TWENTY YEARS OF HANDS ON THE ARTS

SUNNYVALE, Calif. – 2005 marks the 20th anniversary of Hands on the Arts, Northern California’s premier children’s art festival, presented by the City of Sunnyvale. More than 35 professional artists, each chosen through a competitive jury process, will conduct hands-on workshops for children ages 3 – 12 to explore a variety of art methods and genres. More than 500 children are expected to participate in the all-day event.

For two decades, children from Sunnyvale and the surrounding area have enjoyed this annual hands-on, multi-cultural arts festival. Many of the nearly 400 teenagers expected to assist artists at this year’s event participated in Hands on the Arts when they were younger and continue to help out because the event is so much fun.

Some artists also return to participate in the festival every year, calling this their favorite event of the year. Among the returning favorites are:  Darlene Carmen, the “Painting Gourmet” who shows kids how to paint using vegetables; Mexican folklorico dancer Elena Robles, who provides authentic costumes kids can wear as they learn to perform folk dances; and kitemaker David Toy.

Even after 20 years, the festival remains fun and exciting as organizers introduce new artists and genres each year. This year’s new artists include: Rebecca Bui, who will introduce kids to Vietnamese lacquer painting; Ingrid McCleary, who will show kids how to make their own Mancala game board; and Bryan Au, who specializes in healthy, edible art.

Hands on the Arts will be held Saturday, May 21, from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., at the Sunnyvale Community Center, 550 E. Remington Drive. The festival is open to the public and features food and entertainment for the whole family. Children can participate in workshops all day for only $5 per child. For more information, please call the City of Sunnyvale at (408) 730-7350, TDD (408) 730-7501.