LOS ANGELES, CA.- Museums are traditionally quiet places, where people speak in hushed and reverent tones. But during Family Storytelling, the gallery rings with laughter, song, and excited voices as children and adults alike sit cross-legged on brightly colored pillows, engaging in a lively, intimate way with the great masterpieces in front of them.

Family Storytelling is a free educational program, offering new ways to examine and explore works of art in the Getty’s permanent holdings. “We are delighted that we’ve been able to grow this program for the past seven years. It’s been an extremely successful way to draw young children into the world of art,” says Rebecca Edwards, the Museum’s education specialist, who manages the Getty Center’s family programs.

The Getty’s popular Family Storytelling series kicks off its spring series this February with Angela Lloyd’s The Three Gifts of Fortune and Makinto’s Carnival, Cops and a Mystery!

Master storyteller Angela Lloyd returns to the Getty with an encore performance of her tale inspired by Dosso Dossi’s Allegory of Fortune. Through rhythm and rhyme, Lloyd begins her unique story with an alphabet game designed to engage children, drawing their attention to various objects within the painting. Inspired by the 1533 Dosso Dossi work, itself, Lloyd follows the path of a traditional Sicilian folktale as she weaves the story of a young man named Chance and his encounter with Lady Fortune. At the end of her performance, she entertains her audience with the interesting story of the painting’s provenance, revealing the exciting tale of its own luck and fortune. “I love being part of this live energy, where children have the opportunity to be heard and participate,” says Lloyd. “It’s awesome that the Museum provides families with the opportunity to experience a guided view of a painting through storytelling.”

Inspired by the painting Christ’s Entry into Brussels in 1889 by James Ensor, Makinto takes viewers through this colossal painting on a quest for the artist, who is depicted within the canvas. Using song, narrative, musical instruments, both French and English, and a variety of props, he transports his young audience on a wild ride to find “Jimmy” Ensor, who is missing from his mother’s house. Through his interactive adventure, Makinto reveals a secret plot in Ensor’s masterpiece. “My goal is to bring art closer to children,” said Makinto. “I take complex themes and explain them with words that kids can understand. In this tale, I try to convey to children that Ensor was a regular guy, who loved to paint and express himself through his artwork.”

Storytelling is offered twice a month on Sundays from February through May. Prior reservations are not required; visitors can sign up at the Museum Information Desk on the day of the event. Please see complete schedule below.

Family Storytelling – Spring 2009

Angela Lloyd Presents The Three Gifts of Fortune
Dates: Sundays, February 8, March 8, April 5, and May 31, 2009
Times: 11:30 a.m. and 1:30, 2:30, and 3:30 p.m.

Makinto Reveals Carnival, Cops and a Mystery!
Dates: Sundays, February 22, March 15, April 19, and May 17, 2009
Times: 11:30 a.m. and 1:30, 2:30, and 3:30 p.m.

RELATED FAMILY ACTIVITIES AT THE GETTY CENTER

Family Art Stops/Enfoque Artístico
Enjoy a playful introduction to art with Family Art Stops, a half-hour, hands-on gallery experience geared for families with children ages 5 and up. To participate, sign up at the Museum Information Desk beginning at 1:30 p.m. for the 2:00 p.m. program and at 2:00 p.m. for the 2:30 p.m. program, which is also offered in Spanish. Then, a professional gallery teacher will greet you in the Museum Entrance Hall and lead you to a family-friendly work of art in the galleries. You might meet a Renaissance oil painting, a 45-foot-tall steel sculpture, or an opulent tapestry adorned with scampering exotic animals. You and your family will look and learn together as you participate in fun activities such as puzzles, drawing projects, role-plays, even an artistic version of Mad Libs. Activities and works of art change frequently, making each visit a new experience. After your Art Stop, your gallery teacher will suggest other family-friendly works of art in the collection that you can visit to practice your new skills at looking and talking about art.

Date: Saturday and Sunday
Time: 2:00 and 2:30 p.m.
Location: Getty Center, Museum galleries
Admission: Free; sign-up required.