[MONTEREY, CA] When a little boy creates a pattern of concentric circles, colors them with flowers and sunrise and rainbows and sports, then places family at the heart of a piece titled, “Flower of My Life,” we are reminded that children are both our legacy and our hope. The piece, which became a mandala for this child, representing the heart and wholeness of his life, is but one of sixty works of art by children, going on exhibition at the Monterey Museum of Art this Thursday. 

Children created these works during the Art Discovery Camp at the Monterey Museum of Art this summer. Organized in collaboration with the Gonzales Unified School District and the Museum, and taught by Erin Hunter, Katherine Dexter and Julie Hoffmann, the camp sessions introduced art projects focused on themes of pirates, treasure and imagination; art and nature; and bookmaking and journaling.

The result is an inspired exhibition that gives voice to the pure message of children. “When you walk down the hallways,” said Linda Risso, Director of Education; “the two words that come to mind are playful and happy. That these children created art that runs the gamut from panels that form a treasure hunt which explores the different strategies of drawing, to collage work, paper dying and folding, accordion books, watercolors, a quilt created from animal paintings, and a tree of life made from the children’s handprints.” 

That these children were able to have a studio and a gallery orientation was such an important part of their art camp experience, says Risso. The students from Gonzales even took a field trip to the Museum to see works of art; paintings, etchings and photographs by established artists, which gave them a chance to relate what they were seeing to the artwork they were doing. Scholarships to came were awarded by Wells Fargo Bank. 

“Hosting a youth art camp is an investment in our future,” said Executive Director Michael Whittington. “An art museum should be at the creative center of its community, where artists come for inspiration, youth come for instruction and adults come for entertainment and enrichment. The focus of this year’s camp was art and exploration. We wanted students to learn and experience not only creativity but also the world around them through a curriculum-based, interdisciplinary approach to art. We also wanted them to have fun; to appreciate art and find their visit to the Museum enjoyable.”  

Prepare to be inspired, enlightened and entertained as the Monterey Museum of Art celebrates the opening of What I Did in Summer Camp during Art After Hours, the Museum’s monthly open house every third Thursday from 5-7 pm at 559 Pacific Street, Monterey, CA. Admission is free, and guests are welcome to enjoy an evening of art, conversation, live music, and wine, courtesy of Blazer Wilkinson, LP; and hors d’oeuvres catered by Michael’s Catering.   

About The Monterey Museum of Art

The Monterey Museum of Art is devoted to the art of California, photography, contemporary art and Asian art. The Museum was established in 1959 as a chapter of the American Federation of the Arts and has a permanent collection of 14,000 objects, which includes paintings, photographs, works on paper, Asian art and significant holdings of California artists such as Armin Hansen, William F. Ritschel, Edward Weston and Ansel Adams. The Monterey Museum of Art has two locations: 559 Pacific Street and 720 Via Mirada, Monterey, CA, 93940. The Museum is open Wednesday through Saturday, 11 am to 5 pm and Sunday 1 to 4 pm. Admission: $5 general, $2.50 student and military. Museum members and children under 12 are free. For more information, please visit www.montereyart.org or call 831.372.5477.