September 10, 2007
Museum offers art education program for youths
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- There's no catch to the University Museum's Completely Free art education programs for area youth at Southern Illinois University Carbondale. There are no hidden costs or fees and the only risk is the possibility of engaging a young person through art into the world around them.
Media Advisory
Photographers, reporters and camera crews may cover any of these workshops. Please call ahead to Robert DeHoet, museum education coordinator, at 618/453-5388.
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The programs, aimed at youth ages 7 to 14, use exhibits in the museum as launching points for exploration through artistic creation. Programs begin at 1:30 p.m. in the museum. Participants must be pre-registered, and space may be limited for some programs. Register by calling the museum at 618/453-5388. Register for as many or as few programs as desired.
The complete schedule follows:
Sept. 22 – Mask Makers: Making Faces
This workshop begins with a study of faces, from the Melanesian masks in the museum's acclaimed Morton May Collection of Oceanic art to abstracts in the work of Modigliani and Picasso. Participants learn a new way of looking at features through the cultural representation of different forms of art. The next step is creation of a three-dimensional, mixed-media mask inspired by what they have seen and by their own imaginations. Recommended for ages 8 to 14.
Oct. 6 – Special Places: Mapping My Neighborhood
Participants begin this workshop in the museum's "Mapping Southern Illinois" exhibit, which begins Sept. 25. After seeing how different maps depict ideas and represent values, the youngsters make maps of their own neighborhoods. Participants may bring small, light items to add to the maps to increase their personal significance.
Nov. 3 – A Banner Season: Using Symbols, Shapes and Designs to Advertise Yourself
This workshop begins with the Guatemalan textile exhibit, which runs through Nov. 16. Participants will consider the symbols, shapes, designs and colors in the Guatemalan textiles and other art to help them find ways to build banners "advertising" what is personally important to them.
Dec. 1 – Sculpture that Moves: Mobiles and Stabiles
Participants study the work of renowned kinetic sculptor Alexander Calder to find inspiration for creating their own movable art. Students create standing sculptures called stabiles, which feature movement on a stationary, balanced point. They will also make mobiles, hanging sculptures.
Dec. 8 – Print Makers: Holiday Cards
This workshop starts with the Works Progress Administration Holiday and Greeting Card display, on temporary loan from Indiana State University and on exhibit here from Oct. 19 through Dec. 14. Participants can see the many ways artists in the program interpreted "holiday," "greeting" and "card." Then they make their own cards using foam plates and stamps. Recommended for ages 8 through 14.