III The Spaces and Materialities

The Education Department at MOMA was directed by the artist and art educator Victor D'Amico. D'Amico traveled through the United States to know art education programs in schools, and has worked previously in settlement houses in New York. D'Amico also passed time at the Black Mountain College. The Children's Art Carnival and Through the Enchanted Gate were two of the most important and experimental programs he created at MOMA. Both programs started from the conviction that children were naturally creative and should be left free from adult interference to develop their creativity.

James Sully was an English psychologist of the Child Study Movement. This book results from articles and essays published before 1895 in magazines. Sully starts to recognize his debt to some scholars who put the study of the child on the agenda of psycho-education, like William Preyer. He also thanks General Pitt Rivers and H. Balfour of the Museum of Oxford for making possible "studying the drawings of savages" and to the art educator Ebenezer Cooke for his help on children's modes of drawing.

Edward Wiebé was a German Music teacher that went to the United States to teach at Mount Holyoke Female Seminary. Wiebé was one of the introducers of Friedrich Froebel's kindergarten theories in the United States. This book was published by Milton Bradley which was a company that produced school material and games. The book was a practical guide through Froebel's Gifts and Occupations.The book was reprinted several times and the 1910 edition Part I comprises a text on the kindergarten of To-day, by Jenny Merrill.

Play Orbit was an exhibition curated by Jasia Reichardt first shown at the Royal National Eisteddfod of Wales in Flint from 4 to 9 August 1969 and then at Nash House, London, home of the ICA, from 28 November 1969 to 15 February 1970.

Footage from the exhibition is available online.