This is the first featured exhibition for MoMA’s School and Teacher Programs. The title is a reference to Through the Enchanted Gate (1952), a television program created by Victor D’Amico, the first director of what was then called The Museum of Modern Art’s “Educational Project” (founded 1937). The television program was conceived to further D’Amico’s interest in “the creation of both the space and opportunity for children to create art.” This presentation highlights our varied program offerings and our alignment with D’Amico’s vision and MoMA’s mission “to help people enjoy, understand, and use the visual arts of our time” (Alfred H. Barr, Jr.).
Through a range of visual content, including photographs, text, digital media, and lesson and activity samples, we hope to elucidate our pedagogy techniques and processes. Alfred H. Barr, Jr., MoMA’s founding director, conceived of the Museum as “a laboratory in whose experiments the public is invited to participate.” In addition to the presentation of visual materials, there are opportunities for visitors to interact directly with exhibition content.