The First Step- Children's Art Programs

February 25, 2010

Sixteen preschoolers fix their eyes on the blob of turquoise ink oozing from Lucy Perera’s palette knife. After a brief discussion about other sticky things, ink rollers and favorite animals, the children embark on their own printmaking projects. Steering pencils through paper-like sheets of Styrofoam, they first create line drawings – inspired by the work of Dwayne Wilcox, whose exhibit they just toured at the Harwood Museum next door.

As part of the Harwood Museum’s Art in the Schools program, 17 classes per month from Enos Garcia Elementary School visit the Harwood for a tour and related art-making experience. This is one of several children’s programs offered at local museums, which supplement the art education they receive in school, and also provide museum education.

“These kids and teachers are not necessarily traditional visitors to the Harwood… But for God’s sake, the Harwood’s been here for 85 years, I think it’s our job if we’re in the community to try to provide opportunities for everybody,” says Perera who, as Harwood curator of education, coordinates the program with educational assistant Jayne Schell.

Serving Pre K through first grade at Enos Garcia, the Arts in the Schools program reaches a total of about 300 kids per month. Perera’s goal is to add one more grade each year until they are serving the entire school, which is Pre K through fifth grade.

“In big city museums you can see things like Egyptian exhibits which is great – but are you Egyptian? Can you relate to that? Here in Taos’ museums it’s their history, their culture, their art forms and they can make correlations to them,” says Perera.
Singing their ABCs and chatting with their buddies, the youth seem to enjoy the stroll down Manzanares street to and from the Harwood as much as their time inside the museum. Enos Garcia was targeted for this program largely due to its proximity to the museum.

Art lessons include everything from sculpture and collage to clay work and murals. Basic art materials are generally utilized in part so that teachers can feel empowered to lead art projects in their classrooms as well, even on tight budgets.

“Art is not difficult to do. You can use magazines, glue sticks, colored pencils and crayons to do really creative things,” says Perera.

The Harwood also offers additional ongoing programs geared to different ages of schoolchildren. They are all free of charge, with occasional exceptions.
Abby Salsbury and Alex Kurtz recently taught a three-week series on clay marionettes as part of the free Saturday morning Museum Adventures in Art class.

Their class’ creations are on display at the new Sidney and Gladys Smith Children’s Art gallery, which is just off the foyer of the Fern Hogue Mitchell Education Center where art workshops are held. Fanciful creatures dangling from the ceiling include a plaid mermaid, a red and white striped peacock with a mop of red curls and a furry one-legged being.

Beth Haidle, who has run the Friday after school program for teens for the last year and a half, says that having a designated art space really helps students shift into the creative zone.

“The environment – with stuff dripping off the walls and stacked on shelves –
is really conducive to surprising yourself and getting an idea and going with it…,” says Haidle.

Though her program’s current focus is on wearable art, students are welcome to pursue other projects as well.

“I’ve only ever seen (my students) be really kind to each other, encouraging each other. Having the bond over the fact that they’re doing something makes it less awkward to step out of their social circle and intermingle. They exchange advice about projects but it extends to advice on life, family and school,” she says.

The newest addition to the Harwood’s youth art programs is Family Play Date, which launched on February 7 and will be ongoing every Sunday from 1-4pm. It’s designed as a drop in open studio art experience for families of all ages where caregivers can work together with their children on art projects of their choice.

The grandmother of all the Harwood children’s programs, according to Perera, is Art in Museums, started by Ruth Ann Karch and Mary Ann Boughton in 1998. The program rotates among the Museum Association of Taos’ five museums – E.L. Blumenschein, Hacienda de los Martinez, Millicent Rogers, Taos Art Museum and The Harwood – offering a free weekly tour and lesson for pre-school children.

Though the program (now run by Boughton and Peggy Baucam) has been on brief hiatus, they will resume again on Wednesday March 10, from 11-12, at the Millicent Rogers Museum with a special kick-off event called Museums and Muffins.

Leilani Torres brought her children, now seven and 11, regularly to Art in Museums events over the years. “The staff was phenomenal, informative, and nurturing to young artistic minds. My sons formed friendships with several of the artists who instructed the Wednesday art programs. These friendships and experiences have increased their self-esteem and opened many doors for their futures,” she says.

The Millicent Rogers Museum has been busy with youth education programs as well. “We try to reach all of Taos County. Not only the municipal schools but also Taos Charter School, Taos Country Day School, Taos Pueblo Day School and the home schoolers,” says education curator Michael Martinez. Visits are arranged for schools on a case-by-case basis.

They are especially busy in February and March as schools descend on the museum to view the Anything is Possible children’s art exhibit. Following tours they receive an art lesson from a curriculum that follows the New Mexico benchmark standards set up by the New Mexico Department of Education. Depending on grade level, activities range from clay pinch pots to weaving to 3D santos construction.

Martinez’s goal for next year is to offer special sessions for high school students. Their curriculum will use the museum’s collection as a vehicle to study a variety of disciplines including history, anthropology and art history.

Educational programs have been part of Millicent Rogers for over 20 years. “We wouldn’t be where we are without the (volunteer) docents on the education committee. They put together curriculum, prepare and lead tours and art activities,” says Martinez.

The majority of these museum programs are operating on a shoestring, relying on grants, donations and volunteers to function. For more information, contact the individual museums.