located at the Sigal Museum.