The holidays go Hollywood with new exhibit at Buell Children's Museum in Pueblo

James Bartolo, The Pueblo Chieftain
·2 min read
Elle Holmes, 8, has a snowball fight with family at the "Lights, Camera, Christmas: The Art of Visual Storytelling" exhibit in the Buell Children's Museum on Wednesday.
Elle Holmes, 8, has a snowball fight with family at the "Lights, Camera, Christmas: The Art of Visual Storytelling" exhibit in the Buell Children's Museum on Wednesday.

Soft indoor snowballs, ice fortresses and holiday movie nostalgia are features of the latest exhibit at the Sangre De Cristo Arts and Conference Center's Buell Children's Museum, 210 N. Santa Fe Ave.

"Lights, Camera, Christmas: The Art of Visual Storytelling" acquaints guests with four different camera angles common in holiday films — the establishing shot, the long shot, the medium shot and the close-up. Guests then have the opportunity to get into character, stage scenes in different wintry settings throughout the exhibit and take pictures for their own holiday movie storyboard.

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“The idea was that we wanted to teach children and families about the moviemaking process through iconic scenes within movies," said Jerica Khosla, director of the Buell Children's Museum. "We want our patrons to be comfortable in creating their own stories and using this exhibit as a creative outlet to connect with their loved ones for the holidays."

At the beginning of the exhibit, guests may choose a setting like an ice castle or a log cabin for an establishing shot. Nearby these settings are baskets of soft, artificial snowballs that have proven to be especially popular with younger visitors.

"Kids pretty much know what to do when they see snowballs," Khosla said.

Guests can make their way through the Holiday Walk of Fame as part of the "Lights, Camera, Christmas: The Art of Visual Storytelling" exhibit in the Buell Childrens Museum.
Guests can make their way through the Holiday Walk of Fame as part of the "Lights, Camera, Christmas: The Art of Visual Storytelling" exhibit in the Buell Childrens Museum.

A "walk of fame" portion of the exhibit features information about classic holiday movies like "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" and "Home Alone." Families can also learn about different winter holidays and festivals celebrated around the world including Christmas, Diwali, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Las Posadas, Soyal and Three Kings Day.

Storyboards are designed in a small booklet given to each visiting family. Pictures framed for the storyboard may be taken on a smartphone camera and emailed to play@sdc-arts.org for printing. Cameras will be provided to those who do not have one. After making their way through the exhibit, guests can paste printed pictures in their storyboard booklets in the "Artrageous" room on the second floor of the museum.

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Also on the second floor, children may skate to holiday music on a make-believe "frozen lake," send letters to Santa Claus and learn about the history of holiday movie animation at the Animation Station. A cozy, Grinch-themed "book nook" provides a place for families to read books and play games.

Having debuted on Nov. 8, the "Lights, Camera, Christmas: The Art of Visual Storytelling" exhibit will remain open at the museum through Dec. 30. Admission into the museum is $10 for adults, $8 for children and $8 for seniors and military members. Sangre De Cristo Arts and Conference Center members may experience the exhibit for free.

Pueblo Chieftain reporter James Bartolo can be reached by email at JBartolo@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Holidays go Hollywood for new exhibit at Buell Children's Museum