published: Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Schools visiting 'Journey Stories'

exhibit

Special to the News-Sun

SEBRING - The traveling Smithsonian Institution exhibition, "Journey Stories," is on display at the Highlands Museum of the Arts (MOTA) in Downtown Sebring, behind the library and next to Highlands Little Theatre on the shores of Lake Jackson, until Jan. 19 with free admission for the public from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays.

With the importance of this exhibit to the community and history, middle school children from Highlands County will participate in field trips to the museum starting this week with Sebring Middle School (Monday and Thursday); Hill Gustat Middle School today, Lake Placid Middle School on Dec. 17-18, and Avon Park Middle School on Jan. 15-16. Home-schooled children will visit Jan. 14.

"It's important for school children in Highlands County to experience an exhibit of this magnitude that brings to life the history and struggles our society has faced in their quest for the American dream," said Wally Cox, Highlands County Superintendent of Schools.

"Thank you to MOTA for working diligently to bring this interactive and informative exhibit to our area."

The Florida Humanities Council, in partnership with the Smithsonian Institute, is sponsoring the six-city Florida tour of Journey Stories - an exhibit that uses images, audio and artifacts to illustrate the critical roles that traveling and movement have played in building our diverse American society.

MOTA is in need of museum docents to volunteer their time and assist with the exhibit. A museum docent serves as a guide and educator for the institution they serve, usually on a voluntary basis.

The position is ancient in origin, though the role has evolved through the centuries. Docents will be asked to volunteer in shifts during the 6-week exhibit. For details, call 385-6682.

Highlands MOTA is sponsoring South Florida State College's Museum of Florida Art & Culture (MOFAC)'s Journey Stories companion program, with local stories and artwork by Owen Jolly, running concurrently with MOTA's Journey Stories exhibition.