Evening star., 1941-10-30
Coreoran Art Gallery
Plans Weekly Study
Periods for Children
Stoff of Four Created
To Stimulate Juvenile
Interest in Paintings

Why shouldn't children be made
to feel at home in art galleries? 1t
is natural for them to enjoy looking
at pictures. but many unequipped
with the knowledge necessary to
their understanding of the works
exhibited, shun galleries as chilling
places peopled by silent grown-ups.
For number of years officials
Of the Corcoran Gallery of Art have
observed the enthusiastic acceptance
OF conducted group tours by school
pupils, but noted that the youngsters
returned infrequently for unsuper-
vlSed strollS. They studied work of
other progressive galleries with a
view to providing children a reason
for considering Corcoran an enjoy
able place in which to spend leisure
time.
The planning eliminated today
with announcement by G. Powell
Minnigerode, director of the gallery
OF a program of weekly study and
art entertainment sessions for chill
dren ranging from s to IA years in
age. Mr. Minnigerode revealed the
services of Mrs James Ritchie. for
merly in charge of art education for
the Rochester IN. " Memorial Art
Gallery, had been obtained by the
Corcoran.
First Session Saturday.
She will be assisted by Miss Nan
Ferguson. Miss Mary Gruman and
Miss Patricia Morris in directing the
new activity.
The first session will be held Sat-
urday from 10 am. to u noon in
the children's room of the gallery.
This room. set aside for children
alone is being provided with paint
ings and other art objects likely to
be of interest to the young. Bright
lowered window trimmings are being
hung and Mrs. Ritchie plans other
touches of color, such as plants and
goldfish.
The programs will include stories
about famous artists, art games and
demonstrations of oil and water color
work, sculpture, etching, weaving
and other art forms. After view
ing the demonstrations, the young
sters will be shown outstanding eX-
smples of the various media in the
gallery's collections.
The Saturday classes Will be
planned with consideration for both
regular and occasional participants.
Each meeting will be understand
able in itself, but the child who
comes every Saturday will have the
opportunity of obtaining a complete
course in art appreciation without
payment of any fees.
Untalented Are Invited.
Children who demonstrate talent
will be encouraged to eXrciSe 1t
and to take part in special eXhlbl-
tions in their room. However, Mr..
Minnigerode emphasized in his an
nouncement that talent will not be
a requirement for admission to the
group. In fact. he said, untalented
xchoolchildren will be welcomed par
ticularly,~ since the project is de-
signed to nurture appreciation OF
art and artists rather than to de-
velop artistic proficiency. He point
ed out that the latter task is being
done In the Saturday classes OF the
Corcoran School Of Art.
Among the subjects in which the
Corcoran collection can be used
effectively in connection with the
new program are: The American In
dian, as seen by his own artist and
as interpreted by the white man;
the Greeks, their games and athletic
contests: the Colonial period, people
and customs as depicted by artists
Of the time, and living American
artists, their contributions to Amer
lean life.
Mrs. Ritchie will give additional
information by telephone at Metro
politan 32l1.