The world is my refrigerator

ChildArt, April-June, 2004 by Suzanne Ernst

What does your refrigerator door look like? Is it covered with magnets, shopping lists and coupons? Or, is it your own private art gallery, completely devoted to your paintings, drawings and other creations? If you live in an area without a children's art museum, you might think the ol' icebox is only one of a few options for showing the world your creative brilliance. That's not necessarily true.

In Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, there is currently no children's art museum. But thanks to a television station, a world-famous art gallery and some other pioneering adults, the local children are able to go beyond their kitchens and share the same wall space with some pretty famous artists.

It all began when Canal Futura, one of Brazil's primary television stations, became Brazil's official representative and promoter of ICAF's Second Arts Olympiad. Before they knew it, 300 children representing 300 schools from all over Brazil had submitted their artwork for the Olympiad. It was now up to Canal Futura to select one drawing to send to Washington, D.C. Not an easy task.

Before too long, the director of the Museu Nacional de Belas Artes (National Museum of Beautiful Art), located in Rio de Janeiro, asked Canal Futura to produce an exhibition centering on ICAF's theme "Me and the New Millennium," and featuring all of the children's artworks. And was it successful! The exhibition was held from October 4 to November 1, 2003, and over 3,000 people visited it in less than a month--a fine tribute to Brazil's young artists. In fact, it was so successful that museums in France, Washington, D.C. and elsewhere in Brazil have expressed interest in hosting the exhibit.

The main purpose of the children's art exhibition is not only to show visitors all the cool, creative things children can do, but also to make sure the children know that they are all winners. Even though only one out of 300 drawings and paintings was chosen to go to Washington, each and every artwork exhibited is special and deserves recognition.

While plans to establish a permanent child art museum remain the Brazilian government's decision, it's encouraging to know there's an interest in children's art, and for the children of Brazil, that the world is one big refrigerator door, offering plenty of space and opportunity for their art.

In Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, there is currently no children's art museum. But thanks to a television station, a world-famous art gallery and some other pioneering adults, the local children are able to go beyond their kitchens and share the same wall space with some pretty famous artists.

No Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, nao existe museu de arte infantil. Mas gracas a uma emissora de televisao, a uma galeria de arte mundialmente famosa e ao pioneirismo de alguns adultos, as criancas brasileiras puderam ir alem e dividir o mesmo espaco de exibicao com alguns grandes artistas.