A Great Gathering

Of Grandmothers

HARTFORD — A “Greatest Gathering of Grandmothers” will be held at Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art on Saturday, November 1, a date officially proclaimed as “Grandmothers Day” in the State of Connecticut by Governor John G. Rowland.

“Greatest Gathering of Grandmothers,” which will take place from 8:30 am to noon, is meant to showcase the many faces of the contemporary American grandmother, whose median age is a youthful 47. Grandmothers and great-grandmothers from all walks of life are invited to participate in the “Greatest Gathering” and in the morning’s fun programs. General admission is free.

 “Greatest Gathering of Grandmothers” will coincides with “Grandma Moses in the 21st Centur,” (see story at left).

Registration for “Greatest Gathering of Grandmothers” will start at 8:30 am on November 1, and all participants will be invited to take advantage of an exclusive viewing of the exhibition – before the museum opens to the public at 10 am – for the reduced admission price of $5. (Admission for children ages 12 and under is free.)

Thanks to Sprint, grandmothers will be able to make free three-minute phone calls that morning to their grandchildren anywhere in the United States and Puerto Rico.

At 9:30, pictures will be taken of the “Greatest Gathering of Grandmothers” on the front lawn of the Wadsworth Atheneum, weather permitting. Refreshments will then be served indoors.

Guest speaker Amy Goyer, coordinator of the AARP Grandparent Information Center in Washington, DC, will speak about the various roles grandmothers play in families today. Her talks will be held in the Wadsworth Atheneum’s Aetna Theater at 10 and again at 11 am.

Finally, since Grandma Moses is often called a “memory painter,” as most of her images record her own past, the museum will offer a memory album workshop from 10 am to noon. Grandmothers and grandchildren can create personalized books to preserve family memories, moments, and people.

Advance registration by groups wishing to attend the “Greatest Gathering of Grand-mothers” is strongly suggested.  Call Amy Dalton-Kay at 860-838-4061 for a group registration form.

The main telephone number for the museum, located at 600 Main Street in Hartford, is 860-278-2670. The museum’s website is                                www.WadsworthAtheneum.org.