Children's Installation Space
A Child's Adventure in the Swedish Countryside: A Storybook Installation
Open to the Public October 24, 2009
Saturday, 12 – 5 pm, $5 per child (FREE for ASF members), admission includes access to both spaces
Open to ASF Family Associate and above members, Tuesday – Friday, 12 – 5 pm
FREE, ages toddler+
Leave New York City to discover the magical lives of some of Sweden's most popular classic and contemporary children's storybook characters! The American-Scandinavian Foundation is pleased to introduce the sixth installation of its popular Annual Celebration of Children's Literature at Scandinavia House, spotlighting Sweden.
A Child's Adventure in the Swedish Countryside is an interactive playscape that takes children on a magical journey from New York City across the ocean to Sweden where they can explore, hear stories, and read while surrounded by vibrant and imaginative murals evocative of the bucolic Swedish landscape. Kids will encounter a fantasy city skyline, inspired by the simple, bright building blocks of Brio. A mini-balcony suggests a penthouse roof where they can build their own Brio buildings. Following a whimsically-stylized road, they will leave behind the big city, meeting along the way some of the country's most beloved storybook characters, like Stefan Casta's Mister Raf, Gunilla Bergstrom's Alfons, and Maria Jonsson's Astrid the Fly. Children can read and listen to stories in the giant blueberry basket “sofa” and other woodland-inspired cushions that litter the forest, go camping in a tent with Findus the Cat or play in Elsa Beskow's capricious hat house. The storybook installation is designed by renowned set designer and artist Sarah Edkins.
Both classic and contemporary literatures are embraced in this installation as much of today's literature evokes popular themes of the past. Many of the contemporary authors and illustrators continue in tradition of the classic “Elsa Beskow style,” where they imagine fanciful play lands that blend together the natural and human world. The new literary figures that will be featured are popular among today's Scandinavian children.
Support for Adventures in the Swedish Countryside is provided by Christina Lang Assael, The Assael Foundation; The Hon. Charles and Monika A. Heimbold, The Heimbold Foundation; the Consulate General of Sweden in New York; Dr. Rose-Marie G. Oster; Edwin & Kathy Ordonez; John L. and Solveig Andersen; Michael E. Gochman & Bettina Schriver Gochman; and Sara Roy Summers.
