Families can roll up their sleeves and discover one of Japan’s most beautiful art traditions at Children’s Museum Houston. The EastArts Workshop Series returns with “Claying with Nerikomi,” a free hands-on workshop where kids layer, roll and slice vibrant polymer clay to reveal swirling, one-of-a-kind patterns hidden inside.
Nerikomi is an ancient Japanese technique that builds designs through the clay itself, so every cut reveals a surprise. Young artists will turn their colorful creations into jewelry, ornaments or a special souvenir to take home, all while learning how culture and creativity come together through art.
EastArts is a vibrant workshop series that immerses children in the traditions and creative expressions of East Asian arts and crafts. The free workshops grew out of a residency program that pairs Houston-based artists with talented local teachers, who guide young creators step by step — no experience needed, just curiosity and imagination.
The final Nerikomi sessions of the series take place on Saturday, November 14, 2026, at 11 a.m., 12:15 p.m., 1:30 p.m. and 2:45 p.m. Participation is by sign-up outside the workshop location, and sign-ups open one hour before each session’s start time, so arriving early is a good idea. It is a joyful, messy-in-the-best-way morning or afternoon of making something beautiful together as a family.
Photo: Children’s Museum Houston
