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Xīn Nián Kuài Lè or Happy Chinese New Year from The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis!
In honor of the Year of the Horse, The Children’s Museum will trot out some spectacular reasons to celebrate 2014 with a couple of blockbuster exhibits that will not be seen anywhere else in the world – Terra Cotta Warriors: The Emperor’s Painted Army and Take Me There: ® China.
The world-class exhibits won’t open until May 10. To get families prepared for the exciting year to come, the museum plans to celebrate the Chinese New Year in a big way.
As named by the Chinese Lunar Calendar, 2014 is the Year of the Horse. Those born this year are said to be energetic, intelligent and sociable. There will definitely be a lot of energy in the museum as the Sunburst Atrium jumps to life Feb. 1 with musicians, singers, and other performers who will showcase various talents in celebration.
The Indianapolis Chinese Community Center Incorporated (ICCCI) will be at the museum that day with several of its members performing traditional Chinese dances such as the Lion Dance and the Dragon Dance. There will be musicians, singers, and other talented performers who will showcase various talents to celebrate Chinese New Year. They will demonstrate traditional Chinese paper cutting and children and families will have the opportunity to have their names written in Mandarin calligraphy. The Confucius Institute will also be at the museum inviting families to try their hand at calligraphy using Chinese symbols. Children and families will be able to create their own lucky money envelope, learn about the Chinese zodiac, why it’s important, and learn more about the Year of the Horse. A special performance of the museum’s popular Bumblebee program will be performed for the first time in Mandarin.
The actual Chinese New Year falls on Friday, Jan. 31, 2014. Because so many children are in school that day, the museum will celebrate one of the most important holidays in Chinese Culture, with special performances and activities on Saturday, Feb. 1 so more families may participate.
About Take Me There: ® China and Terra Cotta Warriors: The Emperor’s Painted Army
In one of the largest exhibits about contemporary China ever produced in the U.S., Take Me There: ® China will offer visitors the opportunity to embark on a journey through the ancient and modern life of the world’s fastest-growing nation. Children and families may experience Chinese culture as never before through the investigation of Chinese art, music, food, tea culture, calligraphy, ancient Chinese medicine and the preservation of giant pandas, a species beloved around the world.
Terra Cotta Warriors: The Emperor’s Painted Army, directly from China’s Shaanxi Province
Presented by Eli Lilly and Company Foundation will be open May 10–Nov. 2, 2014.
While the Terra Cotta Warriors have been displayed in traditional American art museums before, the upcoming exhibit at The Children’s Museum is unique in that it will allow families to engage in the science necessary to piece together this 2,200-year-old mystery. This extraordinary exhibit will offer an up-close experience with rare objects, including eight warriors, a “painted” warrior head from the Xi’an dig pits and 100 other artifacts. And, this one-of-a-kind learning exhibit will only be seen in Indianapolis! Tickets go on sale April 14! Visit childrensmuseum.org/china2014.
The Children's Museum of Indianapolis is a nonprofit institution committed to creating extraordinary learning experiences across the arts, sciences, and humanities that have the power to transform the lives of children and families. For more information about The Children's Museum, visit www.childrensmuseum.org, follow us on Twitter @TCMIndy, Facebook.com/childrensmuseum and YouTube.
