The Children's Art Carnival

Open Your Eyes (O.Y.E.) Community Arts Project - Papier Mache Doll Making, part 2
2025-01-15 18:30 - 20:30 (America/New_York) | The Children’s Art Carnival, 62 Hamilton Terrace, New York, NY, 10031, United States
Art making workshop by Wilhelmina Grant-Cooper, SISTAAH STUDIO:
Papier Mache Doll Making – (January 8, 15, 22) Three week process – We will use wire, masking tape, newspaper, wet plaster strips, air dried clay, and paint. After the dolls are formed, clothes made from fabrics, yarn for hair, headwraps or hats are added. The dolls will then be artfully adorned with colorful embellishments such as jewelry items and trimmings.

For: Adult cancer survivors, friends and family.
Cost: Free
Registration is required to participate: RSVP

Wednesday evenings from 6:30-8:30pm.

About the facilitator: Wilhelmina Grant-Cooper

Wilhelmina Grant-Cooper is a self-taught, Harlem-based visual artist, arts instructor, and author. Wilhelmina creates assemblages using mixed-media and found objects which she repurposes into visual art. Her artistic undertakings included assignments as artist-in-residence at The Ralph Lauren Cancer Center and as a Creative Center at University Settlement artist-in-residence wherein she used the arts to nurture the creativity of cancer patients, their families, and staff in a healthcare setting. She also guides elder participants through arts activities at senior centers in Washington Heights, Upper East Side and Brooklyn.
In 2010 Wilhelmina was honored with three prestigious awards for art: The Black Art Makers Award of National Conference of Artists, The Women’s History Month Creative Power of Women Award presented by New York State Senator Bill Perkins, and The Alain Locke Art Action Award presented by The Harlem Arts Alliance. She was also a NoMAA (Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance) 2016 Uptown Arts Stroll Honoree. Wilhelmina is the founder of SISTAAH, Inc. (Survivors Inspiring Sisters Through Art and Advocacy for Health), an arts-based non-profit organization which seeks to inform, encourage and facilitate access to early detection of breast cancer by connecting the medically underserved to free screening services. Using SISTAAH, Inc. as a platform, Wilhelmina has launched numerous successful grant-funded community art projects: Saving Our Sisters in the African American Community, the Harlem Hand Fan Initiative, and O.Y.E. Open Your Eyes Community Art/Health Awareness Project.
She self-published her first book, A Feeling of Fullness: Insights of a Divinely Guided Journey Beyond Breast Cancer (2016, Xlibris Publishing Company) which chronicles the journey from the nearly-missed breast cancer diagnosis at age 37 through her present-day life as an artist/author/health awareness advocate. Her second book entitled Uplifting Cancer Survivors in the COVID Era: Expressions of Kindness and Inspiration Between Aunties and Nieces was released in October 2022.
Some collectors of her artwork include: Alice Walker, Bill Clinton, The Heath Gallery, and Hamilton Landmark Galleries. Eleven of her assemblages appear as set dressing in Seasons 1 and 2 of the Prime Video Series HARLEM.
Wilhelmina is an avid gardener and lives with her husband in Harlem. Her website is:
https://sistaah.org

Open Your Eyes (O.Y.E.) Community Arts Project is supported by

To help New Yorkers—especially those in low-income areas—come together and improve the quality of life in their neighborhoods

Crochet Workshop - Families with Children
2025-01-18 11:00 - 12:00
Crochet Workshop by Milagros Batista

Join fashion designer and craftswoman Milagros Batista in a delightful crochet workshop suitable for all ages and skill levels. For beginners looking to grasp the fundamentals, Milagros will guide students through a hands-on experience, offering insights into both simple basics and more challenging stitches.
The workshop will be held at Children’s Art Carnival at 62 Hamilton Place, New York, NY 10031
The 3rd Saturday of every month
January 18, 2025
February 15, 2025
March 15, 2025
April 19, 2025
Families with children:
11am to 12 noon
Children must be accompanied with an adult, no drop-off
Free, or pay what-you-can donation
Online registration is required to participate: Register for Families with Children Workshop
Teens and Adults: 12:30 to 1:30pm Register for Teens and Adults Workshop

Milagros Batista: Creator of Wearable Art!
Fiber Artist | Master Knitter/Crocheter | Fashion Designer | Social Activist
Personal and Artistic Journey
Milagros Batista is more than a designer; she’s a storyteller weaving tales of resilience, cultural vibrancy, and individuality through her wearable art. Born in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, Milagros draws inspiration from the rich tapestry of her childhood—ocean waves, bustling markets, and the aroma of coffee and sugarcane. Growing up during a challenging political era, Milagros found strength in her family and guidance in the form of Doña Maria Luisa, a Freedom Fighter and Master Knitter. This mentorship became the foundation of her journey into the world of fiber arts, knitting, crochet, and social justice.
Early Influence and Mentorship
At seven, Milagros’ meeting with Doña Maria Luisa marked the beginning of a transformative journey. Hindered by financial constraints, Milagros proposed a unique arrangement—she’d work for knitting lessons. Doña Maria Luisa, a fearless advocate against dictatorship, not only agreed but ignited in Milagros a passion for social change. Doña Maria Luisa’s passing didn’t halt Milagros’ growth; instead, she became part of a collective of women mentors, guiding her until her family moved to New York. The vibrant culture of NYC, coupled with the influence of the “Black is Beautiful” movement, shaped Milagros’ perspective, fueling her commitment to equity, sustainability, and gender neutrality.
The Batista Collections: Brand Bio
Milagros Batista – Designing for Equity, Sustainability, and Gender Neutrality
A decade ago, Milagros transitioned careers to dedicate herself entirely to knitting and crochet. In 2016, she birthed Batista Collections, challenging preconceptions in high fashion. The resurgence of these crafts during the pandemic amplified her mission, solidifying their presence in the industry. Milagros’ designs stand out, incorporating intricate cables reminiscent of braided hair. Pieces like the “Free Spirited” shawl/jacket symbolize freedom and self-expression. As Batista Collections moves forward, it envisions pushing creative boundaries, defining a path where fashion meets individuality.
Mission Statement
At Batista Collections, we’re crafting a fashion revolution beyond gender norms. Fashion should liberate, allowing limitless self-expression. Rooted in inclusivity and authenticity, our gender-neutral garments empower individuals to embrace their unique identities without fear or limitation. Meticulously crafted, our designs blur gender lines, allowing wearers to explore personal style with confidence. We celebrate the beauty of diversity, honoring the rich tapestry of global identities. Committed to sustainability, we prioritize ethical practices and mindful production. Join us in this transformative journey where fashion becomes a tool for self-expression and empowerment.

