Mabee-Gerrer to Offer Free Docent Training Workshops
Posted by Donna Merkt on 06/25/2009
Father Gregory Gerrer, OSB, the founder of the Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art, began his collection in the early 1900's with the intent of bringing the world to Oklahoma. Thus, the MGMoA was created for the purpose of educating Oklahomans and every item in the collection was selected for its ability to reveal something about the world.
"In keeping with Father Gerrer's original vision, it is the goal of the MGMoA education department to develop and execute programs employing the museum's collections to enable a diverse audience to learn about art, with art, and through art. In order to fulfill this mission, the museum relies upon docents, volunteer museum educators. The word "docent" is rooted in the Latin word "docere," which means "to teach." MGMoA docents help visitors make lasting connections with art, by acting, among other things, as tour guides, art project helpers, story tellers, and gallery monitors," said Donna Merkt, MGMoA Curator of Education.
Donna continued "Docents attend bi-weekly meetings during the school year to learn about the MGMoA collection and art in general. This education is also complemented by museum lectures and trips. There is no cost to be a docent, but many rewards!"
Donna continued "Docents attend bi-weekly meetings during the school year to learn about the MGMoA collection and art in general. This education is also complemented by museum lectures and trips. There is no cost to be a docent, but many rewards!"
Those interested in participating in the docent program are invited to attend five free workshops this summer. The first is Discussing Art: Elements and Principals of Design. The workshop on Monday, June 22 begins at 10:30 and ends at 2:30. Participants should bring a sack lunch. Participants in the workshop will learn to discuss art through an understanding of color, line, shape, form, texture, and space, as well as rhythm, balance, unity, variety, repetition, center of interest, and movement. They will also expand their abilities to discuss art by considering how artists manipulate the elements and principals in their creations of artworks.
As a special treat, Victor Koshkin-Youritzin, professor of art history at the University of Oklahoma and an MGMoA advisory board member, will be presenting a special lecture during the workshop, "How to Judge Art." He will challenge the audience to use their visual analytical skills to analyze paintings crtitially and determine which artwork is a forgery and which is a true Van Gogh. Youritzin has presented similar lectures at several prestigious locations, including the Pentagon. Other artists he will examine include Cezanne, Dega, Manet, Monet, and Goya.
The workshops and the lecture are free and open to the public. Please R.S.V.P. with Donna Merkt, at 405-878-5605 or dlmerkt@mgmoa.org. Information about the upcoming workshops can be found at http://www.mgmoa.org/education/mgmoa-docents.
The Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art is located on the campus of St. Gregory's University, 1900 W. MacArthur St. in Shawnee. The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and 1 to 4 p.m. on Sundays. Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors age 65 or older, $3 for students and children ages 6 to 17, and free for children age 5 and younger. For accommodations on the basis of disability or more information, call the museum at (405) 878-5300 or visit www.mgmoa.org.
