Articles

June 29, 2001 pT51

Putting Museums in the Comfort Zone

(Weekend)

Judy Colbert
Special to the Washington Post

WHEN museum educator Lisa Madeira asks what you might find in a rain forest, the last answer she gets is rain. Before that comes a long list of flying, swimming, slithering and crawling animals, provided by Carlos, Marina, Rockzana, Christopher, Lucia, Courtney, Bridgett and Sarah.

The kids are gathered in front of "Morning in the Tropics" by American artist Frederic Edwin Church for the morning session of "Stories in Art," a monthly children's program at the National Gallery of Art. Each session -- like this one, "Gifts From the Rainforest" -- features a discussion of one or more paintings or sculptures, a story and a craft project.

The kids, each wearing a glorious nametag of his or her own design, listen to sounds recorded in a rain forest. Madeira asks them to use their imaginations: What's it like? Is it hot or cold? What do they see and feel around them?

Along with Marta Horgan, special assistant to the head of education at the gallery, Madeira reads from Lynne Cherry's "The Great Kapok Tree: A Tale of the Amazon Rainforest" in English and Spanish. Not every gathering is bilingual, but several adult heads nod in appreciation of the effort. One of the children accompanies the story with sound effects from a rain stick (a hollow stick filled with seeds or stones that makes a sound like rainfall when upturned).

The story over, the children make "journey books" (handmade scrapbooks) from recycled paper bags, small wooden sticks, rubber bands and animal stickers. (Because they aren't allowed to use glue, scissors, markers or other items that might damage the gallery or its contents, volunteers do all the cutting, pasting and hole punching ahead of time.) The kids particularly like the fact that they can store postcards and pictures in the bags, and save memories of their summer vacations.

The popular program was developed by Heidi Hinish, family and youth programs coordinator in the museum's department of teacher and school programs, with assistance from Paige Simpson. Hinish hopes the program will help kids feel more at home in art museums. "A lot of parents are uncomfortable bringing children because they run, they're loud. But that's okay. This is a place for them. We have special things just for them," she explains.

Each using one of the gallery's artworks as a starting point, the "Stories in Art" sessions have many different themes. Last weekend, "In the Mood" used expressive abstract paintings by Mark Rothko and the story "Today I Feel Silly & Other Moods That Make My Day" by Jamie Lee Curtis to demonstrate how artists use color and line to create a mood or evoke an emotion. The kids created abstract art expressing excitement, silliness, anger and happiness. Another program, "Cycle of Life," combined the still life "Vase of Flowers" by Jan Davidsz de Heem with Sam Swope's "Gotta Go! Gotta Go!," about a brave young caterpillar making a life-changing journey to Mexico to undergo metamorphosis and reproduce. The session concluded with a chance for youngsters to make their own paper butterflies.

With any luck, program participants will undergo another transformation: from curious observers to knowledgeable museum-goers.

NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART -- Fourth and Constitution NW. 202/737-4215 (TDD: 202/842-6176). Web site : www.nga.gov. "Stories in Art" is designed for children ages 4 through 7. The 45-minute sessions take place twice a month in July and August. No registration is required, but space is limited, so try to arrive at least 15 minutes before the sessions, which begin at 11:30 and 1.

Upcoming sessions include:

July 10 and Aug. 7 -- "Roots, Shoots, and Blossoms." Flowerpot decoration, with container and seeds provided.

July 17 and Aug. 14 -- "Top It Off." Hat making.

July 24 and Aug. 21 -- "Blowing in the Wind." Making and decorating kites.

July 29 and Aug. 28 -- "Wonderful Waterfalls." Creating nature-themed artwork.