Hamilton Heights Darkroom Workshops - Photograms for Parent & Child
2025-01-18 12:00 - 14:00
Hamilton Heights Darkroom Workshops: Jan 18, Photograms for Parent & Child
Hamilton Heights Darkroom (HHD) is dedicated to preserving the timeless craft of traditional darkroom printing and film photography. Through hands-on experiences, students will learn the fundamentals of photography by shooting with film cameras and printing from negatives in the darkroom.
We offer workshops tailored to youth, teens, and adult printers of all skill levels, from beginners to advanced practitioners.
January 18 – Photograms: This is a fun introduction to the darkroom class. Students place objects on photographic paper and expose them to light, then develop the paper in our darkroom. The unusual combinations are personal expressions that utilize the student’s intuition.
Time: 12:00am – 2:00pm
Age Group: Adults 18+ (1/18 Aged 6+ with parent)
Workshops will be held at the Children’s Art Carnival at 62 Hamilton Place, 2nd floor, New York, NY 10031
Mask Requirement: All students must wear a quality mask (KN95 or N95)
Online registration is required to participate: Register Now
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Upcoming Workshops:
February 15 – Family Photo: Everybody has an old box of photos or negatives of their family members. Students bring in negatives of past and current family and make enlarged copies. Multiple copies can be gifted to others.
March 15 – Darkroom Open Printing: Students can print what they like. They can print photograms again or combine enlarged negatives with objects for unique photographs. Students who attend two or more of these workshops begin to see the potential of creating art in a traditional darkroom.
April 19 – Matting Workshop: Students provide their own work to be matted in preparation for framing and display. This class is suitable for attendance by students from multiple disciplines. A bevel edged window mat (supplied) is cut for each piece and students attach their work. Photos, drawings, collage and old newspapers articles can be matted. Students leave with pieces mounted and ready to frame.
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About Hamilton Heights Darkroom:
Located in the historic Hamilton Heights neighborhood within Harlem, Hamilton Heights Darkroom (HHD) is dedicated to the preservation of traditional darkroom printing and film photography. Students use film cameras, and print from negatives in the darkroom as a basis to learn photography. HHD offers photography basics and darkroom printing for youth, teens and adult printers, from beginner level to advanced.
As darkrooms, photography and public school arts programs disappear, HHD strives to preserve both culture and photography in the Harlem community. HHD offers group printing classes, photography classes (film and digital) and discussion about current photography issues in a collegial setting. HHD collaborates with local community arts and culture organizations seeking youth and adults interested in photography.

Hamilton Heights Darkroom Workshops and all programs at The Children’s Art Carnival are made possible with funding from West Harlem Development Corporation, Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, the Ruth Foundation for The Arts and donations from New York Film Academy.

Crochet Workshop - Teens and Adults
2025-01-18 12:30 - 13:30, 2025-02-15 12:30 - 13:30, 2025-03-15 12:30 - 13:30
Crochet Workshop by Milagros Batista

Join fashion designer and craftswoman Milagros Batista in a delightful crochet workshop suitable for all ages and skill levels. For beginners looking to grasp the fundamentals, Milagros will guide students through a hands-on experience, offering insights into both simple basics and more challenging stitches.
The workshop will be held at Children’s Art Carnival at 62 Hamilton Place, New York, NY 10031
The 3rd Saturday of every month
January 18, 2025
February 15, 2025
March 15, 2025
April 19, 2025
Free, or pay what-you-can donation
Teens and Adults:
12:30 to 1:30pm
Online registration is required to participate: Register for Teens and Adults Workshop

Families with children:
11am to 12 noon
Children must be accompanied with an adult, no drop-off
Register for Families with Children Workshop

Milagros Batista: Creator of Wearable Art!
Fiber Artist | Master Knitter/Crocheter | Fashion Designer | Social Activist
Personal and Artistic Journey
Milagros Batista is more than a designer; she’s a storyteller weaving tales of resilience, cultural vibrancy, and individuality through her wearable art. Born in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, Milagros draws inspiration from the rich tapestry of her childhood—ocean waves, bustling markets, and the aroma of coffee and sugarcane. Growing up during a challenging political era, Milagros found strength in her family and guidance in the form of Doña Maria Luisa, a Freedom Fighter and Master Knitter. This mentorship became the foundation of her journey into the world of fiber arts, knitting, crochet, and social justice.
Early Influence and Mentorship
At seven, Milagros’ meeting with Doña Maria Luisa marked the beginning of a transformative journey. Hindered by financial constraints, Milagros proposed a unique arrangement—she’d work for knitting lessons. Doña Maria Luisa, a fearless advocate against dictatorship, not only agreed but ignited in Milagros a passion for social change. Doña Maria Luisa’s passing didn’t halt Milagros’ growth; instead, she became part of a collective of women mentors, guiding her until her family moved to New York. The vibrant culture of NYC, coupled with the influence of the “Black is Beautiful” movement, shaped Milagros’ perspective, fueling her commitment to equity, sustainability, and gender neutrality.
The Batista Collections: Brand Bio
Milagros Batista – Designing for Equity, Sustainability, and Gender Neutrality
A decade ago, Milagros transitioned careers to dedicate herself entirely to knitting and crochet. In 2016, she birthed Batista Collections, challenging preconceptions in high fashion. The resurgence of these crafts during the pandemic amplified her mission, solidifying their presence in the industry. Milagros’ designs stand out, incorporating intricate cables reminiscent of braided hair. Pieces like the “Free Spirited” shawl/jacket symbolize freedom and self-expression. As Batista Collections moves forward, it envisions pushing creative boundaries, defining a path where fashion meets individuality.
Mission Statement
At Batista Collections, we’re crafting a fashion revolution beyond gender norms. Fashion should liberate, allowing limitless self-expression. Rooted in inclusivity and authenticity, our gender-neutral garments empower individuals to embrace their unique identities without fear or limitation. Meticulously crafted, our designs blur gender lines, allowing wearers to explore personal style with confidence. We celebrate the beauty of diversity, honoring the rich tapestry of global identities. Committed to sustainability, we prioritize ethical practices and mindful production. Join us in this transformative journey where fashion becomes a tool for self-expression and empowerment.

Open Your Eyes (O.Y.E.) Community Arts Project - Papier Mache Doll Making, part 3
2025-01-22 18:30 - 20:30

Drawing for People Who Think They Can’t Draw
2025-01-26 14:00 - 15:30
Date: Sunday, January 26, 2 to 3:30 pm
For: Teens and Adults. Children are welcomed with an accompanying adult.
Think you can’t draw? Well, think again…! In this class for teens and adults, you will use artists’ drawing tools, gain confidence, and acquire new ways of seeing and imagining that will result in drawings you are proud of. Join us and you will expand your awareness of what elements combine to make a “good drawing,” and have fun discovering your unique style of artistic expression. Don’t miss this empowering class—come cultivate your creativity. Yes, you CAN draw! You got this!
The class is ongoing and the teacher works with students individually, offering new subjects and techniques each week.
The registration is required to participate: Register Now
Upcoming:
Sunday, February 9, 2 to 3:30 pm
Sunday, February 23, 2 to 3:30 pm
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Laura King, Artist, Art
About the facilitator: Laura King

Laura King, artist and resident of West Harlem, is passionate about expressing city life by drawing. Her graphite works range from precise anatomical storytelling and portraiture to quick captures of the streets that vibrate with energy and motion. In 2024, her drawings have been shown in NYC exhibitions at The Factory, Culture Lab LIC, Diego Salazar, The Atlantic, and soon (Oct-Nov) Art on the Avenue. She was also an invited panelist during LICA’s Drawing Beyond the Surface exhibition May 2024, Seeing and Feeling: A Conversation about the Medium of Drawing. @diditellyouidraw

The registration is required to participate: Registration link coming soon

Open Your Eyes (O.Y.E.) Community Arts Project - Papier Mache Doll Making (extended)
2025-01-29 18:30 - 20:30
Art making workshop by Wilhelmina Grant-Cooper, SISTAAH STUDIO:
Project: Papier Mache Doll Making (extended)
For: Adult cancer survivors, friends and family.
Cost: Free
Registration is required to participate: RSVP

Wednesday evenings from 6:30-8:30pm.

