Newspapers lined the floor of Kresge Art Museum as children of all ages gathered around glitter-covered tables to use child-proof scissors and colored paper to make valentines for someone they love.
“A Celebration of Heart” took place Sunday afternoon and gave students and families a chance to interact as they hand-crafted valentines and puppets.
Participating in the puppet-making workshop conducted by Carol Lacca, Madeline Booth, 7, looked up to her father for guidance.
“Daddy, I can’t figure out how to get her hair on,” she said.
Phil Booth, a Williamston resident, reached down to assist his daughter. He decided to visit the workshop with her after reading about it in a brochure.
“It’s fun to have the kids doing the crafts and having the exposure to MSU at the same time,” Booth said, one eye watching Madeline meticulously glue the auburn hair onto her puppet-in-progress.
Father and daughter had been hard at work making cards for Madeline’s mom and 1 month old little brother.
Several college students joined the 150-person crowd to enjoy the family atmosphere. Dietetics sophomore Dana Ericson brought four of her friends to the afternoon’s festivities.
“I went last year to make valentines for my parents, and they loved them. It’s nice to be around kids and families while we’re at school,” Ericson said.
She glanced at the only male among them, criminal justice sophomore Lee Ehlers, and joked, “He’s excited to be here. We were working out and we just decided to drag him.”
Even the involuntary participant seemed to be enjoying himself.
“My mom is going to love this,” laughed Ehlers, asking a friend to pass him some more rose-covered wrapping paper.
Julie Thomson, Kresge’s community outreach coordinator, looked around the room, pleased with the outcome and enjoying the sound of chatter and children’s laughter.
“There’s always an excitement in children that students don’t get to see much when they’re in college,” she said.
Cari Wolfe, the graduate assistant for Kresge, said the main purpose of the event was to give members of the community quality time with one another, and to allow them to spend time in Kresge.
“I think it’s a great way for all the kids of the community to interact with each other, and also gives parents time to spend with them,” she said.
“It also gets them into the museum-setting, and hopefully they’ll feel comfortable here and come back.”
