Albuquerque Journal from Albuquerque, New Mexico • Page 62

(U 111 111! Ei4 Explora! plans activities for kids to celebrate trailblazing sculpture i em Dives on I make a compass. July 25 Children learn to make candles in an activity called "What Light Through Yon Conestoga Breaks." The sculpture, done by August Leimbach, was one of 12 identical pieces donated by the Daughters of the American Revolution to be placed along National Trails from Maryland to California. The sculpture shows a woman, facing west, in midstride on the prairie, carrying an infant and with a young boy at her skirt and a rifle at her side. The Albuquerque sculpture was' installed in McClellan Park on Sept 27, 1928. To make way for a new federal courthouse being erected on the site, the statue was put into storage two years ago.

Brown's restoration is to be completed in time for a Sept 27 celebration at the sculpture's relocation at Fourth and Lomas NW, near its old site. For more information on the schedule of activities call the museum at 842-1537. "Madonna of the Trail" activities WHEN: Thursday through July 31 WHERE: jExplora! Science Center and Children's Museum, south side of Old Town Sheraton, 800 Rio Grande NW HOW MUCH: Most activities are free with museum admission, which is $2 for children ages 2-1 2, $4 for those 1 4 and older; free under 2 activities through July: Wednesday through July 12 "Paint Your Wagon," an activity where kids make their own miniature Conestoga wagons. July 14-31 "Make Your Mark," an activity where youngsters design their own cattle brand. July 11 and 18 Kids learn to if JOURNAL FILE The statue "Madonna of the Trail" minus the pedestal is temporarily located outside the lexplora! science Center and Children's Museum.

The sculpture of the symbolic pioneer woman is the impetus for a dramatization and various children's art and science activities at the museum for the month of july. BY DAVID STEINBERG journal Staff writer Mi adonnaofthe Trail," one of Albuquerque's oldest public art pieces, is in temporary residence at the jExplora! Science Center and Children's Museum. As a result, the museum will host a series of children's activities starting Wednesday in conjunction with the sculpture. One activity will have the "Madonna of the Trail" coming to life in the person of Professor Pat, the museum's education and theater coordinator. She will do one-woman shows in the teaching theater.

The show's original script is based on the Madonna figure as a symbol of the 19th-century Anglo-American pioneer woman. "I am going to dress as much as I can as the statue and have her come to life," said Prof. Pat, whose real name is Pat Decker. "IH have lots of slides showing life on the trail." Her dramatization and science demonstrations related to 19th-century travel will be offered Tuesdays through Fridays at various times. Charlene Brown, an Albuquerque sculptor and art restoration specialist, is conserving the sculpture on the museum's patio.

Brown said she is cleaning and filling holes in the 10-foot-high statue with restoration mortar. Some of the work the public can observe. albuquerque BioPark Classes: Zoo's Critter Dancing, for ages 3-4, 1 0 a.m. Wednesdays through Garden Education Bgilding. $9 per child and parent, per session or $50 for series.

Register by calling 848-7180. Explora Science Center and Children's Museum of Albuquerque, 800 Rio Grande NW. Admission: Ages 2-1 2, Ages 1 3 and up seniors toddlers under 2 free. Information, 842-1537. Acting Camps, with Spirit Players, learn acting, singing, stage, dancing and set design.

Information 286-3690. Bound to be Read: Tuesday: The A- as it 4 fed nil li f. am in no 4 I IP i good community educational purpose to have the restoration work done at a public facility. "We asked jExplora! and they were thrilled. And we all felt they could design programming around it with history, art and science, and that this would be a good thing," Sprague said.

The museum will present other Sunday: Tend Earthworks garden, 12:30 p.m.; Kites, 2 p.m. Wednesday: Silversmithing, 1 p.m. Thursday: Multimedia activities, 1 0 a.m.; Make objects for adobe village, 10:30 a.m.; Marimba music, 1 p.m. Activities free with museum admission unless stated otherwise. Museum admission: Child under 1 2, $1 adult, $2.50 Information, 989-8359.

ta os Taos Children's Library, Summer Reading Program. Zoo to you; Reptile and Ampihbians, grades 1 :3, 2- 3 p.m.; Secrets of Survival, grades 3- 6 2-3 p.m., today. Story Hour, grades 3-5, 2 p.m. Wednesday. Storytime for Toddlers, 1 0:30 a.m.

first and third Thursdays. 402 Caminode'la Placita (behind) Town 1 1 Hall). 737-2588. "We're strengthening the stone by painting on it with a product that soaks into the stone's matrix," Brown said. "And we're thinking about doing laser cleaning, which would be safer than using chemicals that we might have to use." Jane Sprague, coordinator of the city's Public Art Program, said city officials thought it might serve a Story Queen, storytelling, 7 p.m.

Thursday: Kids Summer Series: X-ray and bones fun with Dona Sinkevus, 6300 San Mateo NE. 828-3500. Kiddyline, 843-6060 K-l-D-S, listings of special events, services, attractions for kids in New Mexico. Pueblo House Children's Museum, 2401 12th NW. Hands-on materials such as tapes, drums, tools, teach children about the history of the Pueblos.

Call 843- 7270 for information. santa fe Santa Fe Children's Museum, 1 050 Old Pecos Trail. Today: Preschool Prime Time, 9 a.m.; Sand activities, 10:30 a.m.; Drumming workshop and performance, 1 p.m. Saturday: Pond -activities, 1.0i30vr a.m.; Wood sculptures, 1 p.m..