SLAV Publications and Journals



	fyi : back issues Winter 2003 - Literature Enrichment
	Literature Enrichment By Kaye Keck More than a gallery, more than an institute, the Dromkeen Children’s Literature Collection continues to awaken, inspire, challenge those who visit. It offers opportunities to experience another world, to become enveloped in another time or place - in a world created by others, by authors and illustrators. ‘Oh yes’, you are saying - ‘we visited a few years ago and it was terrific’. Full stop. When things become most familiar it is easy to forget the myriad learning experiences available. I am continually surprised by the number of educators who have not heard of the Dromkeen Collection or who ‘visited once’. Whilst these days I am not in the gallery rooms at Dromkeen as frequently as I once was, watching a group of children sharing an artist’s work continues to pull me back to the essentials. Sitting curled on the floor, often cross legged, hands cupped supporting chins, eyes glued on the works, children are spellbound. No matter what budget, what problem what challenge I’m with at that time, it can pale in significance in that privileged moment when I share in one child’s extra heartbeat, that swallow in their throat, that involuntary shiver. Literature is above all enjoyment - enjoyment in the profoundest kind, even if the works, the stories themselves are sad or painful, tender or chilling. We know that simply for enjoyment alone, an emersion in the visual language of picture books adds immeasurably to children’s lives - in fact to the lives of everyone of us. Picture books are lifelong friends and companions. I can still recall my grandmother being too frail and tired to read but avidly pouring over photographs and books of Canada which I had sent her - in her words, “the pictures help me to feel close to you, though I know you are miles away”. It therefore becomes an added bonus when we realise that exposure to picture books actually enables children to better master their cognitive, verbal and written skills…When we realise that particular illustrative features can mirror grammatical symbols. For instance, illustration may be used to indicate a time sequence; to show that a particular incident; or that some action has been passed over. Illustrations may also encapsulate the meaning of a sentence or paragraph, or brilliantly portray characters or pose questions about our society or assist in cognitive and reasoning skills. Let me share one example. Recently Dromkeen has been exhibiting the early black and white illustrators of Elizabeth Durack’s Piccaninnies. A fascinating adjunct to these works is the colour video produced at Dromkeen of Elizabeth talking about this book’s creation. Certainly the exquisite detailed pen and ink lines are a joy to behold, but more than their beauty, the images have the power to provoke and challenge. Would such images be accepted if created today? Why might Elizabeth have drawn these characters as she has? What of other indigenous images? Why can white Anglo-Saxon Australians illustrating indigenous stories generate particular emotions? Magnificent as many of the works in the Dromkeen Children’s Literature Collection are, they do more than provide simple viewing. There is little doubt that exposure to original artwork and the original manuscript hooks and enriches the viewer. In purchasing artwork for the collection, an important criteria is the availability of supplementary material. Such material may include preliminary sketches, actual dummy books, story boards or manuscripts. Of particular interest is Lilith Norman’s manuscript to The Paddock, illustrated by Robert Roennfeldt. In the early text Lilith had written “ceremonies to make boys into men”. It is fascinating to read Lilith’s accompanying notes to Dromkeen documenting how, following editorial concerns over the word ‘boys’, extensive research revealed two recorded incidents related to girls. As Lilith writes, this was enough to see the published text reading “ceremonies to make young people into men and women”. Delving into the story behind the story is part of Dromkeen’s commitment - whether it be behind the pictures or behind the words. Dromkeen is certainly more than a gallery. As part of the Collection’s commitment to enriching the lives of students and adults through our literature, several significant projects have added to the Dromkeen experience - wandering the Heritage Trail, exploring the fabric illustrations on the storytelling cape, and an in-depth focus on creating the character. Like the bronze sculptures in the gardens, the Heritage Trail offers the opportunity to consider our heritage through the eyes of picture book illustrations. Thirteen large full colour picture boards form a trail through the pine trees past rocky outcrop and down the front slope. Pick up a trail basket and read from each of the books, using the individual laminated guides as starting points for your exploration. Consider events and issues: early settlers, gold rush fever, exploration, indigenous perspectives, multiculturalism and environmental awareness. The Heritage Trail provides a fun way for looking at our culture through literature. Schools and libraries can also have fun creating their own heritage trails as they delve into books: -Have students work in different age groups and select novels that depict our history - from earliest settlers to contemporary -Using picture books select a range of illustrations of significant issues -Have each group create ‘sign posts’ with brief blurb highlighting these points. For pages of ideas using picture books as inspiring starters in history, purchase Australia Through Time - Through our Picture Books, a teacher’s resource available at the Dromkeen Bookshop.Dromkeen travelling exhibitions now offer similar experiences to a wide audience. ‘Backyards, Bush and Beaches’ is now exhibiting at regional galleries after six weeks in Benalla. It will then travel to Latrobe Regional Gallery, Morwell, the University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba Book Week and the Lovatt Art Gallery, Newcastle. The terms 3 and 4 exhibition ‘Creating the Character - Images from Picture Books’ is also set for travel, being scheduled for Bundaberg Arts Centre, Tweed River Regional Art Gallery and Toowoomba Regional Art Gallery early 2005 with hopefully an extended visit in Western Australia, Northern Territory and South Australia. Let’s not become complacent. Look again at the images from our picture books - they really do have the power to inspire and hook readers of all ages. Dromkeen is truly a place of many facets. As English author Pat Hutchins wrote of her visit: I was attempting to describe Dromkeen to a friend. ‘So it’s a museum of children’s books,’ she said. ‘Well yes’, I replied ‘but it’s a bit more than that. They have current exhibitions of original art work as well’. ‘So it’s a museum of children’s books and an art gallery’ she said. ‘Well yes, I replied ‘but it’s a bit more than that. Visiting authors and illustrators are invited there to talk about their work’. ‘So it’s a museum of children’s books and an art gallery and a lecture hall’ she said. ‘Well yes’ I replied ‘but it’s a bit more than that. They do wonderful creative courses for kids’. ‘So it’s a museum of children’s books, and an art gallery, and a lecture hall and a creative workshop’ she said. ‘Well yes’, I replied ‘but it’s still a bit more than that. Anyone who has been fortunate enough to visit Dromkeen will know exactly what ‘a bit more than that’ means. It’s inspirational. In fact I’m considering a new picture book entitled ‘a bit more than that …’ Visit Dromkeen and be entranced but don’t just visit once. In the words of that famous Australia icon the Magic Pudding ‘cut and come again’. Remember to kindle that spark of wonder in yourself! Watch illustrators at work in the grounds, and join the audience of Radio Dromkeen at the 2003 Dromkeen Literary Lunch on Friday, 5 December. Plan a day of professional development drawing on both the exhibition and the bookshop as starting points as a new program. Only as we are excited can we excite the next generation. Dromkeen Children’s Literature Collection 1012 Kilmore Road Riddells Creek Victoria 3431 Telephone: 5426 6799 Fax: 5428 6830 e-mail: dromkeen@scholastic.com.au website: www.scholastic.com.au Kaye Hunter is the Director of the Dromkeen Children's Literature Collection.