About the facilitator: Wilhelmina Grant-Cooper

Wilhelmina Grant-Cooper is a self-taught, Harlem-based visual artist, arts instructor, and author. Wilhelmina creates assemblages using mixed-media and found objects which she repurposes into visual art. Her artistic undertakings included assignments as artist-in-residence at The Ralph Lauren Cancer Center and as a Creative Center at University Settlement artist-in-residence wherein she used the arts to nurture the creativity of cancer patients, their families, and staff in a healthcare setting. She also guides elder participants through arts activities at senior centers in Washington Heights, Upper East Side and Brooklyn.
In 2010 Wilhelmina was honored with three prestigious awards for art: The Black Art Makers Award of National Conference of Artists, The Women’s History Month Creative Power of Women Award presented by New York State Senator Bill Perkins, and The Alain Locke Art Action Award presented by The Harlem Arts Alliance. She was also a NoMAA (Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance) 2016 Uptown Arts Stroll Honoree. Wilhelmina is the founder of SISTAAH, Inc. (Survivors Inspiring Sisters Through Art and Advocacy for Health), an arts-based non-profit organization which seeks to inform, encourage and facilitate access to early detection of breast cancer by connecting the medically underserved to free screening services. Using SISTAAH, Inc. as a platform, Wilhelmina has launched numerous successful grant-funded community art projects: Saving Our Sisters in the African American Community, the Harlem Hand Fan Initiative, and O.Y.E. Open Your Eyes Community Art/Health Awareness Project.
She self-published her first book, A Feeling of Fullness: Insights of a Divinely Guided Journey Beyond Breast Cancer (2016, Xlibris Publishing Company) which chronicles the journey from the nearly-missed breast cancer diagnosis at age 37 through her present-day life as an artist/author/health awareness advocate. Her second book entitled Uplifting Cancer Survivors in the COVID Era: Expressions of Kindness and Inspiration Between Aunties and Nieces was released in October 2022.
Some collectors of her artwork include: Alice Walker, Bill Clinton, The Heath Gallery, and Hamilton Landmark Galleries. Eleven of her assemblages appear as set dressing in Seasons 1 and 2 of the Prime Video Series HARLEM.
Wilhelmina is an avid gardener and lives with her husband in Harlem. Her website is:
https://sistaah.org

Open Your Eyes (O.Y.E.) Community Arts Project is supported by

To help New Yorkers—especially those in low-income areas—come together and improve the quality of life in their neighborhoods

Easy! Watercolor - for Families with Children
2025-02-01 15:00 - 16:00
Join us for an afternoon of exploring watercolor painting. There are various techniques to work with, and each workshop will introduce you to simple methods to experiment with, as well as fun ways to incorporate watercolor paint, ink, pencils, and markers.
Watercolor painting can help you relax and reset your mind, or serve as a visual journal for expressing feelings that words may not fully convey. The facilitator will share her insights and ideas for activities you can do at home.
We offer two workshops: a family session from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. and an adult-only session from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.
The workshop will be held at Children’s Art Carnival at 62 Hamilton Place, New York, NY 10031

The 2nd Saturday of every month
February 1 – Using Stencils ((due to schedule conflict, it will be the first Saturday just for February)
March 8 – Blending Colors on Paper
April 11 – Transparent Layers
May 10 – Portrait Hack
June 14 – Painting circles with bottles and cups
Family with children: 3pm to 4pm (children must be accompanied with an adult, no drop-off)
Online registration is required to participate: Register Now
Free, or pay what-you-can donation

Easy! Watercolor Workshop and all programs at The Children’s Art Carnival are made possible with funding from West Harlem Development Corporation, Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, the Ruth Foundation for The Arts and donations from New York Film Academy and Hamilton Heights community and beyond.

About the facilitator:
Tomo Mori is a native of Japan and a West Harlem-based artist who focuses on fiber art installation and collage.
Tomo learned watercolor rigorously under a master watercolorist from age 14 to 15 to enroll herself at Tokyo Metropolitan High School for Music and Fine Art, and she was accepted to the school with a perfect score.
Watercolor is not central to her current art practice; however, she uses the skill to sketch her ideas or keep a visual journal. When she paints watercolor, she finds freedom, lighting her spirit. Perhaps because they are just sketches, or the medium is easy to manage. Through these workshops she wants to share the joy and therapeutic nature of watercolor painting.
Tomo’s work has been exhibited in various venues like Columbia University, Scope Miami, Laundromat Project, Rush Arts Galleries, Governors Island, Newark Museum, Christie’s and Swann Auction Galleries. She received a commission from MTA and completed a laminated glass and metal installation in 2018. She participated in the Winter Workspace Residency at Wave Hill in early 2023. She is currently working as a studio artist at the Children’s Art Carnival.

Easy! Watercolor - for Adults
2025-02-01 16:30 - 17:30
Join us for an afternoon of exploring watercolor painting. There are various techniques to work with, and each workshop will introduce you to simple methods to experiment with, as well as fun ways to incorporate watercolor paint, ink, pencils, and markers.
Watercolor painting can help you relax and reset your mind, or serve as a visual journal for expressing feelings that words may not fully convey. The facilitator will share her insights and ideas for activities you can do at home.
We offer two workshops: a family session from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. and an adult-only session from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.
The workshop will be held at Children’s Art Carnival at 62 Hamilton Place, New York, NY 10031

The 2nd Saturday of every month
February 1 – Using Stencils (due to schedule conflict, it will be the first Saturday just for February)
March 8 – Blending Colors on Paper
April 11 – Transparent Layers
May 10 – Portrait Hack
June 14 – Painting circles with bottles and cups
Adults only: 4:30pm to 5:30pm
Online registration is required to participate: Register Now
Free, or pay what-you-can donation

Easy! Watercolor Workshop and all programs at The Children’s Art Carnival are made possible with funding from West Harlem Development Corporation, Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, the Ruth Foundation for The Arts and donations from New York Film Academy and Hamilton Heights community and beyond.

About the facilitator:
Tomo Mori is a native of Japan and a West Harlem-based artist who focuses on fiber art installation and collage.
Tomo learned watercolor rigorously under a master watercolorist from age 14 to 15 to enroll herself at Tokyo Metropolitan High School for Music and Fine Art, and she was accepted to the school with a perfect score.
Watercolor is not central to her current art practice; however, she uses the skill to sketch her ideas or keep a visual journal. When she paints watercolor, she finds freedom, lighting her spirit. Perhaps because they are just sketches, or the medium is easy to manage. Through these workshops she wants to share the joy and therapeutic nature of watercolor painting.
Tomo’s work has been exhibited in various venues like Columbia University, Scope Miami, Laundromat Project, Rush Arts Galleries, Governors Island, Newark Museum, Christie’s and Swann Auction Galleries. She received a commission from MTA and completed a laminated glass and metal installation in 2018. She participated in the Winter Workspace Residency at Wave Hill in early 2023. She is currently working as a studio artist at the Children’s Art Carnival.

Open Your Eyes (O.Y.E.) Community Arts Project - Papier Mache Doll Making (continued)
2025-02-05 18:30 - 20:30
Art making workshop by Wilhelmina Grant-Cooper, SISTAAH STUDIO:
Project: Papier Mache Doll Making (continued)
For: Adult cancer survivors, friends and family.
Cost: Free
Registration is required to participate: RSVP

Wednesday evenings from 6:30-8:30pm.

