Diversity Tour

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Rockwell Museum of Western Art
111 Cedar Street, Corning, NY  14830

Date:  January 27, 2009

Contact:  Beth Manwaring • 607.974.4254 • manwaringb@rockwellmuseum.org

Rockwell Museum of Western Art Explores Diversity through Self-Guided Reflections Tour

CORNING, NY - The Rockwell Museum of Western Art is offering a self-guided Reflections Tour for young visitors ages 9-14 to use while they visit.  The Museum features many drop-in activities free of charge as part of the "Kids Rock at the Rockwell" program.  The Reflections Tour was created as a way for young visitors, of all backgrounds, to reflect on identity and heritage through the Museum's collection.  Through several paintings and sculptures, the tour encourages the visitor to answer several questions.  One question asks, "Do we make assumptions about other people based on their appearance?" 

Created last year by Mary Mix, School and Docent Programs Manager at the Museum, the tour concept was designed to naturally open up discussion about diversity in our own lives and community using the art as a catalyst for conversation and thought. 

"The tour uses the Museum collection to contemplate the issues of culture, identity, and stereotyping," Mix said.  "The Museum is encouraging the community to visit the Museum during the month of February, Black History Month, to take advantage of this opportunity.  This February, at a time when many American's are thinking about change, we hope this activity will ignite conversation between people of all ethnicities and backgrounds."

The tour was originally created for the "Big Read" program, an initiative of the National Endowment of the Arts in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services. For 2008's "Big Read" the local Corning library coordinated the events.  The "Big Read" focused on the book "To Kill a Mockingbird." The Rockwell Museum expanded on the concept and made the very obvious connection to the Museum art collection; focusing on Western and Native American art and culture.

"We strive to inspire reflective and imaginative thought with each student we serve through the exploration of a variety of topics, using the Museum's collection.  It is exciting to discuss relevant topics of today through the artwork of the Museum's collection." says Gigi Alvare, Director of Education at the Rockwell Museum of Western Art.

The "Reflections Tour" is free of charge and is available at the Museum's admission desk.  Kids & Teens are FREE (19 & under) and local adults living in area codes 148, 149 and 169 are admitted under the local resident rate of $3.00.  On Sundays, now through the end of March, the Museum is offering free admission all day.  The Museum is open every day, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.  (Seven days a week).
About the Rockwell Museum of Western Art

Accredited by the American Association of Museums, the Rockwell Museum of Western Art is located in the center of the Finger Lakes Wine Country of New York Sate and in the heart of Corning's Gaffer District.  The Museum is open to the public seven days a week; hours are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Membership to the Museum includes yearlong free admission.  For more information, please visit us online at www.rockwellmuseum.org.

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