Fort Worth, TX, May 1, 2008—Parents, fear not: cultural opportunities that are fun, free, and cool (as in “temperature” and “dude”) await this summer at the Amon Carter Museum. Storytime at the Carter, Target Family Fun Days, and a brand new New Parents Tour offer a variety of options for children to have fun while discovering great American art and for adults to enjoy artistic stimulation while getting out of the heat.

Back by popular demand, Storytime at the Carter returns to the museum. Artworks tell tales and books paint pictures as educators read captivating stories that bring the museum’s artworks to life. These programs, held every Wednesday from 10:30 to 11:15 a.m. from June 11 through July 30, are great for kids up to 6 years old and include fun activities and refreshments. This year, Storytime at the Carter is brought to you in part by a grant from the JPMorgan Chase Foundation.

The Carter’s continuing series of Target Family Fun Days will be presented on the second Sunday of each month of June, July, and August. These popular programs feature great storytelling, interactive gallery tours, lots of creative art-making activities, plus cookies and lemonade.

Debuting this summer, the New Parents Tour program is a great way for parents with pre-toddlers to get out of the house and enjoy some much-needed mental stimulation and adult conversation. On June 27, July 25, and August 29, moms and/or dads can pack up the baby stroller and come to the Carter for tours that will introduce them (with babies in tow) to a variety of artworks in the collection. Parents are invited to attend one or all of the tours in the series, and of course, there will be refreshments!

Details on summer family programs at the Carter are listed below. Information on these and other summer public programs is also available at cartermuseum.org. All of these programs are free and open to the public. For more information, please call 817.989.5031.

Storytime at the Carter

Every Wednesday June 11–July 30, 10:30–11:15 a.m.
Activities and refreshments follow each program.
These programs are brought to you in part by a grant from the JPMorgan Chase Foundation

Wednesday, June 11
Pretty Patterns
Bring your children to hear a reading of Look! Look! Look! by Nancy Elizabeth and Linda K. Friedlaender, a wonderful book that will inspire them to see unusual patterns and shapes in works of art. You’ll have fun looking together at the Carter’s beautiful portrait Alice Vanderbilt Shepard (1888) by John Singer Sargent.

Wednesday, June 18
Squiggles, Shapes, and Swirls
Celebrate creativity and see beauty in the colorful squiggles, shapes, and swirls found in the artworks of Stuart Davis and Georgia O’Keeffe. Young children will discover that all creative efforts deserve to be framed in Badly Drawn Dog by Emma Dodson and Ish by Peter H. Reynolds.

Wednesday, June 25
Dots and Dashes
Discover how dots and dashes transform into beautiful Impressionist paintings. Hear how the wonderful and rewarding feeling of youthful self-expression comes to life in Ain’t Gonna Paint No More by Karen and David Beaumont and The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds.

Wednesday, July 2
Fun with Founding Fathers
Children will get into the Fourth-of-July spirit as they hear two great stories about our country’s founding fathers: Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire by Diane deGroat and John, Paul, George & Ben by Lane Smith. Both books will be read in front of patriotic paintings in the Carter’s collection.

Wednesday, July 9
Artful Adventures
Hear how a special bear uses his imagination, determination, and resourcefulness to survive several adventures in Henry Climbs a Mountain and Henry Builds a Cabin, both by D.B. Johnson. These two great children’s books will be read in front of The Hunter’s Return (1845) by Thomas Cole.

Wednesday, July 16
Cowboy Charlie
Children will love hearing about the adventurous life and wonderful art of Charles M. Russell in Cowboy Charlie, a fun children’s story by Jeanette Winter. They’ll also see action-packed paintings created by Charlie himself.

Wednesday, July 23
Catch the Building Bug
The museum’s beautiful building by renowned architect Philip Johnson is the perfect location for listening to hear Nina Laden’s story, Roberto the Insect Architect, about a termite and his fascination with the allure and wonderment of architecture.

Wednesday, July 30
Bears in the Building!
Come along and see how two clever bears use art to change their lives. Bear Hunt by Anthony Browne and Drawing Lessons from a Bear by David McPhail will keep children captivated as they look at two great works from the Carter’s collection—a dramatic landscape painting and an endearing sculpture of a bear cub.

Target Family Fun Days

Second Sunday of the month, 1–4 p.m.
Refreshments are offered during each program.
Target Family Fun Days are generously supported by Target.

Sunday, June 8
Picture It!
Strike a pose! Find portraits in the galleries and learn how artists create pictures of other people and themselves. Then, put your best face forward by creating your own self-portrait in different artistic styles.

Sunday, July 13
Myths, Heroes, and Legends
Join us for a legendary day at the Carter! Listen to heroic tales and amazing legends based on your favorite artworks. Learn about a hero’s qualities and make your own tall tale.

Sunday, August 10
Canyons, Clouds, and Colors
What does your world look like? Tour the galleries and create your own scenic surrounding based on the special exhibition, Marsden Hartley and the West: The Search for an American Modernism.

New Parents Tours

Tours begin outside the Museum Store. Reservations are not required, but we recommend that parents call 817.989.5031 to receive helpful instructions.

Dates
Friday, June 27, 10:30–11:30 a.m.
Friday, July 25, 10:30–11:30 a.m.
Friday, August 29, 10:30–11:30 a.m.