About the facilitator: Wilhelmina Grant-Cooper

Wilhelmina Grant-Cooper is a self-taught, Harlem-based visual artist, arts instructor, and author. Wilhelmina creates assemblages using mixed-media and found objects which she repurposes into visual art. Her artistic undertakings included assignments as artist-in-residence at The Ralph Lauren Cancer Center and as a Creative Center at University Settlement artist-in-residence wherein she used the arts to nurture the creativity of cancer patients, their families, and staff in a healthcare setting. She also guides elder participants through arts activities at senior centers in Washington Heights, Upper East Side and Brooklyn.
In 2010 Wilhelmina was honored with three prestigious awards for art: The Black Art Makers Award of National Conference of Artists, The Women’s History Month Creative Power of Women Award presented by New York State Senator Bill Perkins, and The Alain Locke Art Action Award presented by The Harlem Arts Alliance. She was also a NoMAA (Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance) 2016 Uptown Arts Stroll Honoree. Wilhelmina is the founder of SISTAAH, Inc. (Survivors Inspiring Sisters Through Art and Advocacy for Health), an arts-based non-profit organization which seeks to inform, encourage and facilitate access to early detection of breast cancer by connecting the medically underserved to free screening services. Using SISTAAH, Inc. as a platform, Wilhelmina has launched numerous successful grant-funded community art projects: Saving Our Sisters in the African American Community, the Harlem Hand Fan Initiative, and O.Y.E. Open Your Eyes Community Art/Health Awareness Project.
She self-published her first book, A Feeling of Fullness: Insights of a Divinely Guided Journey Beyond Breast Cancer (2016, Xlibris Publishing Company) which chronicles the journey from the nearly-missed breast cancer diagnosis at age 37 through her present-day life as an artist/author/health awareness advocate. Her second book entitled Uplifting Cancer Survivors in the COVID Era: Expressions of Kindness and Inspiration Between Aunties and Nieces was released in October 2022.
Some collectors of her artwork include: Alice Walker, Bill Clinton, The Heath Gallery, and Hamilton Landmark Galleries. Eleven of her assemblages appear as set dressing in Seasons 1 and 2 of the Prime Video Series HARLEM.
Wilhelmina is an avid gardener and lives with her husband in Harlem. Her website is:
https://sistaah.org

Open Your Eyes (O.Y.E.) Community Arts Project is supported by

To help New Yorkers—especially those in low-income areas—come together and improve the quality of life in their neighborhoods

Cyanotype Workshop - Press and Pull, Spring 2025
2025-02-08 13:00 - 15:00
CYANOTYPE WORKSHOP is a part of Press and Pull, Spring 2025
partnership with EFA Robert Blackburn Printmaking Workshop
Date: Saturday, February 8th
Time: 1:00 – 3:00pm
Venue: The Children’s Art Carnival
For Ages: 12 and Up
Cyanotype printing is a 150-year-old photographic process that produces Prussian blue prints of photographs or art. Artists of all levels are welcome to join. This class is taught by MultiMedia Artist and Harlem native, Dionis Ortiz. This workshop is a hands-on guided approach to cyanotype printing on paper.
You will leave with a set of prints on paper created out of your own photos or art.
If you want to learn a new hobby, join this unique art workshop and try something new. You’ll leave with new skills and your own artwork to display. This class also makes for great date night ideas and fun things to do in NYC.

Registration is required to participate: Reserve your spot now!

Dionis Ortiz
About the facilitator: Dionis Ortiz

Dionis Ortiz is a multimedia artist, community art producer, and educator who works in printmaking, collage, and sculpture. Drawing from his experiences as a child born and raised in Harlem of Dominican descent, he creates geometric, process-based works from ill-regarded and found materials to celebrate the people of the African diaspora.
He was a participant in the Artist in the Marketplace (AIM) Program at The Bronx Museum of the Arts, received a Rema Hort Mann Artist Community Engagement Grant, and has been an Artist in Residence at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan. He has produced several solo exhibitions in New York and his work was recently included in Estamos bien: La Trienal 20/21 at El Museo Del Barrio (New York).
Community engagement is central to his practice and he has produced projects for Harlem River Park Fund, Museum of Art and Design, and ImageNation.
In 2021 he was Artist in Residence at Sugar Hill Children’s Museum of Art and Storytelling and his mural design was selected by PubliColor for an elementary school in East Harlem. His work has been featured in The New York Times several times and is included in Latinx Art: Artists, Market, and Politics by Arlene Dávila.
This community work extends to teaching and Ortiz teaches all ages from pre-K to teenagers and undergraduates at Hunter College and Cornell University.
He received his B.F.A from SUNY Purchase College and his M.F.A from CUNY Hunter College.

Drawing for People Who Think They Can’t Draw
2025-02-09 14:00 - 15:30
Date: Sunday, Sunday, February 9, 2 to 3:30 pm
For: Teens and Adults. Children are welcomed with an accompanying adult.
Think you can’t draw? Well, think again…! In this class for teens and adults, you will use artists’ drawing tools, gain confidence, and acquire new ways of seeing and imagining that will result in drawings you are proud of. Join us and you will expand your awareness of what elements combine to make a “good drawing,” and have fun discovering your unique style of artistic expression. Don’t miss this empowering class—come cultivate your creativity. Yes, you CAN draw! You got this!
The class is ongoing and the teacher works with students individually, offering new subjects and techniques each week.
The registration is required to participate: Register Now.

Laura King, Artist, Art
About the facilitator: Laura King

Laura King, artist and resident of West Harlem, is passionate about expressing city life by drawing. Her graphite works range from precise anatomical storytelling and portraiture to quick captures of the streets that vibrate with energy and motion. In 2024, her drawings have been shown in NYC exhibitions at The Factory, Culture Lab LIC, Diego Salazar, The Atlantic, and soon (Oct-Nov) Art on the Avenue. She was also an invited panelist during LICA’s Drawing Beyond the Surface exhibition May 2024, Seeing and Feeling: A Conversation about the Medium of Drawing. @diditellyouidraw

The registration is required to participate: Registration link coming soon

Open Your Eyes (O.Y.E.) Community Arts Project - Papier Mache Doll Making (completion)
2025-02-12 18:30 - 20:30
Art making workshop by Wilhelmina Grant-Cooper, SISTAAH STUDIO:
Project: Papier Mache Doll Making (completion)
For: Adult cancer survivors, friends and family.
Cost: Free
Registration is required to participate: RSVP

Wednesday evenings from 6:30-8:30pm.

