Autumn colors, however, signify something else. Think of the energy you need to get back into your schedule, preparing for school and new experiences, and often new settings.

With this in mind, we at Odyssey Art wish you a great autumn filled with wonderful colors. Do something different and get out of your pattern! It will take some energy to do so, but the creativity which will result will make you more aware of the infinite possibilities and choices of life experiences.

In the '70s those programs started to be cut from ever-decreasing budgets, and in the '80s they were gone. Only now, in the late '90s, is art education really recognized as being important. Recently the New York Times ran an editorial that proclaimed that because of "Art Week" at one of the public schools in New York City, it became the kind of place where hopes began to be fulfilled.

A recent article in House and Garden was titled "Why Bother With Art?" and praised the idea of art for the sake of art. What's the point? As Elliot Eisner in Art Education stated - "We do the arts no service when we try to make their case by touting their contributions to other fields." Think about it . . . The study of art is scientific in that it is experimental (and fosters creative thinking as well); it is mathematical in its dealing with mass and weight; it is history in its corrrelation to culture; it is literature in illustrating some of the great works of mankind; and it promotes development of motor skills and communication skills, and I could go on and on . . .

The Odyssey Art program incorporates all of the above, and we believe that our focus this year on the art of the Renaissance is relevant to the current renaissance in art education.

The Renaissance gave birth to many significant artists, and in the coming year in the childrens' classes at Odyssey Art Centers we will focus on Leonardo, Michaelangelo and Rembrandt for their notable contributions to the Renaissance period and to the art world.

Leonardo da Vinci
. . . . Leonardo da Vinci was a man of unique gifts who was skilled in anatomy, botany, sculpture, architecture, music, optics, and much more. What distinguished Leonardo's paintings was his ability to make everything look solid and three-dimensional.
. . . . He also made detailed studies of nature and the human body. Amazingly, some of his sketches resembled tanks, airplanes, helicopters and many more machines that were invented up to 400 years after his death.

Michelangelo
Michelangelo Buonarotti has been called the greatest artist of his time, mastering line, design, perspective, and anatomy. Michelangelo was a master in marble, and his sculpture of David ushered in the period known as the High Renaissance, in which art moved far beyond the noblest realms of the spirit.
. . . . One of Michelangelo's greatest accomplishments is the Sistine Chapel. He was just 33 when he began the ceiling, working from a scaffold high above the floor. After 4 years, the ceiling was done, its 5800 square feet of surface peopled by a race of giants -- more than 300 figures, although the original plan called for only 12.

Rembrandt
Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn was one of the greatest draftsmen in the history of art. His production of drawings was prolific, and about 1400 of his drawings survive. Rembrandt's greatest gift as an etcher lay in preserving a sense of spontaneity while scrupulously attending to close detail. He used lights and darks in his paintings to suggest space. His expression of human character showed his concern for true expression of the human spirit.

Rainforest Cafe is an environmentally conscious and very creative setting to have a meal. You can experience the sights and sounds of the jungle through a thunderstorm and live birds. Your creative child, or the creative child in you, will have a blast! The Rainforest Cafe is located in the new Palisades Mall in New York, or call for a location near you! (800) 747-4960.

Who's on the QE2? Dorothy Calio - October 15-21 1998 Maritza McCaskill - October 21-November 10 1998 Clare Verre-Ciancio - November 10-21 1998 Annie Coan - November 21-26 1998 Linda Perlmutter - December 20 1998 - January 5 1999 Who's on the Royal Viking Sun? Marilyn Rees - October 21 - December 3 1998 Katherine Barnwell - December 19 1998 - January 8 1999 Who's at Canyon Ranch? Linda Perlmutter - October 9-11 1998 Joanne Ponzo - November 13-15 1998 Carole Hickey - December 4-6 1998

The Odyssey Art at Sea tranings are continuing. We are now booking Odyssey Art at Sea instructors for the 1999 season. Our program has been very well received, and we're looking forward to putting more Odyssey Art instructors on board. If you or someone you know is interested, please call 914-631-7148 or write Odyssey Art Centers, Box 512, Tarrytown, NY 10591.

When Jackson was six, he began taking classes with Linda. After the first class, he jumped in the car and said he wanted to take art with Linda forever. We have been closing the distance between Chappaqua and Phillipse Manor ever since - he'll be her student again this fall in the sixth year.

Jackson particularly enjoys the international and historic perspective Linda offers in her class. Though he really likes modern artists, the classes on ancient Greece were probably his favorite. He also loves the variety of materials he gets to experiment with, like sumi brushes, sculptural paint, and that horrible green stuff that flakes off in your hands and ends up all over everytyhing, but makes a great sculpture. This past spring he made two fantastic pieces using only his hands for tools. One was a baby bottle and the other was a little Jeep. We had so much to carry after that art show that even though there were two of us I had to set something down to unlock the car!

Unfortunately, I set the green sculptures on top of the car and forgot about them. About a week later, Jackson found the botttle wedged under my luggage rack, and he figured out that the Jeep had taken off. We both were very calm about it. I think we expect there will be more to come.

I have enjoyed your classes and have not done any painting since I was in school . . . It has encouraged me to look into art around the ship. . . Perhaps a future hobby may deveop. -- P.T.

The leader of the art class is energized and enthusiastic. Classes went extremely well - regardless of the experience of each participant. . . The Odyssey Art at Sea is great. -- O.D.

If Andrea is an example of Odyssey Art at Sea classes, Cunard should wholeheartedly turn over their art classes to this company." -- anonymous

Also at the Metropolitan Museum of Art is Heroic Armor of the Italian Renaissance: Filipo Negroli and his Contemporaries. Featuring more than 60 works from international collections, this is the first exhibit of the clasically inspired Renaissance parade armors by Filipo Negroli, the most famous Italian armorer of the 16th century. You can view this exhibit from October 8 1998 to January 17 1999.

The Annenberg Collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist Masterpieces, including pieces from Monet, Renoir, Van Gogh and Picasso, returns to public view at the Metropolitan Museum of Art through November 17, 1998.

Many of the children in the Odyssey Art program made their own chess sets in the spring. To learn how to play chess, for a very young child, try the CD ROM "Chess Mates" ($29.95). For an older child, try "Maurice Ashley Teaches Chess" ($29.95).

H.G. Caspari has published two new Hanukkah cards and three new Seasons Greetings cards by Linda Perlmutter for the 1998 season. Also, a new box of three floral notecards has been published.

to Binney & Smith for the Model Magic and structural paints for our Odyssey Art at Sea programs on board QE2, Royal Viking Sun and Vistafjord; Linda Mattera and Magi Wilson for doing the mailings for our newsletter; and Seafarer Canvas Co. for some wonderful fabrics for our Odyssey Art at Sea program.