Childhood obesity is a serious problem in Arizona. The i.d.e.a. Museum in Mesa wants to use art to examine that and other issues of childhood well-being.
Nearly 37 percent of Arizona’s children aged 10-17 were listed as overweight or obese according to results published by the United Health Foundation in 2016.
The Art of Healthy Living at the i.d.e.a. Museum takes aim at this and wants to offer kids and parents hands-on learning opportunities about food nutrition, mindfulness and how sensory inputs affect moods, emotions and well-being.
Curator Jeffory Morris said the focus of the exhibit is on experiencing diverse artwork while using creative hands-on activities and movement stations to supplement learning.
“We have a farmer’s market where children can go through and select different fruits and vegetables," said Morris. "Then they can actually move right in to an area that is a green screen activity, like a food television show where they can get in front of a camera and they can talk about how they’re cooking their vegetables and become a food television star.”