About the facilitator: Wilhelmina Grant-Cooper

Wilhelmina Grant-Cooper is a self-taught, Harlem-based visual artist, arts instructor, and author. Wilhelmina creates assemblages using mixed-media and found objects which she repurposes into visual art. Her artistic undertakings included assignments as artist-in-residence at The Ralph Lauren Cancer Center and as a Creative Center at University Settlement artist-in-residence wherein she used the arts to nurture the creativity of cancer patients, their families, and staff in a healthcare setting. She also guides elder participants through arts activities at senior centers in Washington Heights, Upper East Side and Brooklyn.
In 2010 Wilhelmina was honored with three prestigious awards for art: The Black Art Makers Award of National Conference of Artists, The Women’s History Month Creative Power of Women Award presented by New York State Senator Bill Perkins, and The Alain Locke Art Action Award presented by The Harlem Arts Alliance. She was also a NoMAA (Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance) 2016 Uptown Arts Stroll Honoree. Wilhelmina is the founder of SISTAAH, Inc. (Survivors Inspiring Sisters Through Art and Advocacy for Health), an arts-based non-profit organization which seeks to inform, encourage and facilitate access to early detection of breast cancer by connecting the medically underserved to free screening services. Using SISTAAH, Inc. as a platform, Wilhelmina has launched numerous successful grant-funded community art projects: Saving Our Sisters in the African American Community, the Harlem Hand Fan Initiative, and O.Y.E. Open Your Eyes Community Art/Health Awareness Project.
She self-published her first book, A Feeling of Fullness: Insights of a Divinely Guided Journey Beyond Breast Cancer (2016, Xlibris Publishing Company) which chronicles the journey from the nearly-missed breast cancer diagnosis at age 37 through her present-day life as an artist/author/health awareness advocate. Her second book entitled Uplifting Cancer Survivors in the COVID Era: Expressions of Kindness and Inspiration Between Aunties and Nieces was released in October 2022.
Some collectors of her artwork include: Alice Walker, Bill Clinton, The Heath Gallery, and Hamilton Landmark Galleries. Eleven of her assemblages appear as set dressing in Seasons 1 and 2 of the Prime Video Series HARLEM.
Wilhelmina is an avid gardener and lives with her husband in Harlem. Her website is:
https://sistaah.org

Open Your Eyes (O.Y.E.) Community Arts Project is supported by

To help New Yorkers—especially those in low-income areas—come together and improve the quality of life in their neighborhoods

Family Photos by Hamilton Heights Darkroom
2025-02-15 12:00 - 14:00
Hamilton Heights Darkroom Workshops
Hamilton Heights Darkroom (HHD) is dedicated to preserving the timeless craft of traditional darkroom printing and film photography. Through hands-on experiences, students will learn the fundamentals of photography by shooting with film cameras and printing from negatives in the darkroom.
We offer workshops tailored to youth, teens, and adult printers of all skill levels, from beginners to advanced practitioners.
All classes limited to 5 students.
Spring 2025 Dates:

January 18 – Photograms for Parent & Child – Ended
February 15 – Family Photos – Full
March 15 – Darkroom Open Printing – Full
April 19 – Matting Workshop
May 17 – Darkroom Open Printing

Time: 12:00am – 2:00pm
Age Group: Adults 18+ (1/18 Aged 6+ with parent)
Workshops will be held at Children’s Art Carnival at 62 Hamilton Place, New York, NY 10031
Mask Requirement: All students must wear a quality mask (KN95 or N95)
Free, or pay what-you-can donation

Workshop Descriptions:
January 18 – Photograms: This is a fun introduction to the darkroom class. Students place objects on photographic paper and expose them to light, then develop the paper in our darkroom. The unusual combinations are personal expressions that utilize the student’s intuition.
February 15 – Family Photo: Everybody has an old box of photos or negatives of their family members. Students bring in negatives of past and current family and make enlarged copies. Multiple copies can be gifted to others.
March 15 – Darkroom Open Printing: Students can print what they like. They can print photograms again or combine enlarged negatives with objects for unique photographs. Students who attend two or more of these workshops begin to see the potential of creating art in a traditional darkroom.
April 19 – Matting Workshop: Students provide their own work to be matted in preparation for framing and display. This class is suitable for attendance by students from multiple disciplines. A bevel edged window mat (supplied) is cut for each piece and students attach their work. Photos, drawings, collage and old newspapers articles can be matted. Students leave with pieces mounted and ready to frame.

About: Located in the historic Hamilton Heights neighborhood within Harlem, Hamilton Heights Darkroom (HHD) is dedicated to the preservation of traditional darkroom printing and film photography. Students use film cameras, and print from negatives in the darkroom as a basis to learn photography. HHD offers photography basics and darkroom printing for youth, teens and adult printers, from beginner level to advanced.
As darkrooms, photography and public school arts programs disappear, HHD strives to preserve both culture and photography in the Harlem community. HHD offers group printing classes, photography classes (film and digital) and discussion about current photography issues in a collegial setting. HHD collaborates with local community arts and culture organizations seeking youth and adults interested in photography.
Hamilton Heights Darkroom Workshops and all programs at The Children’s Art Carnival are made possible with funding from West Harlem Development Corporation, Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, the Ruth Foundation for The Arts and donations from New York Film Academy and Hamilton Heights community and beyond.

Open Your Eyes (O.Y.E.) Community Arts Project - Jewerly Making Part 1
2025-02-19 18:30 - 20:30
Art making workshop by Wilhelmina Grant-Cooper, SISTAAH STUDIO:
Project: Jewerly Making Part 1
For: Adult cancer survivors, friends and family.
Cost: Free
Registration is required to participate: RSVP

Wednesday evenings from 6:30-8:30pm.

About the facilitator: Wilhelmina Grant-Cooper

Wilhelmina Grant-Cooper is a self-taught, Harlem-based visual artist, arts instructor, and author. Wilhelmina creates assemblages using mixed-media and found objects which she repurposes into visual art. Her artistic undertakings included assignments as artist-in-residence at The Ralph Lauren Cancer Center and as a Creative Center at University Settlement artist-in-residence wherein she used the arts to nurture the creativity of cancer patients, their families, and staff in a healthcare setting. She also guides elder participants through arts activities at senior centers in Washington Heights, Upper East Side and Brooklyn.
In 2010 Wilhelmina was honored with three prestigious awards for art: The Black Art Makers Award of National Conference of Artists, The Women’s History Month Creative Power of Women Award presented by New York State Senator Bill Perkins, and The Alain Locke Art Action Award presented by The Harlem Arts Alliance. She was also a NoMAA (Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance) 2016 Uptown Arts Stroll Honoree. Wilhelmina is the founder of SISTAAH, Inc. (Survivors Inspiring Sisters Through Art and Advocacy for Health), an arts-based non-profit organization which seeks to inform, encourage and facilitate access to early detection of breast cancer by connecting the medically underserved to free screening services. Using SISTAAH, Inc. as a platform, Wilhelmina has launched numerous successful grant-funded community art projects: Saving Our Sisters in the African American Community, the Harlem Hand Fan Initiative, and O.Y.E. Open Your Eyes Community Art/Health Awareness Project.
She self-published her first book, A Feeling of Fullness: Insights of a Divinely Guided Journey Beyond Breast Cancer (2016, Xlibris Publishing Company) which chronicles the journey from the nearly-missed breast cancer diagnosis at age 37 through her present-day life as an artist/author/health awareness advocate. Her second book entitled Uplifting Cancer Survivors in the COVID Era: Expressions of Kindness and Inspiration Between Aunties and Nieces was released in October 2022.
Some collectors of her artwork include: Alice Walker, Bill Clinton, The Heath Gallery, and Hamilton Landmark Galleries. Eleven of her assemblages appear as set dressing in Seasons 1 and 2 of the Prime Video Series HARLEM.
Wilhelmina is an avid gardener and lives with her husband in Harlem. Her website is:
https://sistaah.org

Open Your Eyes (O.Y.E.) Community Arts Project is supported by

To help New Yorkers—especially those in low-income areas—come together and improve the quality of life in their neighborhoods

Drawing for People Who Think They Can’t Draw
2025-02-23 14:00 - 15:30, 2025-03-23 14:00 - 15:30
Date: Sunday, Sunday, February 23, 2 to 3:30 pm
For: Teens and Adults. Children are welcomed with an accompanying adult.
Think you can’t draw? Well, think again…! In this class for teens and adults, you will use artists’ drawing tools, gain confidence, and acquire new ways of seeing and imagining that will result in drawings you are proud of. Join us and you will expand your awareness of what elements combine to make a “good drawing,” and have fun discovering your unique style of artistic expression. Don’t miss this empowering class—come cultivate your creativity. Yes, you CAN draw! You got this!
The class is ongoing and the teacher works with students individually, offering new subjects and techniques each week.
The registration is required to participate: Register Now.

