A picture is worth a thousand words or emotions.
Especially when it comes to emojis — the breezy, lighthearted depictions, often of faces, used in social media and text messaging, among other avenues of communication.
Swyft Media reported that the world’s 2 billion smartphones shared more than 6 billion emoji, or stickers, every day in 2015.
The local kidscommons children’s museum gets it.
Its staff has invited Columbus native and Los Angeles artist Tre Reising to lead two session of the workshop Make Your Own Emoji on Saturday at the venue at 309 Washington St. downtown. Reising is the creator of the oversized emoji art piece “Live, Love, Laugh, Laugh Until You Cry” permanently installed at kidscommons last year.
“I’m not going to be talking a lot,” Reising said.
Seems absolutely fitting since emojis are supposed to do the talking, right?
The event offers youngsters another way to celebrate the kickoff of Exhibit Columbus, said Diane Robbins, kidscommons’ community relations and marketing manager. The exhibition and exploration of art, architecture and design begins Friday and Saturday mostly downtown and runs through Nov. 26.
“It’s the perfect tie-in,” Robbins said.
The word emoji is an Anglicization of a Japanese character that literally translates to mean “picture letter.”
Reising and the museum are supplying 3½-inch plaster-cast heart-eyed emojis like one in his work on the kidscommons wall. Plus, a variety of supplies such as paint and glitter will be provided so budding artists can make their creation somewhat more distinctive.
The activity is one of the Columbus Area Arts Council’s new “pop-up” or more impromptu family-related offerings in lieu of its past events such as concerts and larger music-oriented gatherings. That’s part of the arts council’s new, more broad direction to serve a more varied audience — and to make better use of its funding, according to its leaders.
Reising acknowledged that such activities can serve as a good way of encouraging youngsters curious to try elements of art. Plus, he mentioned that showing people the basic how-to of such art is “a way to demystify how the sauce is made, so to speak.”
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What: Make Your Own Emoji workshop with Columbus native and Los Angeles artist Tre Reising, creator of the kidscommons permanent emoji art piece, “Live, Love, Laugh, Laugh Until You Cry.” Reising and the museum will offer supplies and guidance and wisdom for ideas and creativity.
When: Two sessions to choose from: 11 to 11:45 a.m., and noon to 12:45 p.m. Saturday.
Where: kidscommons children’s museum, 309 Washington St., Columbus.
Cost: $7 per person. Those wishing to stay and explore the museum can do so by paying the $7 admission price.
Information: 812-378-3046 or kidscommons.org.
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