Thank you all artists – children and parents/guardians — for your participation at our latest workshop: Nest-making.  You filled the MOCA-Tucson museum with creativity and a love.  In this workshop children created nests around and on top of their parents. We watched as artists layered and evolved their nest installations over the course of 40 minutes.  Then children placed themselves in the nest with the parents.   Later, some reversed roles: parents built nests on and around children, completing a cycle.   Your artistry informed our ongoing dialogue about creating “home” and “safe(er) places.”  A nest can be a physical, psychological or imaginary creation.  It is what we make of it, and it is an ongoing, every-changing process.

A few images are below.  You can view and download all the photos from the workshop here. Photos by Renee Bibby (who is famous in Tucson for her photos of multi-heritage families).

- Love,

Natalie Nguyen and Denise Uyehara
Mama/Baby/Dada Project

Thanks to our participants: Yvonne and Chiara Mery, Stephen, Audrie and Leif Terre, Tanya and Spike Hammond and Sara Rose Blaithwaite, Michael and Molly Guymon, Mitch Goddard and Jaxon and Willa Goddard-Westland, Corey, Iris and Ella Knox, Serena Tang, Andre Newman and Savan, Sula and Rene.

This forth “cycle” is designed for children ages 3-6 and their parent(s) or guardian(s) in the process of nest making. Children are given materials and instructions to create a nest in, around and on top of their parent. Parents participate very minimally, allowing the children to control the outcome of the project, whatever that may be.  Children are encouraged to use this space to concretely or abstractly express their feelings around safety, home and family. The results are documented and incorporated into the long term visuals of the Mama/Baby/Dada universe.  Mama/Baby/Dada is an ongoing investigation into the blurred boundaries of work and play, between parent and child.
The first three cycles of this project dealt with transcription/repetition (ages 0-1) mapping, and mirroring (ages 1-4).

Snacks provided.  Please note this event will be videotaped.

Saturday, May 29, 10am – 11:30am
MOCA-Tucson (its new location!)
265 South Church Avenue
Tucson, AZ 85701-1610
Tel: (520) 624-5019
$5 members, $10 non-members, FREE for kids under 12
All ages welcome, but interactive participation geared toward ages 2-6

Advance tickets and reservations available info@moca-tucson.org

An investigative play date for young children and their parents HocoFest, Tucson

FACILITATED BY Natalie Brewester Nguyen & Denise Uyehara
DATE: Saturday, September 5, 2009
TIME: 3pm – 4:15pm
LOCATION: Maynard’s/Historic Train Depot, in the north patio
400 N. Toole (across from Hotel Congress) downtown Tucson
Admission: FREE!
Looking for a fun family activity? Bring your young children (4 years and under) to participate in a special play date in which children play while parents trace their pathways with colored markers, creating a “map” of their activities. This event is part of an ongoing performance that explores the boundaries of work and play. Please note this workshop will be videotaped.
map drawing
Part of the Family Festival, HOCOFest 2009
with special thanks to Out of Pocket Productions
Click here more info/directions to HocoFest
Click here for Mama/Baby/Dada website and videos
If you have additional questions
please contact Denise at dahoodore@aol.com

Want more information on these award-winning artists?
Visit their websites:DeniseUyehara.com and NatalieBrewsterNguyen.com
Mama/Baby/Dada workshops have been presented at MOCA-Tucson and the Broodwork art opening at Eagle Rock Community Cultural Center, Los Angeles.

FREE

http://www.centerartseaglerock.org/index.php/calendar/event/id/338

Suggested age for toddlers: 1-4years
Each child should bring a parent or guardian to participate in the project

You and your little one are invited to participate in this free art-making playdate for toddlers, in which a parent/guardian traces the pathways their children make while they work and play. A section of the “map” we create will be on display for the Brood exhibition. Please note this workshop will be videotaped for upload to the artists’ websites. (For security family’s names will credited separately from the workshop video.) Snacks provided.