Hood Quarterly, autumn/winter 2009-10
When you pay your Hood Museum of Art membership dues or participate in member events or fundraisers, your gift increases in value. Thanks in large part to the support of our members, the Hood provides free access to the museum and a host of events and services, including workshops for people of all ages, family days, lunchtime gallery talks, specially designed art programs for people who have Alzheimer's disease, lectures,receptions, gallery guides, and the opportunity to help shape the future of the collections. Membership support also plays a vital role in providing museum visitors, of whom approximately 67% are repeat visitors, with significant, thoughtprovoking experiences through their engagement with diverse works of art.
As a teaching museum the Hood is dedicated to helping visitors develop visual literacy—the ability to "read" an image as well as one would read a book. At a recent Family Day on Indonesian textiles, children and their families explored handwoven fabrics decorated with sequins, mirrors, mica, and gold threads that were on view in Wearing Wealth and Styling Identity: Tapis from Lampung, South Sumatra, Indonesia. More than 130 children, along with their parents, grandparents, and other family members, participated in an interactive discovery of the exhibition through drawing and looking exercises and role-playing. A hands-on component allowed families to work together and create their own interpretations of tapis, making it a truly educational experience. Thank you for your vital support of all that the museum has to offer to the Upper Valley community and beyond. Your gift matters!