October 12, 2006 Issue                                       

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©2006 The Chestnut Hill Local

Children’s ‘VISIONS’ are now exhibited at Woodmere Museum
by BETSY TORG

Julie Moskowitz (right) and her mother Fern Moskowitz, of Lafayette Hill, enjoy the Plymouth Meeting Friends School art show at The Woodmere Art Museum. While they admire the circus scene made by Julie’s class last year as a part of the fourth grade “Circus” unit, PMFS student Ben Forman identifies his own work hanging as part of a “magic ocean” created by last year’s third grade.

Beautifully glazed ceramic looms. Colorful and creative aluminum masks. Handmade paper collages with a Japanese flair. Pastel close-ups of lions, tigers and….. you guessed it….. bears. These are just a few examples of the art pieces at The Woodmere Art Museum these days.

“VISIONS,” a stimulating exhibit of art work created by students from Plymouth Meeting Friends School (PMFS), is currently on display in the Helen Millard Children’s Gallery at the Woodmere Art Museum in Chestnut Hill from now through October 29.

The exhibit, consisting of approximately 85 pieces of art created by PMFS students in grades three through six, was chosen by The Woodmere for this fall’s exhibit in the children’s gallery.

Art teacher Ann Alberts explains that the title for the exhibit embodies what she strives for in the classroom. “We called the show ‘VISIONS’ because I try to bring out what’s inside of a child as far as what they see when taking on a project. I want them to see it in their mind,” she says. Each project starts with a concept, but then each child has his/her own ideas and visions. “If you can get that out of kids then you are in a good spot. I want kids to express themselves in whatever way is best for them.”

Having their art displayed in an exhibit in a museum is an important and validating experience for children, says Alberts. “So often children feel their work is never put up or is never seen. If you can give them the experience of having their work matted or mounted and put in a show, then right away they have a wonderful feeling.”

While each piece was created by students in art class, there is a clear connection between many of the projects and the overall curriculum for each grade. The ceramic looms and aluminum masks created by 5th graders, for example, are connected to the Mexican exchange program that PMFS students participate in as a part of their 5th grade year. The students spend two weeks abroad in Cuernavaca, Mexico, living with a family and taking field trips to various historical and cultural sites. Alberts explains that she had the students create looms and aluminum masks because both art forms – weaving and metal work – are central to Mexican art, culture and way of life.

Plymouth Meeting Friends School, located on the corner of Germantown Avenue and Butler Pike in Plymouth Meeting, is a co-educational, Quaker day school offering pre-kindergarten through sixth grade. Families at the school come from over 25 zip codes in the Philadelphia area.