NAPLES, FL.-The Naples Art Association has realigned its planned one-day symposium, Awarding Pictures: The Art of Children's Book Illustration, scheduled for Sept. 28 to focus on the Youth Program and a new evening forum and panel discussion.

Students from throughout Collier County will participate in the Youth Program during the morning, meeting with illustrator Misako Rocks, international artist and puppeteer Pablo Cano, and award-winning illustrator Bryan Collier, a Coretta Scott King Illustration and Caldecott Honor Award winner who had been designated as keynote speaker for the symposium. As part of Collier's Career Education Academy initiative, the students will learn about the many wonderful types of art careers they can pursue during interactive discussions taking place at the Sugden Theatre, which joined with the NAA to present this program.

Later, the general public is invited to a newly-scheduled Forum on Multiculturalism in Illustration and Children's Literature from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 28 at the art center, 585 Park Street. Bryan Collier will make a presentation to the group, and then he will participate in a panel discussion with Cano and two other international children's book scholars, Yeo-Joo Lim from Korea and Anita Wincencjusz-Patyna, Ph.D., from Poland. The forum is $5 for Collier County teachers with current ID and NAA members, and $10 for the general public. The evening includes wine, hors d'oeuvres and an autograph session. RSVPs are required by calling 239-262-6517 x110.

The youth program and forum are sponsored by the Community Foundation of Collier County, PNC Wealth Management, and the State of Florida, Division of Cultural Affairs.

A concurrent Awarding Pictures: The Art of Children's Book Illustration exhibition is on view from September 8 to October 28. The exhibition focuses on award winning artists working in the field of children's literature and showcases historic and contemporary artwork in media ranging from painting to video. The exhibition highlights the significant impact that children's illustrations have had on the art world and the field of children's literature both nationally and internationally. To do this, historic and contemporary objects from the early days of children's literature are displayed, pieces from the publishing process are on view, and artist's work in children's literature is exhibited along with their adult artwork. Works are being loaned from the de Grummond Children's Literature Collection, the Mazza Collection, the New England Gallery, and Princeton University Library. In addition, the following individual artists will be represented: Makiko Azakami, Bryan Collier, David Diaz, Vivienne Flesher, Gerald McDermott, Yan Nascimbene, Faith Ringgold, Misako Rocks, Ward Shumaker, David Slonim, and Chris Wormell.