Art Making That's Hard to Beet

Zehava, age 13, and Aila, age 12, showing off their beet creations. Photos by Skyla Choi

«When is it okay to play with your food? When you're learning about art! As part of Summer Art Explore during the first week in July, young artists spent time in the Museum's galleries looking at art and taking inspiration back to the studio to sculpt, paint, print, and assemble their own creations. »

Educators Emily Chow Bluck and Erin Gallagher led an unusual activity of printmaking with something you might find in your kitchen: beets! The class began by thinking about how artists use symbols (simple shapes or designs that express an idea). Then they searched the galleries for textiles (fabrics) with symbols and patterns to serve as inspiration. What symbols and patterns do you notice in these artworks? Do they remind you of anything in your life?

Left: Panel, 1100–1400. Peru. Cotton, paint; H x W: 27 1/8 x 59 1/2 in. (68.9 x 151.1 cm). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, The Michael C. Rockefeller Memorial Collection, Bequest of Nelson A. Rockefeller, 1979 (1979.206.459). Right: Fragment, 13th–14th century. India. Cotton; block-printed and resist-dyed; 11.75 in. high 9.75 in. wide (29.8 cm high 24.8 cm wide). The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Purchase, V. Everit Macy Gift, 1930 (30.112.32)

Parker, age 11, said of the class, "I would recommend to friends and family to come to The Met. It's a special and unique place to visit art. It's such a big museum; you can visit every different place and still be interested to find out more."

Parker thought it would be cool to print The Met's logo! It turned out to be backwards, but it still looked great. (Hint: if you're writing a word, remember that your print will be a mirror image.)

Didn't make it to Summer Art Explore? You can try printmaking with beets at home! Here's what you'll need:

1. Beets (cut in slices)
2. Printmaking or carving tools
3. Small plastic cups/containers for water
4. Paper or fabric
5. Gloves (to prevent staining on hands)
6. Table covers
7. Drawing paper
8. Pencil
9. An adult to help you cut

Left: An adult cutting beet slices. Right: The beet slices ready for carving. Photos by Skyla Choi

First, ask an adult to help you cut a beet into slices. Next, draw your design on a piece of paper. You can trace it onto the beet using a toothpick. With help from an adult, carve your design into the beet. Now you've made a stamp!

Left: Parker tracing his design onto a beet. Right: A kid carving their design out in a beet. Photos by Skyla Choi

Using the beet's natural pigment, press your stamp down hard onto paper or fabric. No paint necessary. (You can't beet the beautiful magenta color!) After a couple of stamps, the color will begin to fade, but romaine calm. Just dip the beet into a little water (warm water works best) and carefully brush off any excess to avoid drips. Then you'll be ready to print again.

Left: Parker carving his design into the beet. Right: Parker printing his beet design onto a piece of fabric. Photos by Skyla Choi

Get creative and decide what design you'd like to make. Any vegetable or fruit slice can also be dipped in paint and used as a stamp. It may sound corn-y, but grab a friend and make some vegetable art together!

Want to attend a class at The Met? Check out our classes, workshops, and special events designed especially for kids and teens to develop skills and connect with art, ideas, and other young people. See you soon!