Discover Smith's Rotating Play-Stallations: Interactive Exhibits for Creative Play
Current Play-Stallation - Boxopolis
On Display Until: September 30, 2025
Explore Play-Stallations at Smith Memorial Playground
The
Bodek Den, located on the first floor of the Playhouse, is home to
rotating thematic Play-Stallations—immersive, hands-on exhibits that spark imagination, creativity, and exploration. These artist-designed installations encourage children to
experiment, discover, and engage with their environment in exciting new ways.
Explore our Current Exhibit
Step into Boxopolis—Smith’s ever-changing city of cardboard! Kids can design, build, and explore tunnels, towers, and forts made entirely from boxes. This hands-on experience encourages creativity, collaboration, and imaginative play, giving children the freedom to transform simple materials into an extraordinary world of their own.
Play-Stallations are supported by Vanguard Strong Start for Kids.
Can't get to Smith? We'll come to you!
Past Play-Stallations
Over the years, Smith has collaborated with artists, educators, and designers to create engaging Play-Stallations, each offering a unique play experience. Below is an abbreviated list of past Play-Stallations!
- 125 Years of Play, 2024 – Time travelers journeyed to the past to play with toys from 1899 when Smith opened its doors. Time sequencing games introduced the concept of past, present and future. Children could draw or build their own ideal playground or toy.
- Tree-Mendous Trees, 2024 – Visitors got lost in a cardboard forest of fun activities such as leaf-rubbings, a rice sensory table, and a woodland creatures tree-house.
- Art Smarts, 2024 - The playroom became a studio where kids painted and collaged, sculpted and composed, all while learning about the masters.
- Nursery Rhymes and Story Time, 2023 - Old Smith Playhouse had a farm, E-I-E-I-O! And in that play-stallation kids drew Humpty Dumpty, tended to the animals in the barn and read about the Old Lady who lived in a Shoe in our very own GIANT shoe!
- La La Land, 2022 - Every kid was a star with a dressing room, a red carpet and a stage to perform on. Behind the scenes, kids made their own costumes or puppets for the shadow-puppet theater.
- Fortlandia, 2022- Building forts allowed kids to be creative and critical thinkers using cardboard, blankets and fort-building kits.
These installations provide children with opportunities to
climb, build, imagine, and experiment, reinforcing the importance of open-ended, creative play.
What's Next?
We’re always dreaming up new ways to inspire play! Stay tuned for upcoming Play-Stallations that bring art, movement, and discovery to Smith.
Want to Get Involved?
Are you an artist, educator, or community member with a passion for play? We’d love to hear from you! Reach out to Vivian Murray, Play-Stallation Manager at vivian@smithplayground.org to learn more about contributing to future Play-Stallations.
Come
play, explore, and experience the magic of learning through play at Smith!
Can’t get to Smith? We can come to you!
We are excited to extend Smith’s programming beyond the limits of our Playground and Playhouse. The new
Community Play-Stallation Bus brings safe, free, and accessible opportunities to play and learn to communities, festivals, schools, and early learning centers.
