Greetings from the Art Room!
I am constantly encouraging our young artists to visit museums and February break is just the time to do it! I would like to invite Sprague families to take advantage of some of the wonderful museums and exhibits that are just a short drive from Wellesley. In my experience, you should never feel pressure to view the entire museum. Most children enjoy picking a few rooms or a special exhibit. This keeps your visit fresh and exciting and children will be less likely to associate a museum trip with a long day on their feet. Most museums offer family packets to guide you through a collection with a scavenger hunt or interactive approach.
Please bring a camera and be sure to take a photo of your child in front of the museum and bring it to the art room. If you have an opportunity to purchase a postcard of a favorite work or the museum itself - even better. This is part of an ongoing "show and tell" project to boost museum interest and have students share what they learned with their classmates. Students have shared experiences and pictures from museums and notable architecture near and far. This month, I encourage you to visit the recently renovated Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, The Museum of Fine Arts and The Eric Carle Museum.
The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
280 The Fenway, Boston, MA www.gardnermuseum.org
New Hours: Wednesday-Monday 11am-5pm, Thursday until 9pm, Closed Tuesday
Open the following holidays: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, and Veterans Day.
Admission: Adults: $15, Seniors 65 and up: $12, College Students: $5 with current ID
Free: Members, Visitors under 18, All named "Isabella"
Museum of Fine Arts
465 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA www.mfa.org/calendar
Hours: Saturday-Tuesday 10am-4:45pm, Wednesday - Friday 10am - 9:45pm
Admission: Adults: $22, Seniors 65 and up: $20, College Students: $20 with current ID
Free: Members, Visitors under 6, Youths 1-17 *Weekdays after 3 pm, weekends, and Boston public school holidays; otherwise $10.
Check out the website to learn more about classes, tours and special events. There is something exciting happening everyday for all ages. Special tour packs are available for families that include scavenger hunts and encourage child friendly investigations.
Paper Zoo
February 7, 2012 - August 19, 2012
"Paper Zoo" brings together prints, drawings, and photographs of the animal kingdom (including birds and marine creatures) dating from about 1500 to the present. Featuring some 30-40 works by Rembrandt, Audubon, Picasso, and others, this delightful exhibition highlights different artistic approaches to the same creatures and will appeal to children and adults alike.
Linde Family Wing for Contemporary Art
September 18, 2011 - September 18, 2012
Contemporary art finds a dynamic new home at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, when the Museum unveils to the public the Linde Family Wing for Contemporary Art, located in the MFA's dramatic I. M. Pei-designed building.
The Eric Carle Museum
Amherst, MA www.picturebookart.org
Hours: Tuesday-Friday 10am-4pm, Saturday 10am -5pm, Sunday 12 - 5pm, Closed Mondays (open on Mondays during school vacation week)
Admission: Adult admission $9, Youth (under 18), Student, Teacher and Senior Admission $6, Family Admission (2 adults and 2 youth) $22.50
We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball
February 7 - June 10, 2012
Learn about history through these thirty-three paintings, thirteen sketches and educational materials from the book, WE ARE THE SHIP: The Story of Negro League Baseball, by Kadir Nelson, award-winning artist and author. Nelson spent seven years researching, writing, and creating handsome paintings to be included in the brilliantly illustrated book, WE ARE THE SHIP: The Story of Negro League Baseball, which is dedicated to the preservation of the history of Negro Leagues.
Testing the Ice: A True Story About Jackie Robinson
December 3, 2011 - May 6, 2012
Written by Sharon Robinson, an educational consultant for Major League Baseball and vice chairman of the Jackie Robinson Foundation, and illustrated by the award-winning Kadir Nelson is a story about her father, baseball legend Jackie Robinson. On April 15, 1947, Robinson took the field for the Brooklyn Dodgers and became the first African-American man to play in major league baseball. In 1962, he became the first African-American to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. But this is not that story. Daughter Sharon Robinson's story is about an incident that happened in her family after her father retired from baseball.
The Art of Eric Carle: The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse
September 10, 2011 - March 20, 2012
Come see the original art from Eric Carle's new book: The Artist Who Painted a Blue Horse. Executed in his signature colorfully-designed collage technique, the book encourages the young artist to let his/her imagination run free.
Many museums offer workshops for children during the February vacation week. The courses may run for one day or several. Check out these web sites to learn more about their offerings.
The Museum of Fine Arts www.mfa.org/calendar
The Danforth Museum www.danforthmuseum.org
The Institute of Contemporary Art www.icaboston.org
The I S Gardner Museum www.gardnermuseum.org/calendar
Have a happy and restful break!
Jen Stabnick
Sprague Art
