Children’s Museum Celebrates Reopening With New Public Art

RYE, NY — On Saturday, the Westchester Children’s Museum will reopen its doors to the public for the first time since the pandemic started and museum officials celebrated the occasion with the unveiling of a new mural by local artist Marla Beth Enowitz.

The Rye Brook mural painter is perhaps better known as the “happy art” artist. Museum-goers may recognize Enowitz’s custom public art pieces from the First Bank of Greenwich, the Spa at the J House or in large-scale public art displays at The Westchester, the Jefferson Valley Mall and the Palace Theatre.

Families attending the members re-opening celebration this weekend had the opportunity to become part of Enowitz’s new “Climb Every Mountain” mural by permanently leaving their handprints in a rainbow of colors.

“I was so impressed with Westchester Children’s Museum’s vibrant, colorful space after collaborating on a rainbow drip art workshop earlier this spring,” Enowitz said, revealing her latest creation to the public. “For me, it was important to continue the rainbow theme with ‘Climb Every Mountain,’ evoking positivity and inclusiveness with bright, cheerful colors. Being June, it was also a perfect opportunity to embrace Pride Month with a message of ‘be who you are’ — it’s universal for people of all ages.”

Westchester ‘happy art’ artist Marla Beth Enowitz with her new interactive “Climb Every Mountain” mural at Westchester Children’s Museum (Westchester Children's Museum)

It is perhaps poetically fitting that Enowitz's work should help to reopen the museum space set aside for the Hudson Valley’s youngest residents. The owner of Marla Beth Designs says she turned her love of painting from hobby to business once the pandemic hit. Her designs, described as equal parts whimsical and sophisticated, are often inspired by the imaginative minds of children.

The Westchester Children’s Museum in the historic landmark bath houses on the Boardwalk at Rye Playland was created with children pre-k through middle school in mind. Families returning to the reopened Museum, now at 100 percent visitor capacity, will find an expanded, newly renovated space featuring increased opportunities for hands-on learning, STEM activities and interactive programs to inspire curiosity and critical thinking for toddlers and tweens alike.

“Everyone who donated to add their handprint to the bright uplifting mural by Marla Beth Enowitz, is actually lending a hand in reopening the Westchester Children’s Museum and supporting our program,” Westchester Children’s Museum Acting Director Leta Wong said. "After more than a year of being closed, we couldn’t be happier to reopen and see all of our prior visitors come back, and welcome our new members and friends to a larger, even more exciting hands-on Museum!"

The Westchester Children’s Museum will resume regular operating hours (Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to noon and 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.) following the general public opening on June 26. More information about the museum can be found here.

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