School Visits

School Visits To help students and teachers of public and private schools take advantage of the Kreeger collection, the Education Department now offers a program of gallery visits. Each school visit consists of a tour of the museum led by trained docents followed by a workshop in the museum with a professional artist. The purpose of these visits is to give students space to respond creatively to topics raised at school and on the tour. Specific topics are discussed below.
	Student create mobiles in a Stability and Balance Workshop. Photo by Erich Keel.

Nature Through Art

Conservation, ecology and the environment are concerns that seem to make headlines every day. Nature Through Art is a theme tour that has been designed to introduce students to this increasingly urgent dialogue with and about nature. Students will be encouraged to examine and discuss landscape and still-life paintings as well as large-scale sculptures, created in a variety of styles, from realistic to postmodern. Exploring color, texture, composition and subject matter, students will develop their vocabulary and learn to characterize different aspects of nature such as threatening, dangerous, peaceful, nourishing, beautiful and powerful. The visit includes a creative workshop in the galleries that teaches the young visitors the basic elements of landscape drawing and painting.

Understanding The Human Figure

Since prehistoric times, societies have felt the need for representations of the human figure. With a small but distinguished collection, The Kreeger Museum is particularly fortunate to own art from Asian, African and Western traditions that make visible human aspirations, from the simple struggle for survival to the search for the spiritual and sacred. The theme tour, Understanding the Human Figure, is conceived so that students will perceive the values strength, courage and compassion conveyed by masks, reliefs, sculptures-in-the-round and painted likenesses. They will also acquire the vocabulary that artists use to discuss their creations such as bust, torso, profile, caricature, distortion, etc. The tour concludes with a workshop in which a professional artist will teach the principles of drawing from life.

The Making of Architecture

Completed in 1967, the Kreeger house was designed by renowned architect Philip Johnson for Mr. and Mrs. Kreeger to serve as their residence, private art gallery and recital hall. The house opened to the public as an art museum in 1994. Drawing from Islamic, classical and modernist traditions, Philip Johnson met the different architectural needs of his clients with a design of utter elegance and simplicity. On this tour, students will learn about different building materials, the plan of the principal floor with its elaborate continuations (forecourt, atrium, and sculpture terrace) and the harmonious siting of the house in a tranquil wooded neighborhood Included is a workshop in which students will construct a model for a hypothetical extension of the museum. For more information on these programs, please contact the Head of Education, Dr. Erich Keel, either by telephone: (202)337-3050 or e-mail (education@kreegermuseum.org).

If you would like more information on these programs please contact Erich Keel, Head of Education, by email at education@kreegermuseum.org or by phone at 202-337-3050 x24.

Hear Art, See Music (In Development)

The Kreeger Museum, in conjunction with Catholic University of America, is developing a museum pilot program combining art and music for children with special educational needs. The Kreeger Museum was awarded the National Leadership Grant by the IMLS (Institute of Museum and Library Services), one of only two institutions in the District this year to win this recognition. The Institute works at the national level and in coordination with state and local organizations to sustain heritage, culture and knowledge; enhance learning and innovation and support professional development.

The Museum, following on the traditions of its founder David Kreeger, has been involved in programs combining an appreciation of art and music for a number of years. The central winning idea behind the project evolved from Painting Sound, an art and music residency offered by the Kreeger and a team of professional musicians and visual artists to junior high and high school students in the District.