Laura King, Artist, Art
About the facilitator: Laura King

Laura King, artist and resident of West Harlem, is passionate about expressing city life by drawing. Her graphite works range from precise anatomical storytelling and portraiture to quick captures of the streets that vibrate with energy and motion. In 2024, her drawings have been shown in NYC exhibitions at The Factory, Culture Lab LIC, Diego Salazar, The Atlantic, and soon (Oct-Nov) Art on the Avenue. She was also an invited panelist during LICA’s Drawing Beyond the Surface exhibition May 2024, Seeing and Feeling: A Conversation about the Medium of Drawing. @diditellyouidraw

The registration is required to participate: Registration link coming soon

Open Your Eyes (O.Y.E.) Community Arts Project - Jewerly Making Part 2
2025-02-26 18:30 - 20:30

Exhibition Opening: Making Thoughts Become - A Love Letter to Betty
2025-02-28 18:00 - 20:00
Making Thoughts Become
A Love Letter to Betty
Exhibition Dates February 28 – March 30th
Opening Reception on Friday, February 28, 6-8pm (RSVP)
In 1978, Betty Blayton Taylor, the founder of the Children’s Art Carnival, self-published Making Thoughts Become, a handbook for teachers and adults dedicated to “all the children who have or will attend the Children’s Art Carnival – with the hope that they will all become creative, productive and balanced adults.” In remembrance and tribute, we honor the legacy of Betty Blayton Taylor with a ‘love letter’ exhibition comprising work created by students in the early years of the forty-year plus history of the Carnival, activated by quotes of Betty’s own words, which are presented in the exhibition as artwork itself. This heartfelt exhibition not only showcases the talents of young artists but also serves as a testament to the enduring impact of Betty Blayton Taylor’s vision and dedication. Through her unwavering commitment to nurturing creativity in children, she has left an indelible mark on countless lives, inspiring generations to explore and express their artistic potential.

About Betty Blayton-Taylor

As an artist, Betty Blayton-Taylor was an illustrator, painter, printmaker, and sculptor. She is best known for her works, often described as ‘spiritual abstractions.’ Betty Blayton-Taylor was a co-founder and Board Secretary of the Studio Museum in Harlem, co-founder and Executive Director of Harlem Children’s Art Carnival (CAC), and co-founder of Harlem Textile Works. She served as an advisor, consultant, and board member to various arts and community-based service organizations and programs. Her artworks are widely exhibited in and collected by various private art collections, galleries, and museums.

Student’s work taught by Donavan Nelson, former CAC instructor

Making Thoughts Become A Love To Betty s made possible with funding from West Harlem Development Corporation, New York Council on the Arts, Harlem Development Corporation, Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, the Ruth Foundation for The Arts and donations from New York Film Academy and Hamilton Heights community and beyond.

Silkscreen Monoprint Workshop
2025-03-01 13:00 - 15:00
SILKSCREEN MONOPRINTS WORKSHOP
Class Date: Saturday, March 1st
Time: 1:00 – 3:00pm
Venue: The Children’s Art Carnival
Silkscreen monoprints are a versatile type of printing ideal for artists of all levels, typically painterly in effect and made by applying ink, crayon, colored pencil, and/or paint to a flat surface (in this case a silkscreen) and then printing them onto paper. This class will explore silkscreen set-ups, building layers of transparent and opaque colors to create unique designs, and printing procedures to produce one-of-a-kind prints that participants can take home!
Max. Participants: 15
Cost: $10
Registration: Save your spot
(Registration is required to participate)

Delaney Accomando is a printmaker, painter, and environmental activist based in Queens, New York. Delaney’s passion is for art that represents the way that natural systems and man-made systems are inherentlylinked, and even mirror each other’s designs and functions. In her climate activism, she has worked at NYC-based nonprofits, focusing on the health and wellbeing of the city through community-based leadership, public policy, and creativity.

Open Your Eyes (O.Y.E.) Community Arts Project - Let's Make Earrings
2025-03-05 18:30 - 20:30
Art making workshop by Wilhelmina Grant-Cooper, SISTAAH STUDIO:
Project: Let’s Make Earrings
For: Adult cancer survivors, friends and family.
Cost: Free
Registration is required to participate: RSVP

Wednesday evenings from 6:30-8:30pm.

About the facilitator: Wilhelmina Grant-Cooper

Wilhelmina Grant-Cooper is a self-taught, Harlem-based visual artist, arts instructor, and author. Wilhelmina creates assemblages using mixed-media and found objects which she repurposes into visual art. Her artistic undertakings included assignments as artist-in-residence at The Ralph Lauren Cancer Center and as a Creative Center at University Settlement artist-in-residence wherein she used the arts to nurture the creativity of cancer patients, their families, and staff in a healthcare setting. She also guides elder participants through arts activities at senior centers in Washington Heights, Upper East Side and Brooklyn.
In 2010 Wilhelmina was honored with three prestigious awards for art: The Black Art Makers Award of National Conference of Artists, The Women’s History Month Creative Power of Women Award presented by New York State Senator Bill Perkins, and The Alain Locke Art Action Award presented by The Harlem Arts Alliance. She was also a NoMAA (Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance) 2016 Uptown Arts Stroll Honoree. Wilhelmina is the founder of SISTAAH, Inc. (Survivors Inspiring Sisters Through Art and Advocacy for Health), an arts-based non-profit organization which seeks to inform, encourage and facilitate access to early detection of breast cancer by connecting the medically underserved to free screening services. Using SISTAAH, Inc. as a platform, Wilhelmina has launched numerous successful grant-funded community art projects: Saving Our Sisters in the African American Community, the Harlem Hand Fan Initiative, and O.Y.E. Open Your Eyes Community Art/Health Awareness Project.
She self-published her first book, A Feeling of Fullness: Insights of a Divinely Guided Journey Beyond Breast Cancer (2016, Xlibris Publishing Company) which chronicles the journey from the nearly-missed breast cancer diagnosis at age 37 through her present-day life as an artist/author/health awareness advocate. Her second book entitled Uplifting Cancer Survivors in the COVID Era: Expressions of Kindness and Inspiration Between Aunties and Nieces was released in October 2022.
Some collectors of her artwork include: Alice Walker, Bill Clinton, The Heath Gallery, and Hamilton Landmark Galleries. Eleven of her assemblages appear as set dressing in Seasons 1 and 2 of the Prime Video Series HARLEM.
Wilhelmina is an avid gardener and lives with her husband in Harlem. Her website is:
https://sistaah.org

Open Your Eyes (O.Y.E.) Community Arts Project is supported by

To help New Yorkers—especially those in low-income areas—come together and improve the quality of life in their neighborhoods

Drawing for People Who Think They Can’t Draw
2025-03-09 14:00 - 15:30
Date: Sunday, Sunday, March 9, 2 to 3:30 pm
For: Teens and Adults. Children are welcomed with an accompanying adult.
Think you can’t draw? Well, think again…! In this class for teens and adults, you will use artists’ drawing tools, gain confidence, and acquire new ways of seeing and imagining that will result in drawings you are proud of. Join us and you will expand your awareness of what elements combine to make a “good drawing,” and have fun discovering your unique style of artistic expression. Don’t miss this empowering class—come cultivate your creativity. Yes, you CAN draw! You got this!
The class is ongoing and the teacher works with students individually, offering new subjects and techniques each week.
The registration is required to participate: Register Now.

