Kids can get hands-on with Catalina history thanks to a series of three workshops being presented by the Catalina Island Museum courtesy of a grant from Blanny Avalon Hagenah.

The first workshop will be to create Catalina tile artwork that will be displayed as part of a mural in the lobby of U.S. Bank. All ages are invited to join Museum staff at the lobby of the Bank at 2 p.m. on Saturday, November 15 for this FREE workshop. All supplies will be provided by the museum. After a brief introduction to the history of tile on the island, kids will get to color their own paper tiles and then decorate a mural in the lobby that will be available for all in the community to admire.

Join us on Saturday, November 22 at 2 p.m. at the bank lobby for a workshop on Native American basketry as we honor Catalinas Island natives in celebration of Native American Heritage Month. There will be a $5 fee to cover cost of the supplies (recommended ages are 6 -12 years). Each participant will get to make a yarn version of a coiled basket which is a technique similar to how the Gabrielino/Tongva made baskets here on the island centuries ago. The group will also be treated to a short discussion of the history and lifestyle of Catalinas native islanders and will get to take home their basket at the end of the session.

The third workshop will be on Saturday, December 13 at 2 p.m. in the bank lobby. This time participants (all ages welcome) will be creating their own plate. After an overview that includes showing many examples of Catalina pottery painted plates, children will be able to do their own artwork on special paper that will then be shipped off to a factory to be turned into a melamine plate that will be a lasting souvenir of their artwork. Costs of the workshop are $10 per child and include the manufacturing and shipping of one finished plate.

Many thanks to Blanny Hagenah for sponsoring the workshops and to US Bank for hosting the workshops. The Catalina Island Museum is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and sharing Catalinas unique cultural heritage. For more information about the museum, visit our website.

For more information visit www.CatalinaMuseum.org