logo
  • News
    • Northside Community Meetings
    • Community Calendar
    • Elected Officials
    • Features
    • Local Business
    • Pittsburgh Police Blotter
    • Public Safety
    • Sports
  • Arts + Culture
  • Real Estate
  • Classifieds
  • Marketplace
  • Subscribe
  • Advertise
    • News
      • Northside Community Meetings
      • Community Calendar
      • Elected Officials
      • Features
      • Local Business
      • Pittsburgh Police Blotter
      • Public Safety
      • Sports
    • Arts + Culture
    • Real Estate
    • Classifieds
    • Marketplace
    • Subscribe
    • Advertise
Arts + Culture, Central Northside, Event Coverage, Features, Latest Northside News
Nick Eustis, on
January 17, 2018
Mo Willems exhibit comes to Children’s Museum

Acclaimed children’s author and illustrator Mo Willems to have new exhibit at the Children’s Museum from Feb. 17 to Sept. 2.

By: Nick Eustis

 

The pigeon can’t drive the bus, but the kids certainly can.

Come February, the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, in association with the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, will debut a special exhibit — “The Pigeon Comes to Pittsburgh: A Mo Willems Exhibit,” based on the work of children’s author and illustrator Mo Willems.

“We launched down a road that we always wanted to do, and that is to work with award-winning children’s authors and artists to make the two-dimensional, three-dimensional,” said marketing director Bill Schlageter.

The Children’s Museum previously worked with the Massachusetts-based Eric Carle Museum on the successful 2015 exhibit “Very Eric Carle: A Very Hungry, Quiet, Lonely, Clumsy, Busy Exhibit.” The collaboration was something the Museum has wanted to do for some time, according to Schlageter.

The interactive exhibition is based on five of Willem’s acclaimed children’s books, including “Knuffle Bunny,” “Elephant and Piggie,” “Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed” and “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!,” which inspired the exhibit’s title.

Mo Willems started his career in 1993, writing and animating for nine years on the classic PBS show, “Sesame Street.” He would receive 6 Emmy Awards for writing during his tenure. After leaving “Sesame Street” in 2002, Willems went on to write and illustrate several children’s book series. The “Pigeon” and “Knuffle Bunny” series would go on to win three Caldecott Medals, one of the highest honors in children’s literature.

Even Leonardo the Terrible Monster wants in on #MuseumSelfieDay! The Pigeon Comes to Pittsburgh! A Mo Willems Exhibit opens February 17. #MuseumSelfieDay2018 #mowillems #museumselfie pic.twitter.com/9HAJEbBV3Q

— Childrens Museum Pgh (@PghKids) January 17, 2018

Director of exhibit design Anne Fullenkamp and her team began working with Willems and Eric Carle staff in July 2016. The design process began that fall.

Fullenkamp said she worked with Willems to determine which of his books were best to reference. Her design team would then begin to brainstorm experiences for visitors.

“It’s very much an iterative process where we try something, see what happens, and go from there,” Fullenkamp said.

Experiences in “Pigeon Comes to Pittsburgh” will include a wearable bus allowing kids to “drive” around the exhibit, a Naked Mole Rat fashion show, a phone booth that alters voices to sound like Elephant and Piggie, as well as a piece of 19th century animation technology to bring pictures of Elephant and Piggie to life.

Pictures also feature prominently in the exhibit, because Mo Willems is an illustrator as well as an author. The exhibit will teach children about Willem’s drawing process, and include video segments featuring Willems.

“We always want to share with our visitors that Mo is a real person and that he draws all these characters,” Fullenkamp said.

Just as Willems creates these characters, this exhibit will bring those characters to life. For kids, that’s what is most important.

“Our mission is to create experiences that inspire joy, creativity and curiosity,” Schlageter said. “I want [children] to walk away with the delight of an experience around Mo Willems’ characters.”

“The Pigeon Comes to Pittsburgh” will open Feb. 17 and will be on display until Sept. 2. The exhibit will then begin a nationwide tour.

For more information on the exhibit visit Children’s Museum website.

