Show How a museum in Connecticut got citizens—especially young people —excited about ait They lim Teens Into Teachers BY STANDING BEFORE A SUITE of three paintings in die Aldrich MICHAEL RYAN after school and the students work hard though they get neither course credit nor pay “I think this is a terrific idea' Museum of Can temporary Ait in Ridgefield Conn a group of said Kenseth Armstead an artist “Many of the things I would have heard about art from authority figures at my high school I would have just zoned out But hearing a classmate saying something interesting — but it’s still debatable it's not law —that’s the great thing There’s a possibility of dialogue” Armstead was explaining an installation to the docents It’s a collaborative work of photos text videos and music by Armstead and several other artists based on the life of Malcolm X After he finished the youngsters went up to inspect the art more closely high school students listened intently as their guide Kevin Walker explained the cryptic arrangement of geometric shapes on the canvases The students — from Sandy Hook Conn — looked appreciatively at the artwork studying the shapes carefully until Walker asked them to move on id the next piece They were enlightened by the descriptions provided by Walker who was their docent — a volunteer specially trained to introduce neophytes to die wonders of art during guided lours In his baggy shorn and floppy shi mails the only thing dial set Walker apart from his audience was his knowledge Just a few months ago he was a senior at Newtown High in Sandy Hook In the past year he participated in the Student Docent Program which allowed him lo use his love of art to serve his community ttls great that I gat to taacti art te mg and leam more about the subject in RMgafMA Cows Tlw “Just being involved with this has been terrific for me" he said Tve learned more about art than I could ever hope to if I sat down with books for weeks and it’s great lo get lo leach it lo my classmates" Walker now 18 Baited mendfog the Rhode Hand School teachers than from the museum staff “It clicked with of Design last month He wants to he an artist me that kids would know kids even better" he said “When I first came here in 1992 1 invited all die art teachers in the community to a meeting said Philbrick decided that he and his staff would turn Harry Philbrick the Aldrich Museum's education diyoungsters into teachers The Student Docent Program began in 1993 alrector Just one teacher showed up however and he was unhappy with the museum's offerings “I got the lowing students from the fifth to the 12th grade to messagr that the teachers weren't pleased with what lake special art classes at the museum and then give we had been doing Philbrick recalled tours to their peers It was an instant success Within two yean students from 18 elementary middle What he learned in that meeting was that in the m had the and museum schools for the called high schools in Connecticut and across the boronly past window dressing when it was applying for grants ( der in New Yoik signed up for the program The docents are now giving tours to adults as well “1 think was very surprised" Rulbrick said “The teachers it's wonderful" said Carol Washburn an art teacher told me that our goal should be to get the children at Newtown High “It deepens the students' undertogether with the art and the artists" Philbrick knew of a study by the Museum of Modstanding and brings them to a level of involvement em Ait in New York City that showed students learned they wouldn't get from just visiting the museum" I attended a docent training session They are held more when they look guided lours from their own The Aldrich Museum is financed through corporate and foundation support and endowinstitution ments The has no permanent collection Instead it brings new work to the mid-siz- Bearing a classmate not an authority figure saying something interesting — that’s the great thing” says the artist Kenseth Armstead BDBBI ed community with at least three major shows each year “We show a lot of work by emergiqg artists” Philbrick said “It's ineviubie that some will be better than others” While an aduh might be a bit shy about expressing distaste for are not inhibited about letting their feelings be known “I want to start with this work because I like it least of anything in this show" Danielle Andrews 16 announced before leading a group lo a large installation “We try to let them know that it's all right lo have feelings about the art" Philbrick told me “Wfe let them know they can spend less time with a piece they don't like” Already several docents want to pursue art degrees Most probably will go into other occupations but all of them said this opportunity had deepened their appreciation for art “I don't know if I would go into art as a career” said Emily Crowley 16 one of the 120 current docents “But after this experience I know art will always be in my life” B Ffjr more information about setting up a Student Do- Ml Program write to the Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art Dept P 258 Main St Ridgefield Conn OM77 |