Mola is the layered reverse-applique textile art of the Guna, an Indigenous community across Panama and Colombia, and the Staten Island Children's Museum turns it into a drop-in art table anyone can walk up to. Kids build vibrant panels in crayon and pastel from nature shapes and hard-edged geometric pattern, while educators explain how the tradition passes down. It's the low-pressure craft that makes Snug Harbor worth the ferry.
What to expect
Walk in any time during the session and take a spot at the art tables, where materials and examples are already laid out. Museum educators talk families through what mola is and how the layering works, then let kids build their own design at whatever level of ambition they bring. The rest of the museum's hands-on galleries stays open the whole time.
Good to know
- It's a walk-in workshop, so no registration or timed slot is needed.
- Included with museum admission at Snug Harbor Cultural Center.
- From the Staten Island Ferry, the S40 bus runs straight to Snug Harbor's gate.
- Best for kids who can handle drawing materials themselves, roughly four and up.
- Snug Harbor's gardens and lawns are right outside if you want to make a longer trip of it.
- The museum is fully indoors, which makes this a solid rainy-day or heat-wave option.
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Common questions
What is a mola?
A mola is a layered textile panel made by the Guna people of Panama and Colombia, known for bold geometric patterns and nature motifs built up in bright contrasting colors.
Do we need to sign up?
No. It's a walk-in workshop included with museum admission, so you can arrive any time during the session.
How do we get to the museum?
Take the Staten Island Ferry to St. George, then the S40 bus to Snug Harbor Cultural Center, where the museum sits on the grounds.
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