Date: Fri 02-Oct-1998

Publication: Ant

Author: SHIRLE

Quick Words:

Hudson-River-Museum-Storybook

Full Text:

Sidebar for `From Here To There Article'

Storybook Comes Alive

YONKERS, N.Y. -- Children of all ages will enjoy the animated characters from

the beloved story The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Gray Bridge, which

are on display at The Hudson River Museum in Yonkers, N.Y., along with the

exhibition of 40 original prints from the book of the same title.

Through the illustrations by Lynd Ward, children experience the classic tale

of the lighthouse located under the George Washington Bridge written by

Hildegarde H. Swift in 1942. This exhibition, "The Little Red Lighthouse and

The Great Gray Bridge," is on view through January 24.

As a unique twist to the narrative, the museum's labels for the Ward

illustrations are written from the bridge's point-of-view. (In the book, the

story is told by the little lighthouse.) The gallery design, inspired by the

illustrations, recreates the physical setting for the story by including a

giant arch entrance based on the George Washington Bridge towers and a

darkened environment featuring a "working" lighthouse. It also features a

Plexiglas simulation of the Hudson River, where children can play with movable

model boats as well as a reading room containing a library of bridge-related

children's books.

The exhibit serves to complement the main exhibition, "Getting From Here to

There," which is on view through January 24. The show examines 11 area bridges

from the perspectives of art, history and technology and includes fine art,

photographs, historical documents and five interactive stations.