A new Children's Gallery exhibition at the Michener Art Museum, "Come See Our World: Self, Family and Community", brings together the art work of children from Kampala, Uganda and Bucks County.

Featuring drawings and paintings, the exhibition is on view June 2 through June 30, 2002, with an opening celebration on Sunday, June 2 from 2 to 4 pm. The opening, which is free and open to the public, includes refreshments, art activities and entertainment by folklorist, storyteller and musician, Kala Jojo.

The unique opportunity for a creative dialogue through the exchange of children's artwork from the United States and Uganda results from a partnership between the Michener Art Museum and the Uganda National Art Museum, with the collaboration of former Michener Art Museum Curator of Education, Dr. Susan Plumb. The main goals of the program are to teach acceptance and respect of cultural differences; negotiation of different viewpoints; preservation of cultural heritage; and building of relationships from strengths and commonalities. Dr. Plumb explains, "I could never have anticipated the importance of cultural dialogue as it was so traumatically demonstrated through the events of this past year. It is my hope that this exhibition will remind us all that children throughout the world share fundamental common interests that can become the basis for cultural understanding and sensitivity."

After its run at the Michener Art Museum, Self, Family and Community will travel to the Munyonyo Primary School in Kampala, Uganda, and then to Uganda's National Museum. It is anticipated that over 75,000 students in the United States and Uganda will view the exhibition. Paulette Lidert, Director of Educational Outreach at the Michener Art Museum states, "We have a commitment to extending the Children's Gallery's programs' reach to the wider world, and we expect this to be the first among many such interfaces between children of Bucks County and other countries."

The Children's Gallery Coordinator is Christine Tokugawa and the exhibition was curated by Bucks County artist, Barry Snyder. For more information on this exhibition, please call 215.340.9800.