September 5, 1997
Contact:
Craig D'Ooge, Library of Congress (202) 707-9189
New "Gumby" Traveling Exhibit Supports "Building a Nation of Readers" Theme
"Adventures into Books: Gumby's World," a touring
exhibition developed by the Bay Area Discovery Museum in
Sausalito, California, promotes "Building a Nation of
Readers," the Center for the Book's reading promotion theme
for 1997-2000. The exhibition opens on November 18 at the
museum's waterside location at the northern end of the
Golden Gate Bridge, where it will remain until April 10,
1998. Then it will tour to nine other children's museums
that are members of the Youth Museum Exhibit Collaborative
and located in Brooklyn, Chicago, Cleveland, Denver,
Houston, Indianapolis, Memphis, St. Paul, and Hull, Quebec.
"Gumby already is one of the Center for the Book's
reading promotion 'spokescharacters,'" said center Director
John Y. Cole, "so our involvement in this innovative exhibit
is both appropriate and exciting. We also are pleased to
continue the partnership with children's museums that began
in 1994 with the Library-Head Start-Museum family literacy
project."
In "Adventures into Books: Gumby's World," children can
"walk into" giant books--the way Gumby, the popular clay
animation figure, begins his adventures in his long-running
television show. Visitors also receive a hands-on
introduction to Gumby and the art of clay animation, and the
opportunity to create their own books and to share their
favorite books on-line. The exhibition, the first to
feature Gumby, has been created with the support of Gumby
creators Art and Gloria Clokey.
For public information, telephone (415) 487-4398. The
media contact is Kathryn Eustis, (415) 824-6800.
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PR 97-142
9/5/97
ISSN 0731-3527