Students get a taste of art at the Butler

Staff report

Youngstown

Red and yellow make orange. Blue and yellow create green, and purple comes from mixing red and blue.

The summer-school students of Millcreek Children’s Center tested their primary-color knowledge at the Butler Institute of American Art last week.

The preschoolers’ museum visit started with the book “Mouse Paint” by Ellen Stoll, which details the process of mixing primary colors to make secondary colors.

“We colored rainbows, red, green, yellow, blue, purple and orange,” said 5-year-old Daniel Williams.

Following the book presentation, the Butler’s docents took the students around to various galleries in the museum and pointed out some of the most-famous works, including: “Snap the Whip” by Winslow Homer, “Lincoln the Railsplitter” by Norman Rockwell and “Roberto Clemente” by Lance Richbourg.

“My favorite painting was the boxer,” Daniel said, referring to “Davey Moore” by Audrey Flack.

“We want our students to experience many of the cultural options the Mahoning Valley has to offer, and the Butler Institute of American Art is a national treasure that we are fortunate to have in our backyard,” said Sister Jerome Corcoran, MCC executive director.

The children worked up an appetite while touring the museum. Cassese’s MVR hosted the students, teachers and administrators for lunch. Joseph Cassese is a Sister Jerome’s Schools Inc. board member, and extended the invite to MCC students and staff.

“We are so appreciative of the Cassese family’s generosity, as well as their staff at the MVR,” Sister Jerome said. “The children loved their lunch at the restaurant, and their hearts are always delighted with cake.”

Kimora Jones, 5, put it simply:

“That food was good,” Kimora said.