Adventures Await Kids this Summer at the Brandywine River Museum
(May, 2003, #020)

This summer, the Brandywine River Museum invites children to become museum explorers in a series of fun-filled educational workshops. Designed for kids ages 3 to 14, each of the five programs features an adventurous museum tour followed by a creative hands-on art project to inspire every budding artist.

For children ages 3 to 11 accompanied by an adult, the museum offers four workshops. The first, on July 10 from 10 to 11:30 a.m., demonstrates the art of observation. Learning to Look helps children develop observational skills and discover the elements of art on an introductory museum tour. Following the tour, participants create collages using a variety of textured materials.

The next workshop on July 17 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. summons images of summer. Scenes of Summer allows children to explore their favorite scenes of summer through seascape and landscape paintings in the museum galleries. Afterward, explorers use oil pastels to capture summer memories on paper.

On July 24 from 10 to 11:30 a.m., children tackle painted portraits. Who Am I? (Peering at Portraits) places kids in the role of detective to uncover hidden clues in painted portraits from the museum collection. After the gallery mysteries are solved, they assemble colorful cutout portraits with some unexpected materials.

On July 31 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. explorers discover Animals in Art. A search begins for pigs, cows, puppies, and other animals in paintings and sculpture in the museum. Following their pursuit of creatures, children make three-dimensional critters using Crayola's Model Magic.
For children ages 10 to 14, the museum offers two Advanced Explorer Morning workshops. The first, on July 15 from 10 a.m. to noon, is titled Make it Real. Children unearth the secrets of still-life painting, including artists' use of shading, scale and perspective to create the illusion of realistic images. After a gallery tour, participants experiment with drawing activities and create still-life compositions using pencil and charcoal.

A lesson on Summer Sketches is featured on July 22 from 10 a.m. to noon. Children analyze artists' use of color and perspective in landscape and seascape paintings throughout the museum, including the special exhibition Summers in Maine: Paintings by N.C. Wyeth. Following the tour, they head outside for drawing exercises with oil pastels. Direct observation of color in the natural setting is emphasized.

The workshops are free with museum admission ($6 for adults; $3 for seniors and students; free for children under six and Brandywine Conservancy Members). Pre-registration is required. To register, please call the Education Office at 610-388-8382 or send an email to education@brandywine.org

The Brandywine River Museum is located on U.S. Route 1 in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania. The museum is open daily 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information about the museum's exhibitions and educational programs, please call 610-388-2700.

Photography available upon request.

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