MIAMI BEACH, FL (April 26, 2006)— Eight unique books created by fifth-grade students at Miami-Dade public schools will be on display in the lobby of The Wolfsonian–Florida International University from May 1 to 19, 2006. The books are the final product of Page at a Time, an innovative, interdisciplinary arts-education program created in 1996 by The Wolfsonian in collaboration with Miami-Dade County Public Schools. The Page at a Time program is made possible by Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Division of Life Skills; Citigroup Foundation; Carnival Foundation, and special support from Evelyn Greer, Miami-Dade County School Board Member.

The books explore the broad theme of conflict and resolution – be it social, military, economic, environmental, or issues related to modernity – and are entirely student-created, from text to artwork to the varied formats of the books.

Books created throughout the ten-year history of the program have dealt with issues such as war, the environment, endangered species, evolution, social change, and cultural identity. Their formats have ranged from the traditional to the conceptual. Books have been made out of ceramic clay, recycled garbage, wood, and an assortment of other materials.

As part of the preparation for creating the books, the students visited The Wolfsonian three times beginning in September 2005, received tours of the collection, and participated in hands-on exercises in history, language arts, and visual arts. The classes worked collaboratively to develop a group concept for the subject and format for their book, and each student then created his or her own page as part of the class project.

“Page at a Time is a very strong interdisciplinary program and a great model for museum-based education. During the program, students learn about specific topics such as history, visual arts and writing, as well as art books, museums, and the interconnections between these topics. Students then apply their new knowledge to a creative project,” notes Mark Osterman, The Wolfsonian’s education programs manager. “It’s fun for the students and invigorating for the educators. The exhibition, located in the lobby of the museum, is a great experience for the students and their families.”

A Family Funday celebrating this exhibition will take place on Sunday, May 7 from noon to 4:00pm at The Wolfsonian. This fun-filled afternoon is geared toward children ages five and up and includes storytelling, gallery activities, and a hands-on workshop where children create their own books and cards.

Each year different schools participate in Page at a Time, which is jointly taught by classroom and art teachers, in conjunction with Wolfsonian staff members and core teachers. This year’s participating schools were: North Glade, North Hialeah, South Pointe, Miami Gardens, Howard Drive, Redondo, Frederick R. Douglass, and Bel-Aire elementary schools.

About The Wolfsonian–Florida International University
The Wolfsonian is a museum, library, and research center that uses objects to illustrate the persuasive power of art and design, to explore what it means to be modern, and to tell the story of social, historical, and technological changes that have transformed our world. It encourages people to see the world in new ways, and to learn from the past as they shape the present and influence the future. The collections comprise approximately 121,000 objects from the period of 1885 to 1945 – the height of the Industrial Revolution to the end of World War II – in a variety of media including: furniture; industrial-design objects; works in glass, ceramics, and metal; rare books; periodicals; ephemera; works on paper; paintings; textiles; and medals. While these objects can best be understood in the context in which they were created, they illuminate as much about our times as they reveal about their own.

The Wolfsonian is located at 1001 Washington Avenue, Miami Beach, Fla. Admission is $7 adults; $5 seniors, students, and children six-12; free for Wolfsonian members, State University System of Florida staff and students with ID, children under six, and Miami Beach residents with ID. The museum is open Monday, Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday from noon-6pm; Thursday and Friday from noon-9pm; and is closed on Wednesday. Contact us at 305.531.1001 or visit us online at www.wolfsonian.org.

The Wolfsonian receives ongoing support from the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, the Florida Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts; Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners; City of Miami Beach, Cultural Affairs Program, Cultural Arts Council; Crispin Porter + Bogusky; Continental Airlines, the preferred airline of The Wolfsonian; the Arthur F. and Alice E. Adams Foundation; and Karla Conceptual Event Experiences.

BACK