​The Museum of Modern Art in New York City is one of the world’s best-known museums for modern and contemporary art.   MoMA (as it’s more commonly called by New Yorkers, artists and art lovers) has permanent collections as well as galleries where invited artists exhibit their work, or hang a show developed especially for MoMA. One such gallery is called ​Beyond the Uniform by the Puerto Rican artist Chemi Rosado-Seijo. Have you ever wondered about the guards that work in museums – what they think about while they are working,  or how they view the art that they are responsible for keeping safe?   Rosado-Seijo asked MoMA guards to show him their favorite piece of art, and to tell him why.  He created 20 audio recordings with transcripts. It’s interesting to hear how the guards view the pieces, and the insights they provide about the artwork, themselves and others.  Even more than the pieces, their observations are thought-provoking. ​

Audio 822 What other shells do people – your friends, family members, people in general – have or wear?  What are some of the ways to “crack” these open and to really see who is underneath the shell?  How do Reid’s comments connect to his life experiences as an African-American man, especially one who wears a uniform? Why might he relate to the position that the African-American policeman occupies when wearing an outfit that some might consider a symbol of authority, or even oppression? Are there other uniforms that have more positive connotations, regardless of who wears them?​​

Audio 825 Do you think that empathy  between artist and viewer is important?  What sort of places  - mountains, ocean, a particular town - do you have ties to?  What kind of images  remind you of these places? Is it  important that a picture (painting, drawing or photograph) invokes emotions (positive or negative) in its viewers? Why or why not? ​This piece has universal appeal, appreciated and loved by people from all over the world and from many difference cultures.  What characteristics of this painting do you think contribute to its ability to transcend cultural and social differences?

Project Discipline: Critical Thinking, Art
Age: Any
Supplies: art supplies of your choice

The Museum of Modern Art in New York City is one of the world’s best-known museums for modern and contemporary art. ​ A painting housed there, that you may have seen before is shown below (photo taken from MoMA site). 

Vincent van Gogh. The Starry Night. Saint Rémy, June 1889

Listen to the 1 minute audio below as you look at the painting.  Then head outside and create a piece of art, using your own sky as inspiration. We can't wait to see your artwork.  Choose any medium to enjoy - it could be a pencil sketch, a watercolor, a pastel...use what you have and what you like!

AUDIO

Feel free to share your responses on the Alaska 4-H facebook page!

​The temperatures are rising, the daylight is lasting longer everyday and it's starting to feel like SUMMER! What better way to celebrate than with an frozen treat you can make at home? This activity is brought to you by Cooperative Extension Service Nutrition Educator, Adair Harman. Thanks Adair, they look devine!

Let's get started!

Gather your supplies and ingredients. In addition to your general supplies, you'll need: 1 1/2 cups diced strawberries (or any berries you have on hand!) 3/4 cup low-fat vanilla yogurt 12 graham crackers ​

Don't have all the ingredients? Experiment with new flavors!

Don't forget to share your photos on our Alaska 4-H Facebook Page! 

Project Discipline: Fiber Arts ​Ages: All ages Difficulty level: easy Supplies: any yarn, your fingers, scissors Who needs fancy knitting needles when you can just use your fingers?! Let's get started with the how-to, and then we'll set you free to make your own knitted creations!  This activity produced by Lauren Bailey, 4-H Leader and fiber art extraordinaire in Kodiak, Alaska.

​Take the end connected to your ball and weave the yarn in-between your fingers working towards your pinky. Under 1, Over 2, Under 3, Over 4 ​Weave back towards your thumb. Under 4, Over 3, Under 2, Over 1.  ​Repeat so that there are two rows of yarn on your fingers

When you are ready to finish, cut the yarn leaving a tail about 8 inches long.

​Bring the tail under the loop on Finger 1 from top to bottom. ​Pull the loop off of your finger.

Remember, practice makes perfect! Show us your creation on the Alaska 4-H Facebook page!

Get Creative! In honor of Earth Day, use items from around your house, and upcycle them into your costume! 

Busy on Friday at 1? We'd still like to see what you can create. 

Alternate challenge: Use items that might have ended up in the trash to create something USEFUL!  Check out what Ronda from Bethel 4-H thought up: CD to Candle holder! Don't forget to share your creations with us on the Alaska 4-H facebook page!

Old CD to Candleholder

Yes, Earth Day was officially yesterday, but that doesn't mean we can't get out and pick up trash every day, or celebrate our beautiful planet every day.  Yesterday, while we were out picking up trash - we happened upon this rock (True Story)!  So let's "Be the Good" everyday, not just Earth Day. Or, as some say, "Make Every Day Earth Day" Onward we go, into the kitchen to make today's project inspired by the Earth Day: earth cookies! Project Discipline: Baking ​Ages: All ages, cloverbuds will need supervision Difficulty level: easy Supplies: sugar, butter/shortening, eggs, vanilla extract, flour, baking powder, salt, food coloring or natural dyes

Here's how they turn out on Pinterest

Here's how they turn out in real life...

Here's how it works:

It helps to have a dog helper to clean up messes on the floor.

​Next, preheat your oven to 325.  ​While it's preheating, divide the dough in half. Add blue coloring to one half and green to the other (amount dependent on your color desire).  This will take some arm muscles if mixing it in by hand!  ​You'll end up with something that looks like this:

At this point, you just take pinches of dough from both colors and stick it together as desired, alternating as you go. Your goal is to end up with a ball that holds about 2 tablespoons worth of dough that looks like planet earth.

Pop them in the oven for 15-18 minutes, depending on size of balls, and voila: Planet Earth Cookies!

Final step: Snap a photo, share to Alaska 4-H facebook and ENJOY!

Today's activity is simple: get outside and do something to benefit the world around you.

Maybe it's working in your garden, maybe it's donning gloves and picking up trash around your yard, maybe it's making bird feeders from pinecones and peanut butter to hang for the birds!

For more fabulous ideas, and to learn more about the history of this day, enter here:

Be sure to share your photos with us on the Alaska 4-H facebook page.

Tree pose, intention: Respect the Earth Waterfall pose, Intention: Be kind to the Earth

When you practice yoga, sometimes it is good to set an intention about how to live your best life or to send good thoughts to someone or something that you care about. Think about what you want to focus your thoughts on and that will be your intention. As we celebrate Earth day we can combine an intention and caring about the world.  In yoga there is a principle called Non-Harming (Ahimsa). This would be a very good idea for us to think about on earth day. Some intentions that you can think about during yoga or during your day while you think also about earth day might be: I will treat the earth with kindness I intend to not harm the earth I will be kind to the earth and to myself I will honor everything in the world You can probably think of one yourself. While you practice yoga today keep thinking about your intention as you breathe in and out. We can all make a difference to the earth and to ourselves! Once you've set your intention, enter the yoga studio below:

Be sure to share your photos and intentions, if you're comfortable, on Alaska 4-H facebook!

Today, we invite you to join us in celebrating military children in our communities around Alaska by making purple GAK! As stated in the Executive Proclamation declaring April 17, 2020 as Purple Up! For Military Kids! -  all Alaskans are encouraged to wear purple, the color symbolizing all branches of the military, as a visible show of support and appreciation of military children. So get on your purple shirts, your purple boots, and let's make some purple GAK!

Try it out, make your purple gak, and then play with it!  Check out some of the cool stuff you can do with it below, and then experiment, and show us what you come up with! Don't forget to post your photos to the Alaska 4-H facebook page. ​

Let's Purple Up Alaska with Gak!