Addison Gallery of American Art Maintains Impressive Education Program During Closure

The Addison Gallery of American Art continues its dynamic education program for teachers and students in the Andover, MA community and beyond.

Andover, MA (PRWEB) November 19, 2008 -- Today marks the official kick-off of American Education Week, a national observance that commemorates excellence in academics and pedagogy. The Addison Gallery of American Art is proud to be a part of the education community, both for the students of Phillips Academy, for whom the Addison was founded as an academic art museum, and for the region's public and private schools.

In late July, the Addison officially closed its doors for the first major building project in the museum's 77-year history. While this transformative renovation and expansion means the Addison's physical space is closed to the public, the Addison's education programming continues to thrive within the Andover area and beyond.

The Addison's education programming offers professional development courses for teachers, focused on making use of the museum's collection as a tool to foster awareness of the benefits of arts integrated teaching. These professional development courses are offered both in individual and group settings.

In addition to a commitment to the enrichment of educators, the Addison also develops and facilitates classroom projects for Phillips Academy and public school students. These educational experiences happen both inside and outside of the museum's walls and are used to complement existing curriculum themes, whether general arts integration or photography and writing projects based on local history or current events.

Last month, the Addison's Photography Study Studio, capable of pulling photographs from the museum's collection of more than 7,000, became operational. This studio allows the creation of a personalized, mini-exhibition based around themes from Phillips Academy and public high school class curricula. The set-up gives visitors the opportunity to view works up close and personal, and will be utilized in when the Addison's newly constructed Museum Learning Center opens in 2010.

The first groups of visitors, Flavia Vidal's Phillips Academy English 200 class, came to visit on October 16th. Vidal's students are studying different forms of writing and many of their readings revolve around the theme of family. The Addison's education staff pulled thirteen striking images of families from different time periods and in various formats. The students were able to make meaningful connections between the photographs, their readings and their own experiences. It was an active class session, full of observations, opinions and epiphanies. The students are continuing their explorations through an essay assignment drawing inspiration from JPEG reproductions of the Addison's photographs.

Another integral aspect of the Addison's educational programming is the Edward E. Elson Artist-in-Residence program. Artists-in-residence variously produce art on campus, exhibit in the galleries, give public talks, critique student work, use students as their subjects and lead discussions with students from Phillips Academy and area public high schools. This program creates interaction between working artists and Phillips Academy, Andover and Lawrence public school students and the surrounding communities. Students from these institutions are often able to collaborate with contemporary artists to create exhibitions for public viewing. This year the Addison will welcome Lorna Bieber as its artist-in-residence.

The Addison is in the midst of a $30 million campaign that will provide resources to construct new museum spaces, restore of the current Addison building and secure the museum's financial future. Goals of the "Campaign for the Addison" include:

* Create the Addison Gallery Museum Learning Center

* Provide appropriate collection storage and art preservation space

* Construct new office space

* Renovate and restore the existing Platt Building

* Ensure the Addison's future financial stability

To learn more about the Addison's educational endeavors and how your school can take part, call 978-749-4015, visit www.addisongallery.org or contact Julie Bernson at jbernson@andover.edu.

About the Addison Gallery of American Art

Devoted exclusively to American Art, the mission of the Addison Gallery of American Art is to acquire, preserve, interpret and exhibit works of art for the education and enjoyment of all. Opened in 1931, the Gallery has one of the most important collections of American art in the country that includes more than 16,000 works by prominent American artists such as George Bellows, John Singleton Copley, Thomas Eakins, Winslow Homer, Georgia O'Keeffe and Jackson Pollock, as well as photographers Eadweard Muybridge, Walker Evans, Robert Frank and many more. The Addison Gallery, located on the campus of Phillips Academy in Andover, offers a continually rotating series of exhibitions and programs, all of which are free and open to the public. For more information, call 978-749-4015, or visit the website at www.addisongallery.org.

###