Donate today to help support the Northside community newspaper's mission to provide hyperlocal coverage for our neighborhoods, neighbors, and their future.

Related Posts
Bill Schlageter, director of marketing for the Children’s Museum, is retiring after over 20 years
Allegheny Commons
Bill Schlageter, director of marketing for the Children’s Museum, is retiring after over 20 years
One of his greatest accomplishments was leading the long-time Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood Sweater Drive. By Sonu Babu Bill Schlageter is a Roche...
September 30, 2021
Northside Happenings September 26 to 29, 2019
Allegheny City Central, Allegheny Commons, Allegheny West, Arts + Culture, Fineview, North Shore
Northside Happenings September 26 to 29, 2019
This weekend in the Northside: a class about birds hosted by a National Aviary Ornithologist, CreativeMornings/PGH with Thaddeus Mosley at The Andy Wa...
September 24, 2019
Northside Happenings July 12 to 15, 2018
Central Northside, East Deutschtown and Spring Garden, Historic Deutschtown, Latest Northside News, North Shore
Northside Happenings July 12 to 15, 2018
Here's what's up this week in the Northside:  Yoga with Felicia Savage Friedman to celebrate diversity at the Children's Museum, two days of free, liv...
July 12, 2018
Northside Happenings June 21 to 24, 2018
Allegheny Commons, Allegheny West, Central Northside, Event Coverage, Spring Hill, Troy Hill
Northside Happenings June 21 to 24, 2018
This weekend, welcome the summer season with an outdoor movie, the annual Northside Pet Walk, house tours in Allegheny West and Observatory Hill, and ...
June 20, 2018
Event Coverage, Photo Gallery
‘Pigeon comes to Pittsburgh’ exhibit debuts at the Children’s Museum
New "Pigeon Comes to Pittsburgh: A Mo Willems Exhibit" opened Saturday, February 17 at the Children's Museum.   The Children's Museum of Pittsburgh of...
February 18, 2018
Northside Happenings February 15 to 18, 2018
Allegheny West, Brighton Heights, Central Northside, East Deutschtown and Spring Garden, Event Coverage, Historic Deutschtown, Latest Northside News, Manchester, North Shore, Troy Hill
Northside Happenings February 15 to 18, 2018
Quite the spread this weekend with Lenten Fish Fries, a new Children's Museum exhibit and special performances at New Hazlett Theater and St. Anthony'...
February 15, 2018
e-Edition
Northside Neighborhoods
Northside Guides
FORMS + SUBMISSIONS
Events Letters to the Editor News Tips
POLL
MOST READ
February poll results
Editor Picks, Features...
February poll results
March 18, 2023
February saw the launch of an exciting new feature on The Northside Chronicle’s website: polls! We asked our visitors to cast their votes on a variety...
this is a test
PREVIEW: Northside company launches program to promote robotics startups
Allegheny City Central, Business...
PREVIEW: Northside company launches program to promote robotics startups
March 17, 2023
Robots are perhaps one of the most common ideas people think about when they envision the future. And one Northside company is seeking to bring the fu...
this is a test
Ask An Attorney
Local Business, News...
Ask An Attorney
March 16, 2023
This month’s article will focus on insurance, namely car insurance. Car insurance is a necessary evil as it allows us to compensate others for injurie...
this is a test
BREAKING: Perry graduate to add books to school’s library
Arts + Culture, Features...
BREAKING: Perry graduate to add books to school’s library
March 16, 2023
A Perry High School graduate will install two of her own books in the school's library in an event this Friday. Maisha Howze , who graduated from Perr...
this is a test
Northside Business Briefs: March 2023
Business, Chateau...
Northside Business Briefs: March 2023
March 15, 2023
Bicycle Heaven reopens after flood damage Bicycle Heaven, the Northside’s bicycle museum and bike repair shop, reopened in late February following flo...
this is a test
Neighborhood Community Development Fund
Northside Leadership Conference
Donate

The Northside Chronicle

thenorthsidechronicle.com
Phone: (412) 321-3919
Email: [email protected]

About Us

Stay tuned with us

Copyright ©2022 Northside Chronicle. All rights reserved.