AOIF launches “Dance with the Moon” exhibit
Launching in January 2026, AOIF teams with CDI and ESMoA for an exhibit celebrating the power of nursery rhymes in shaping imagination and language.
“Dance with the Moon” is a collaborative creation by The Arts of Imagination Foundation (AoIF) and ESMoA, bringing story-inspired artwork into the heart of the community. Currently featured at the Child Development Institute (CDI) in Reseda, California, this experience invites visitors to explore a garden filled with enchanting, story-driven art that encourages new ways of seeing both art and ourselves. As Extension Experience 68, this project is part of AOIF and ESMoA’s mission to bring the arts into communities with limited access, acting as a catalyst for creative thinking. Later the program will expand to support people with memory loss, using story-based art to spark joy and connection.
“Dance with the Moon” invites visitors to explore the magic that awakens when the world goes to sleep. What unexpected wonders might reveal themselves under the night sky, if we only took a closer look?
At the heart of the exhibition is Frederick Richardson’s iconic 1915 watercolor of “Hey Diddle Diddle,” from the original Volland Mother Goose. This nostalgic anchor sets the stage for a whimsical journey through nighttime fantasy and artistic surprise.
Contemporary artists Rosie Vohra, Rebecca Lowry, Katja Telp, and Nils Sievert offer imaginative works that blend visual and photographic art in unexpected ways. Stroll across the moon, swim with swans in a silver lake, or gaze up at a constellation of yarn dotted in the Los Angeles night sky.
What story will a ‘dance with the moon’ inspire in you?
Location: The Child Development Institute 18050 Vanowen St. Reseda, CA 91335
About The Arts of Imagination Foundation (AoIF): The Arts of Imagination Foundation preserves timeless stories and the artwork they inspire, highlighting how these narratives shape our culture and identity. With a growing collection that includes both historically significant works and new commissions, AOIF seeks to bring art and story into unique environments to spark meaningful conversations.
About Child Development Institute (CDI): For over 25 years, CDI has been a leader in early childhood development, helping children in the San Fernando Valley thrive by focusing on strengthening families and communities. CDI’s holistic approach addresses all aspects of a child’s growth—relationships, environments, and community—empowering parents and caregivers with the tools they need to foster healthy development in children.
About ESMoA: Launched in 2011, It is ESMoA’s mission to act as a catalyst for creative thinking in the South Bay and the greater Los Angeles area, provoking visitors to “Reimagine Creativity” with a focus on experimental exhibitions, community engagement, and arts education. ESMoA seeks to recalibrate rules of understanding, knowing, and doing through the arts.
