Students and their parents can spend New York City Public Schools’ Midwinter Recess moving and grooving at the American Museum of the Moving Image during “Rockin’ Recess,” Feb. 16 – 20. This week of special screenings and activities in
These special events are included with museum admission, which also includes “Behind the Screen,” the museum’s dynamic core exhibition that explores how movies and television programs are made, marketed, and exhibited, and “<Alt>Digital Media,” a hands-on introduction to the digital moving image and software-based art.
Visitors during Midwinter Recess can also take advantage of a sale in the museum shop, with 15 percent off all merchandise including film books, toys, gifts, tee-shirts, and tote bags.
1 p.m. Tuesday through Friday
Motion Workshop
This workshop explores the mysteries behind moving images and animation. Working with a member of the museum’s education staff, visitors will explore such 19th-century optical toys as the zoetrope, thaumatrope, and phenakistiscope. They will draw and assemble a thaumatrope to take home. Kids can also create their own moving images at the digital animation stations and star in their own flipbook mini-movie (flipbook print-outs may be purchased in the museum shop for $3. Recommended ages: 8 through 12. Free with museum admission.
2 p.m. Monday through Friday
“The School of Rock”
2003, 108 mins. Directed by Richard Linklater. With Jack Black. Inspired by their substitute teacher, a fifth-grade class forms a rock band in Richard Linklater’s spirited, thoroughly charming comedy. The film is a showcase for its remarkable child actors and for the gleefully subversive Jack Black. Free weekday screenings courtesy of Paramount Pictures.
Noon to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday (open until 8 p.m. Friday)
BLIP: Arcade Classics From the Museum Collection
Ten of the most popular video arcade games of all time are resurrected in “BLIP.” Sure to induce nostalgia in those who were teenagers between 1974 and 1984, the exhibition also provides a history lesson to those who have come of age in the era of the Game Boy and the Playstation. Games include Asteroids, Centipede, Defender, Donkey Kong, Ms. Pac-Man, Tempest, and other favorites. Each visitor receives six free tokens with museum admission. Additional tokens may be purchased for 25 cents each.
