May 1, 2024 – The Kansas Children’s Discovery Center, Topeka’s nonprofit children’s museum, will host an art exhibit in honor of the 70th anniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education decision. Picture the Dream: The Story of the Civil Rights Movement through Children’s Books will open to the public on Friday, May 3 at 9 a.m. following an opening reception the evening of May 1. The exhibit will be open from May 3 to August 11, 2024 and is included in the cost of regular admission.

Picture the Dream: The Story of the Civil Rights Movement through Children’s Books delves into the events, people, and themes of the civil rights movement through children’s literature. The original exhibition was curated by award-winning children’s book author Andrea Davis Pinkney as a collaboration between the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, Georgia and The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst, Massachusetts. The Kansas Children’s Discovery Center will host the exhibit in reproduction as a collection of compelling prints that evoke the power and continuing relevance of the era that shaped American history and continues to reverberate today. Visitors to the exhibit will experience:

• A collection of more than 70 works from 55 different children’s books telling the story of the civil rights movement. Artwork depicts Brown v. Board and other key historical events up to the modern era. Many of the pieces show events from the perspectives of children.
• An interactive mural created by local artists Aisha Imani Sanaa and Vivian Wilson Bluett. The artists worked with local children to design and paint the mural, which is displayed in movable tiles to allow visitors to design and redesign the artwork.
• A praxinoscope animation tool that allows children to see the connection between drawing, animation, and storytelling. Artwork for the praxinoscope was created by local artist Dané Shobe.
• A reading and reflection area featuring the exhibit’s books and work from local author Dayonne Richardson.
• An art creation station allowing children to add their own drawings to the exhibit.
• A program series featuring local and regional artists, including poet Annette Billings and the artists featured in the exhibit.

The Discovery Center hosted an opening reception for Picture the Dream on May 1, 2024. Dr. Beryl A. New of the Kansas African American Affairs Coalition emceed the event, which included remarks from Dene’ Mosier, President/CEO of the Discovery Center, Mayor Mike Padilla, Arthur Affleck, Executive Director of the Association of Children’s Museums based in Washington D.C., and poet Annette Billings. The Topeka High School Honors Quintet performed throughout the event.

We were particularly pleased to host children’s museum leaders from throughout the United States, including Children’s Museum of Denver, Louisiana Children’s Museum, KidsQuest Children’s Museum of Bellvue, Washington, Wonderscope of Kansas City, Lincoln Children’s Museum, Children’s Museum Tucson, and Kearney Children’s Museum. The original exhibition was curated by award-winning children’s book author Andrea Davis Pinkney as a collaboration between the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, Georgia and The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst, Massachusetts.

Picture the Dream in Topeka was a community-led project organized by a volunteer planning council and the Kansas Children’s Discovery Center team. Planning council members included Stacy Ash, Dr. Teresa Clounch, Bridget Elmer, Sarah Fizell, Connie Gibbons, Angie Grau, Dr. Mallory McIntosh, Dr. Beryl New, Kim Patton, Jade Ramsdell, Cheryl Rios, Aisha Imani Sanaa, and Glenda Washington. Exhibit sponsors and partners include the 70th Anniversary Brown Coalition, Topeka Community Foundation, the Kokari Foundation, Visit Topeka, ArtsConnect, Topeka Public Schools, and the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library.

Picture the Dream: The Story of the Civil Rights Movement through Children’s Books delves into the events, people, and themes of the civil rights movement through children’s literature. The exhibit will be open from May 3 to August 11, 2024 and is included in the cost of regular admission. We are incredibly proud to offer this experience for families as part of a community-wide commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education decision.