A child paints a canvas during the Dreaming Their Way Family Day
program.
A family engages with Dreaming Their Way at the Family Day.
Kris Bergquist, School and Family Programs Coordinator, with area children
enrolled in Look at Me!, a winter school vacation program.
A family tests the new Art Activity Bags designed for self-guided exploration
during spring vacation week.
Students completed their own “dreaming” paintings during the Art Venture
program Australian Aboriginal Painting.
Students in a Teen Workshop led by Lesley Wellman, Curator of Education.
October 22
Family Day
"Ancient Stories, Modern Paintings"
Participants explored ancient stories with a written guide, puszzles, and other
resources in the exhibition Dreaming Their Way. In the studio, they
created paintings inspired by their own connection to where they live. Vermont
musician Pitz Quattrone performed on the Indigenous didgeridoo. For children
ages 6 to 12 and their adult companions.
November 19
Children’s Program
"Exploring Ashurnasirpal II’s World"
Participants looked at the reliefs to learn about the beliefs and customs of
ancient Assyria as well as computer simulations of the actual palace. In the
studio they created their own relief panels out of clay. Open to children ages
8 to 11.
January 28
Family Day
"Transforming Trash into Art"
Participants explored art by African artist El Anatsui and used a written guide
to learn about his sculptures. They visited activity stations to learn about
recycling, African history and traditions, and kente cloth and in the
studio, created their own "tapestry." For children ages 6 to 12 and their adult
companions.
February 22
Children's Program
"Look at Me!"
During winter school vacation week, participants explored portraits in the
museum using a variety of activities, including a texture touch pack. In the
studio, they created portraits using costumes and cameras. Designed for
children ages 8-11. Enrollment was limited to twenty.
April 17-20
Family Program
"Art Activity Bags"
During spring school vacation week, children and their adult companions were
invited to visit the museum each morning, Tuesday through Friday, to have fun
and learn about art together. There were be a variety of art activity bags to
use, including a book bag, a puzzle bag, a portrait bag, and a landscape bag
with a writing activity! Designed for children ages 6 to 12.
April 22
Family Day
"Life in the Arctic"
Participants learned about life in the Arctic, listened to traditional Inuit
stories, used interactive computer programs, and learned how life is changing
in the Arctic due to global warming. In the studio, they created their own
print with stencils. For children ages 6 to 12 and their adult companions.
What do robots and art have in common? More than you might expect, and the significant connections between them inspired an exciting collaboration last summer among the Computer Science Department at Dartmouth, regional young people, and the Hood Museum of Art. Each summer the Office of the Provost and the Department of Computer Science co-sponsor the Summer Robotics Program for Upper Valley Youth. Taught by visiting scholar Suzanne Thompson, Dartmouth students, and faculty and staff from the College, these camps are designed to introduce participants through hands-on learning to the study and application of robotics. This past summer in the Robotics "Girls Only" Camp I, participants applied engineering and computer science concepts to art and archaeology. Mimicking the use of robots in actual excavations, students had to build a Lego-based robot and then program it to enter a small-scale reconstruction of King Tutankhamen's tomb and navigate through its chambers. Along the way they also had to decode a message written in Egyptian hieroglyphics. The fact that many works of ancient art arrive in museums as the result of archaeological excavations provided a natural link to the Hood’s collections. Guided by Curator of Education Lesley Wellman, students explored ancient Assyrian and Costa Rican objects and learned to decode visual symbols--including cuneiform--that artists had used to record and communicate information about each culture. Professor Thompson was pleased with the result, commenting, "This experience afforded the students an opportunity to understand connections to robotics outside the laboratory, hopefully inspiring future possibilities." Hood staff members look forward to continuing this interdisciplinary collaboration in future years.
ArtVentures are guided, interactive tours for children ages 8 and older. They include lively discussions, hands-on activities, and creative projects that engage children in the exciting exploration of works of art. ArtVentures take place from 10:00 to 11:30 AM the first Saturday of each month, October through May. Participation is limited to twenty.
October 7
"Art Detective"
November 4
"Australian Aboriginal Paintings"
December 2
"Drawing a Still Life"
January 13
"Ancient Assyrian Reliefs"
February 3
"Trash to Treasures"
March 3
"Arctic Animals and Inuit Peoples"
April 7
"Landscape and Music"
November 5
"Painting Your Story"
This workshop for young adults ages 14-18 focused on looking at paintings by
contemporary Aboriginal artists and creating paintings on canvas that refer to
stories that are important in the students' own lives. Enrollment limited to
fifteen.
November 8
Book and Art Teen Workshop
"Painting Stories"
Co-sponsored by the Hood and Howe Library, this after-school workshop for
middle school students in grades 6-9 featured a discussion of brief readings, a
museum visit to Dreaming Their Way, and an art project.
February 11
"Trashformations"
This workshop for young adults ages 14-18 looked at sculptures by El Anatsui,
who transforms trash into beautiful and meaningful objects. In the studio, they
created their own sculptures using recycled materials. Enrollment limited to
fifteen.
February 21
Book and Art Teen Workshop
"Transformative Art and Stories from West Africa"
Co-sponsored by the Hood and Howe Library, this workshop for middle school
students in grades 6-9 featured a discussion of the book The Dark
Child, an autobiography by Camara Laye, a museum visit to GAWU: El
Anatsui, and an art project.
April 25
Book and Art Teen Workshop
"Arts of the Arctic"
Co-sponsored by the Hood and Howe Library, this workshop for middle school
students in grades 6-9 featured a discussion of stories, a museum visit to
Thin Ice and Our Land, and an art project.
November 15
"What's the Story?"
Participants in this discussion-based tour of selected works in Dreaming
Their Way increased their skills, confidence, and enjoyment in exploring
contemporary art. Enrollment limited to sixteen.
February 7
"The Art of Transformation"
Participants in this discussion-based tour of selected works in El Anatsui:
GAWU increased their skills, confidence, and enjoyment in exploring
contemporary art. Enrollment limited to sixteen.
