Fall in New York always brings anticipation of something new and exciting happening here. I love this season for its new shows, exhibits, movies, events and more happening around town. This Fall proves to be once again that New York is one of the most popular destinations in the world. Here is a selection of a few art exhibits opening in the next month or so that are especially great to go to with your kids.

Bard Graduate Center, 18 W86th St. Hats: an anthology by Stephen Jones, Septemeber 15th to April 15th, 2012.

This show comes to us from the Victoria and Albert museum in London where it drew big crowds. Stephen Jones is one of the foremost hat designers in the world and this show reflects his whimsy and remarkable creativity in choosing over 250 historic and couture hats. But Bard curators have also added a selection of hat designer for the exhibit by contemporary American designers, not necessarily milliners. I think kids will have a great time going through the exhibit and seeing how wild some headgear can get. For an additional fun, bring paper, pencils, double-sided tape and feathers or any other embellishments and challenge your kids to come up with a fantastic hat of their own. Ages 3 and up.

New Museum, Bowery at Spring St. Carsten Holler: Experience, from October 26th to January 15th, 2012.

Carsten Holler, a Belgian artist who lives in Sweden, left his career as a scientist in 1994 but his background is reflected in everything that he creates as an artist. The New Museum is putting up a show in October of his work for the past 20 years that will literally immerse visitors in the experience of his creativity and thinking. The exhibition will overtake most of the museum using its architectural as a participatory environment. Included will be Höller’s signature stroboscopic light installations; disorienting architectural environments; a spinning mobile; a spectacular mirrored carousel; a sensory deprivation pool; and a number of smaller works installed throughout the entire building. The selected works emphasize the experimental quality of Höller’s work and reveal the complex universe of one of the most significant European artists to emerge in the past two decades. You can call him a mad scientist or an illuminating artist but he definitely will make both young and old experience art in a completely unusual way. All ages.

Guggenheim Museum, Fifth Avenue at 89th St. Maurizio Cattelan: All, November 4th to January 22nd, 2012.

This show comes to us from the Victoria and Albert museum in London where it drew big crowds. Stephen Jones is one of the foremost hat designers in the world and this show reflects his whimsy and remarkable creativity in choosing over 250 historic and couture hats. But Bard curators have also added a selection of hat designer for the exhibit by contemporary American designers, not necessarily milliners. I think kids will have a great time going through the exhibit and seeing how wild some headgear can get. For an additional fun, bring paper, pencils, double-sided tape and feathers or any other embellishments and challenge your kids to come up with a fantastic hat of their own. Ages 3 and up.

El Museu del Barrio, Fifth Ave at 104th St. El Museo's Bienal: The (S) Files 2011, June 14, 2011-January 8, 2010.

El Museo del Barrio often gets overlooked for being small, out of the way and recently undergoing a face-lift that forced it to close its galleries to the public for over a year. It is now back and is better than ever, a small jewel of a museum at the end of the Museum mile. The S-Files is a small but extensive exhibition (it actually extends to other venues in New York City) and is definitely worth a visit. The artists selected for the show bring their diverse backgrounds and experiences to the art that ultimately reflects the raw nature of street art. Many of them were and still are graffiti artists whose canvases include subway cars and building walls. Some of them had never had a website until approached about participating in this exhibition. For many of them this is their first museum exhibit. The show feels like a discovery of sorts, the artists are edgy, gritty and expressive. Ages 8 and up.

Jewish Museum, Fifth Avenue at 92nd St. The Snowy Day and the Art of Ezra Jack Keats, Through January 29th.

Through January 29th, 2012. This is the first exhibition of the works by Keats who had illustrated over 80 books most of them for children and 22 of which he had authored, including “the Snowy Day”. His stories were inspired by his own childhood in the poverty-stricken East New York and his illustrations were inspired by haiku poetry and Asian art. This exhibit will feature over 80 works by Keats which will include drawings, dummy books, collages and paintings. It’s always very rewarding to bring children to an exhibit that features actual art works from books they are familiar with. All ages.

New York Historical Society, 170 Central Park West at 77th St. Scheduled to reopen on November 11th, 2011.

The DiMenna Children’s History Museum and the Barbara K. Lipman Children’s History Library. This new installation will engage young visitors as History Detectives exploring America’s history and rich cultural past.

Rubin Museum, 150 W17th St bet 6th and 7th Aves. Hero, Villian, Yeti, December 9, 2012-June 2012.

This is an exhibit of comic book illustrations featuring stories derived from Tibetan folklore and traditions. Over 60 comic book illustrations will be on view. The Rubin Museum is one of the hidden gems of New York city art scene and a wonderful teaching institution. The exhibit will be a great new reason to come and see the rest of the museum. Ages 6 and up.

ArtXplorers is open to kids 3 1/2 to 12 years old. Children younger than 5 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. To register for classes click here.
Email Natasha Schlesinger