Laura King, Artist, Art
About the facilitator: Laura King

Laura King, artist and resident of West Harlem, is passionate about expressing city life by drawing. Her graphite works range from precise anatomical storytelling and portraiture to quick captures of the streets that vibrate with energy and motion. In 2024, her drawings have been shown in NYC exhibitions at The Factory, Culture Lab LIC, Diego Salazar, The Atlantic, and soon (Oct-Nov) Art on the Avenue. She was also an invited panelist during LICA’s Drawing Beyond the Surface exhibition May 2024, Seeing and Feeling: A Conversation about the Medium of Drawing. @diditellyouidraw

The registration is required to participate: Registration link coming soon

Open Your Eyes (O.Y.E.) Community Arts Project - Cyanotype
2025-03-12 18:30 - 20:30
Art-making workshop by with guest artist Dionis Ortiz
Project: Cyanotype
For: Adult cancer survivors, friends and family.
Cost: Free
Registration is required to participate: RSVP

Wednesday evenings from 6:30-8:30pm.

Dionis Ortiz
About the facilitator: Dionis Ortiz

Dionis Ortiz is a multimedia artist, community art producer, and educator who works in printmaking, collage, and sculpture. Drawing from his experiences as a child born and raised in Harlem of Dominican descent, he creates geometric, process-based works from ill-regarded and found materials to celebrate the people of the African diaspora.
He was a participant in the Artist in the Marketplace (AIM) Program at The Bronx Museum of the Arts, received a Rema Hort Mann Artist Community Engagement Grant, and has been an Artist in Residence at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan. He has produced several solo exhibitions in New York and his work was recently included in Estamos bien: La Trienal 20/21 at El Museo Del Barrio (New York).
Community engagement is central to his practice and he has produced projects for Harlem River Park Fund, Museum of Art and Design, and ImageNation.
In 2021 he was Artist in Residence at Sugar Hill Children’s Museum of Art and Storytelling and his mural design was selected by PubliColor for an elementary school in East Harlem. His work has been featured in The New York Times several times and is included in Latinx Art: Artists, Market, and Politics by Arlene Dávila.
This community work extends to teaching and Ortiz teaches all ages from pre-K to teenagers and undergraduates at Hunter College and Cornell University.
He received his B.F.A from SUNY Purchase College and his M.F.A from CUNY Hunter College.

Wilhelmina Grant-Cooper

Wilhelmina Grant-Cooper is a self-taught, Harlem-based visual artist, arts instructor, and author. Wilhelmina creates assemblages using mixed-media and found objects which she repurposes into visual art. Her artistic undertakings included assignments as artist-in-residence at The Ralph Lauren Cancer Center and as a Creative Center at University Settlement artist-in-residence wherein she used the arts to nurture the creativity of cancer patients, their families, and staff in a healthcare setting. She also guides elder participants through arts activities at senior centers in Washington Heights, Upper East Side and Brooklyn.
In 2010 Wilhelmina was honored with three prestigious awards for art: The Black Art Makers Award of National Conference of Artists, The Women’s History Month Creative Power of Women Award presented by New York State Senator Bill Perkins, and The Alain Locke Art Action Award presented by The Harlem Arts Alliance. She was also a NoMAA (Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance) 2016 Uptown Arts Stroll Honoree. Wilhelmina is the founder of SISTAAH, Inc. (Survivors Inspiring Sisters Through Art and Advocacy for Health), an arts-based non-profit organization which seeks to inform, encourage and facilitate access to early detection of breast cancer by connecting the medically underserved to free screening services. Using SISTAAH, Inc. as a platform, Wilhelmina has launched numerous successful grant-funded community art projects: Saving Our Sisters in the African American Community, the Harlem Hand Fan Initiative, and O.Y.E. Open Your Eyes Community Art/Health Awareness Project.
She self-published her first book, A Feeling of Fullness: Insights of a Divinely Guided Journey Beyond Breast Cancer (2016, Xlibris Publishing Company) which chronicles the journey from the nearly-missed breast cancer diagnosis at age 37 through her present-day life as an artist/author/health awareness advocate. Her second book entitled Uplifting Cancer Survivors in the COVID Era: Expressions of Kindness and Inspiration Between Aunties and Nieces was released in October 2022.
Some collectors of her artwork include: Alice Walker, Bill Clinton, The Heath Gallery, and Hamilton Landmark Galleries. Eleven of her assemblages appear as set dressing in Seasons 1 and 2 of the Prime Video Series HARLEM.
Wilhelmina is an avid gardener and lives with her husband in Harlem. Her website is:
https://sistaah.org

Open Your Eyes (O.Y.E.) Community Arts Project is supported by

To help New Yorkers—especially those in low-income areas—come together and improve the quality of life in their neighborhoods

Crochet Workshop - Families with Children
2025-03-15 11:00 - 12:00
Crochet Workshop by Milagros Batista

Join fashion designer and craftswoman Milagros Batista in a delightful crochet workshop suitable for all ages and skill levels. For beginners looking to grasp the fundamentals, Milagros will guide students through a hands-on experience, offering insights into both simple basics and more challenging stitches.
The workshop will be held at Children’s Art Carnival at 62 Hamilton Place, New York, NY 10031
The 3rd Saturday of every month
February 15, 2025
March 15, 2025
April 19, 2025
Families with children:
11am to 12 noon
Children must be accompanied with an adult, no drop-off
Free, or pay what-you-can donation
Online registration is required to participate: Register for Families with Children Workshop
Teens and Adults: 12:30 to 1:30pm Register for Teens and Adults Workshop

Milagros Batista: Creator of Wearable Art!
Fiber Artist | Master Knitter/Crocheter | Fashion Designer | Social Activist
Personal and Artistic Journey
Milagros Batista is more than a designer; she’s a storyteller weaving tales of resilience, cultural vibrancy, and individuality through her wearable art. Born in Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic, Milagros draws inspiration from the rich tapestry of her childhood—ocean waves, bustling markets, and the aroma of coffee and sugarcane. Growing up during a challenging political era, Milagros found strength in her family and guidance in the form of Doña Maria Luisa, a Freedom Fighter and Master Knitter. This mentorship became the foundation of her journey into the world of fiber arts, knitting, crochet, and social justice.
Early Influence and Mentorship
At seven, Milagros’ meeting with Doña Maria Luisa marked the beginning of a transformative journey. Hindered by financial constraints, Milagros proposed a unique arrangement—she’d work for knitting lessons. Doña Maria Luisa, a fearless advocate against dictatorship, not only agreed but ignited in Milagros a passion for social change. Doña Maria Luisa’s passing didn’t halt Milagros’ growth; instead, she became part of a collective of women mentors, guiding her until her family moved to New York. The vibrant culture of NYC, coupled with the influence of the “Black is Beautiful” movement, shaped Milagros’ perspective, fueling her commitment to equity, sustainability, and gender neutrality.
The Batista Collections: Brand Bio
Milagros Batista – Designing for Equity, Sustainability, and Gender Neutrality
A decade ago, Milagros transitioned careers to dedicate herself entirely to knitting and crochet. In 2016, she birthed Batista Collections, challenging preconceptions in high fashion. The resurgence of these crafts during the pandemic amplified her mission, solidifying their presence in the industry. Milagros’ designs stand out, incorporating intricate cables reminiscent of braided hair. Pieces like the “Free Spirited” shawl/jacket symbolize freedom and self-expression. As Batista Collections moves forward, it envisions pushing creative boundaries, defining a path where fashion meets individuality.
Mission Statement
At Batista Collections, we’re crafting a fashion revolution beyond gender norms. Fashion should liberate, allowing limitless self-expression. Rooted in inclusivity and authenticity, our gender-neutral garments empower individuals to embrace their unique identities without fear or limitation. Meticulously crafted, our designs blur gender lines, allowing wearers to explore personal style with confidence. We celebrate the beauty of diversity, honoring the rich tapestry of global identities. Committed to sustainability, we prioritize ethical practices and mindful production. Join us in this transformative journey where fashion becomes a tool for self-expression and empowerment.

