(Courtesy of Kaplen JCC) The Kaplen JCC on the Palisades Waltuch Art Gallery will be presenting “What is Art?,” an exhibition of fun, colorful creations made by children who attend the Leonard and Syril Rubin Nursery School at the JCC. The varied subjects and styles in the exhibit will celebrate the many ways that young children explore wonderment, creativity and inspiration through art. The show will be on display from March 1-30.

In preparation for the show, each class chose a style and medium to work in and then created artistic pieces that conveyed a shared class vision. Some were inspired by famous artists and imitated their style, creating Impressionist works like Claude Monet, or working in thick paint like Van Gogh, while others discovered their own abstract styles like Jackson Pollock.

“We are so proud of what the children in our classes created and both the children and educators are beyond thrilled to have their work displayed in the Waltuch Gallery, where it can be seen by everyone who visits the center,” said Jill Rosalimsky, a program supervisor in Leonard and Syril Rubin Nursery School with special expertise in sensory integration. “It’s living proof of how art helps children develop cognitively, socially, physically and emotionally. But most importantly, it boosts self-confidence and creates opportunities for sensory exploration. This exhibit will serve as a source of continuing inspiration and joy for children in our school for years to come and we are so incredibly pleased to have it as part of our early childhood curriculum.”

The Gallery, which is free and open to the community, keeps the following hours: Monday – Thursday from 9 a.m. – 10 p.m.; Friday and Sunday from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.; closed Saturday. For more information please contact Shelley Levy at 201.408.1489.