Return to story

>> AT THE HOME AND STUDIO OF GARI MELCHERS, A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY FOR ARTISTIC FAMILY EXCURSIONS

June 11, 2009 12:35 am

By COLLETTE CAPRARA

FOR THE FREE LANCE-STAR

While the thought of a museum or gallery tour might typically conjure up an image of interested parents but (at best) passively complying children, the staff members at Gari Melchers Home and Studio at Belmont are turning that stereotype on its head.

Throughout the summer, Belmont will offer special Family Tours geared to children ages 5-12 that will be packed with plenty of engaging interaction and hands-on activities.

In fact, each Family Tour of the 18th-century home of Gari and Corinne Melchers will be inquiry-driven--essentially co-created by the young visitors.

"This is a unique opportunity for families to experience a customized tour of Belmont," said Michelle Crow-Dolby, education coordinator at Belmont. "We respond to the children's interests to create the tour, and no two tours are the same."

A special exploratory basket will be at the entrance of the house, from which children can select an item like a ring of keys, a stuffed animal representing one of the artist's many pets or even a plastic fly.

"When we get to the part of the house related to their object, I ask them to show it and we talk about how it relates to the Melcherses' life," Crow-Dolby explained. (The fly, incidentally, can be found in a very detailed still-life painting of fruit.)

The tour also incorporates scented candles that correspond to elements of a painting or activities that would typically go on in the house.

In keeping with this summer's theme, "Children at Belmont," tour conversations focus on the experiences of youngsters who visited the Melcherses frequently or lived on the estate--such as little Archie Lucas, son of the family's cook.

Guests will be introduced to original puppets that Gari's wife, Corinne, made by hand for puppet shows she hosted for local children--and they'll hear stories about her scarlet macaw, Polly.

Some accounts will show today's young guests how things were different for their counterparts in the early 1900s, when ice-cream makers were the centerpieces of parties and home entertainment meant listening to the tales of "The Lone Ranger" and "Rin Tin Tin" on the radio.

But they'll also see that the excitement and attraction of activities such as fishing for eels in the river have remained the same throughout the years.

Like the house tours, tours of Gari Melchers' studio have also been adapted especially for families, with signs near the paintings that present points to ponder or discuss.

For example, one label asks viewers if they think there might be someone else in the house who does not appear in the painting of a room, leading visitors to seek clues from objects in the artwork.

Guests will also be supplied with drawing boards and pencils if they want to try their hand at sketching on the grounds. In addition, children can test their observation skills in the Itty Bitty Belmont scavenger hunt, seeking out small details of sculptures and architecture on the estate.

"We try to engage the children on many different levels," said Crow-Dolby. "Kids can really relate to other children, and it's easy for them to imagine what a child's experience would have been like here--whether it's exploring the woods or having a tea party with Mrs. Melchers."

Collette Caprara is a local artist and freelance writer.