Family Photos by Hamilton Heights Darkroom
2025-03-15 12:00 - 14:00
Hamilton Heights Darkroom Workshops
Hamilton Heights Darkroom (HHD) is dedicated to preserving the timeless craft of traditional darkroom printing and film photography. Through hands-on experiences, students will learn the fundamentals of photography by shooting with film cameras and printing from negatives in the darkroom.
We offer workshops tailored to youth, teens, and adult printers of all skill levels, from beginners to advanced practitioners.
All classes limited to 5 students.
Spring 2025 Dates:

January 18 – Photograms for Parent & Child – Ended
February 15 – Family Photos – Full
March 15 – Darkroom Open Printing – Full, THIS EVENT IS SOLD OUT
April 19 – Matting Workshop
May 17 – Darkroom Open Printing

Time: 12:00am – 2:00pm
Age Group: Adults 18+ (1/18 Aged 6+ with parent)
Workshops will be held at Children’s Art Carnival at 62 Hamilton Place, New York, NY 10031
Mask Requirement: All students must wear a quality mask (KN95 or N95)
Free, or pay what-you-can donation

Workshop Descriptions:
January 18 – Photograms: This is a fun introduction to the darkroom class. Students place objects on photographic paper and expose them to light, then develop the paper in our darkroom. The unusual combinations are personal expressions that utilize the student’s intuition.
February 15 – Family Photo: Everybody has an old box of photos or negatives of their family members. Students bring in negatives of past and current family and make enlarged copies. Multiple copies can be gifted to others.
March 15 – Darkroom Open Printing: Students can print what they like. They can print photograms again or combine enlarged negatives with objects for unique photographs. Students who attend two or more of these workshops begin to see the potential of creating art in a traditional darkroom.
April 19 – Matting Workshop: Students provide their own work to be matted in preparation for framing and display. This class is suitable for attendance by students from multiple disciplines. A bevel edged window mat (supplied) is cut for each piece and students attach their work. Photos, drawings, collage and old newspapers articles can be matted. Students leave with pieces mounted and ready to frame.

About: Located in the historic Hamilton Heights neighborhood within Harlem, Hamilton Heights Darkroom (HHD) is dedicated to the preservation of traditional darkroom printing and film photography. Students use film cameras, and print from negatives in the darkroom as a basis to learn photography. HHD offers photography basics and darkroom printing for youth, teens and adult printers, from beginner level to advanced.
As darkrooms, photography and public school arts programs disappear, HHD strives to preserve both culture and photography in the Harlem community. HHD offers group printing classes, photography classes (film and digital) and discussion about current photography issues in a collegial setting. HHD collaborates with local community arts and culture organizations seeking youth and adults interested in photography.
Hamilton Heights Darkroom Workshops and all programs at The Children’s Art Carnival are made possible with funding from West Harlem Development Corporation, Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, the Ruth Foundation for The Arts and donations from New York Film Academy and Hamilton Heights community and beyond.

The Artist’s Voice: A (Virtual) Writing Clinic for Creatives
2025-03-16 14:00 - 16:00
The Artist’s Voice: A Writing Clinic for Creatives
Description:
The Artist’s Voice is a monthly two-hour writing clinic where artists receive hands-on support in creating and editing documents essential for their careers, ensuring they leave with improved drafts or even finished documents. The clinic focuses on helping artists craft compelling artist statements, bios, grant applications, responses to open calls, and residency proposals. Artists at all career stages who need support with professional writing related to art opportunities are encouraged to attend. Artists can bring physical or digital copies to the clinic for on-the-spot revisions. Space is limited; sign up for an appointment on-line.
Sunday, March 16, 2 – 4 pm

Slot 1 – 2:00 – 2:20
Slot 2 – 2:30 – 2:50
Slot 3 – 3:00 – 3:20
Slot 4 – 3:30 – 3:50

Max. Participants: 4
Cost: $1-10 Donate-what-you-can
Registration: Save your spot
(Registration is required to participate)

Radhiyah Ayobami

About the Facilitator:
Radhiyah Ayobami is Brooklyn-born with Southern roots. Her journey to writing began at the kitchen table listening to her grandmother’s stories. She holds a B.A. in Africana Studies from Brooklyn College, and a MFA in Prose from Mills College. She has received awards from the New York Foundation of the Arts, the Sustainable Arts Foundation and International Literary Seminars Kenya. She has also received residencies from Under the Volcano Mexico, Atlantic Center for the Arts and Breadloaf Environmental Writers Conference. She has been published in several anthologies and journals, including AGNI, Asterix, Kweli, African Voices, and Hispanic Theological Initiative. She was the 2024 Talk of the Town Resident Artist with El Museo and the NYC Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs. Some of her most enjoyable work has been facilitating writing and movement sessions with youth, immigrants, and elders in schools and community centers across NYC. Her free time is spent unrolling her yoga mat in random locations, going to her son’s basketball games, and turning everything into stories. She is the author of The Long Amen.

Open Your Eyes (O.Y.E.) Community Arts Project - Handmade Leather Beads
2025-03-19 18:30 - 20:30

The Monochromatic Layers of She by Aleathia Brown
2025-03-21 18:00 - 21:00
“The Monochromatic Layers of She”
A Painting Workshop for Adults
Celebrate Women’s Herstory Month in a creative and inspiring space, welcoming both men and women.

Aleathia Brown
Join Aleathia Brown, a visionary artist and community leader, in a dynamic workshop exploring the power of a monochromatic palette.
About the Workshop
This immersive experience offers a stress-relieving creative outlet, allowing participants to express themselves through art.

Paint four monochromatic silhouette figures, symbolizing the energy and essence of women.
Explore how color tells a story, evoking emotions and layers—just like the complexities of womanhood.
Engage in a bold, color-filled session designed to uplift and inspire.

Everyone will leave with new techniques and artistic inspiration that extend beyond the workshop!
Event Details

Friday, March 21, 2025
Children’s Art Carnival, Harlem, 62 Hamilton Terrace, New York, NY 10031

6:00 – 9:00 PM
No prior art experience needed—Non-artists and creatives welcome!

What’s Included?

All painting materials provided
Bottled water, cookies, and chips
A curated music playlist by DJ Masai to set the ambiance

Artwork sample by Teaching Artist Aleathia Brown

Reserve Your Spot

Fee: $41.90
Register here: https://square.link/u/JmO8olcw

For inquiries, contact: Aleathia Brown at aleathiab.art@gmail.com

This workshop is supported by Children’s Art Carnival and Harlem Art Alliance.
