Blooper the Shy, Six-legged Dog, Children’s Creativity Museum, San Francisco, CA

Description

Children’s Creativity Museum¹ (formerly Zeum: San Francisco’s Children’s Museum) is a hands-on, multimedia arts and technology museum for kids of all ages located at the Yerba Buena Gardens in San Francisco, California. It aims to nurture the “3Cs of 21st-century literacy – Creativity, Collaboration, and Communication – in all youth and families”. Children’s Creativity Museum is well known for its technology-based exhibits which allow youth to produce their own media through various interactive, creative processes: animation, digital art, live performance, and music production. Children’s Creativity Museum is a nonprofit 501(c)(3), community-based organization.

Zeum opened to the public on October 31, 1998 as part of a major 87-acre (350,000 m2) urban renewal project in the South of Market area by the San Francisco Redevelopment Agency. It changed its name to Children’s Creativity Museum in 2011 to increase awareness about the museum’s purpose. In a press release announcing the name change, it stated: “Although the name Zeum sounded fun, it didn’t provide parents with any clues about what they and their children would experience. With that understanding, our verbal branding team identified two primary goals the new name needed to accomplish: It had to be descriptive enough to indicate who it was for, but also suggestive enough to encompass the broad range of imaginative activities participants could take part in. After vetting over 200 names with Zeum leadership, it was agreed that the name “Children’s Creativity Museum” accomplished both goals.”

The Creativity Critters²

The Critters represent the diversity, inspiration, and innovation of the Children’s Creativity Museum. While they are all individuals and like different things, they have one thing in common – they love to use their imaginations to create new things to share with each other – and you! Come play with the Creativity Critters and create something together.

Zump

Zump is big, yellow, furry and loves to have fun! His favorite way to have fun is playing with clay. That is why he loves the Animation Studio, where he can make movies starring his own clay creations. He enjoys directing movies, but he likes it even more when the other Critters join as co-producers. Come to Animation Studio and you can help him make a movie too!

Rockto

Rockto is not your average octopus. He is a rock star! Like other octopi, he loves to swim, but he also loves to sing and dance! He has even traveled all around the world on his tours! When he is not jetting around the globe, you can find him in the Music Studio, where he practices all his famous dance moves and films his music videos. If you spot him maybe he will even give you an autograph!

CRE-8

CRE-8 is a learning robot. Since she is a machine, she’s very curious about technology and how everything around her works. For CRE-8, trying new things is the most fun way to learn. That is why she loves the DIY Studio and Build-It area in the Imagination Lab!

Blooper

Blooper the dog is a little bit shy, so she likes to watch and observe before she tries new things. She loves to spend time with her best friend, CRE-8, because CRE-8 is usually willing to be the first to try something new. After watching for a little bit, Blooper sees how much fun new things can be and always wants to jump right in! Come play with her and try something new yourself!

Kromas

The Kromas are green beings (aliens, not the vegetable, silly!) from the Planet Yerba Buena Gardens. The Kromas once lived in the grass on Planet YBG where they could go unnoticed and watch everything that was happening around them. When more people began visiting Planet YBG, the Kromas started getting trampled and had to move. Now they live at Children’s Creativity Museum! They like to play hide-and-seek by blending in with the green screen walls here. Because they are always hiding, no one really knows how many Kromas there are – how many can you find?

Aha!

The Aha! are a species of tiny red friendly observers from a far away galaxy. They usually stick together, because what one Aha! sees, every Aha! sees. They love to wear creative costumes and clever disguises. They often work together, but they also love making new friends. That is why they live at the Children’s Creativity Museum – there are always new friends to meet!

Birdles

The Birdles are the most popular band ever. They love singing and dancing, especially with other Critters! They practice their tunes all day, every day in the Music Studio and are always trying out new dance moves while creating their own music videos!

The new machine³ is in the Children’s Creativity Museum right inside the door on the right, The Museum in past the Carousel in the Gardens on the right. No admission is required to get to the machine.