February 1, 2007
For Immediate Release
Contact: Susan Trien, 585-410-6359, strien@museumofplay.org

Playful Mural Emerges
at Strong National Museum of Play®

Have you ever seen a Weeblax at play?

See these active little critters spring from the paintbrush of Rochester artist John Kastner as he completes a mural in the public galleries at Strong National Museum of Play®. Museum guests are invited to watch the painting’s progress and speak to the artist as he works (and plays!) in the corridor leading to the museum’s Caterpillar atrium.

The work in progress, commissioned by Strong, reflects the museum’s philosophy and mission—exploring play to encourage learning, creativity, and discovery. Says G. Rollie Adams, president and CEO of Strong, “We thought it would be fun to ask John, a local artist whose paintings of Weeblax characters have been shown in a number of local galleries, to paint a mural depicting his interpretation of the museum’s view of play.”

Entitled “Adjusting the Peanut Butter Drive on the Hydraulic Fun Machine,” the mural is a far-out, whirling, machine-landscape peopled by busy little Weeblax characters. Look closely, and discover within this space-like world an abundance of swirling, everyday objects that are endowed by the artist with a dream-like quality. Pencils, crayons, birds, plungers, and even toasters and macaroni float through a zipperfilled galaxy along with teacups, cows, and rabbits. And, everywhere, curious little Weeblax peer out. Measuring nine feet by nine feet, the work, painted in acrylics, is expected to be completed by March 2007.

“My work is like a stream of consciousness, with little or no revision,” says Kastner. “It lies somewhere between Dr. Seuss and Hieronymus Bosch. When I paint, I let my aesthetic senses have free reign. Playfulness is what I’m all about, and if I could write my own job description, this is exactly what I’d be doing.”

John Kastner is a Rochester artist who has illustrated a number of children’s books and primary grade textbooks, and created murals adorning Rochester’s City Hall, the Charlotte Public Library, and the Abundance Cooperative Market. He teaches drawing and cartooning at the University of Rochester’s Memorial Art Gallery Creative Workshop. Kastner’s Weeblax characters can be seen at his website: www.weeblaxuzzl.com

Strong National Museum of Play®, located in downtown Rochester, New York, is the only museum in the world devoted to the study of play as it illuminates American popular culture.

Hours (Beginning September 5, 2006):
Monday–Thursday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.;
Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Sunday, 12:00 noon to 5:00 p.m.
Admission Fees
General Admission (does not include Dancing Wings Butterfly Garden™):
Adults $9.00; Seniors $8.00; Children (2–17) $7.00; Children younger than two free; Strong members free.
Admission to Dancing Wings Butterfly Garden™:
General Admission fee plus $3.00 per person for members and nonmembers; Children younger than two free.
Due to limited capacity, entry to Dancing Wings Butterfly Garden™ is by timed tickets only. Advance purchase is recommended. Please call 585-263-2700 to purchase timed tickets.