[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 6] [Extensions of Remarks] [Page 7825] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]WADSWORTH ATHENEUM MUSEUM'S DOCENT PROGRAM CELEBRATES 30 YEARS ______ HON. JOHN B. LARSON of connecticut in the house of representatives Wednesday, April 28, 1999 Mr. LARSON. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor a group of very special volunteers who have served the art community in my district for three decades. On May 1, 1999, the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum in Hartford, CT, will mark the 30th year of its Docent Program. A program that has continued to comprise some of the most dedicated and talented volunteers in Hartford. While an artist cannot paint without brushes, the Wadsworth could not bring the thousands of art treasures in its collection to life without its docents. And while a docent is a volunteer position, the word ``volunteer'' does not fully recognize the vast amount of knowledge that a person must acquire before taking part in this program. Before a docent can share the history behind each painting or sculpture with the public, he or she must first participate in a year- long training session. Having to master approximately 65 hours of education on art history, the museum collection, and tour techniques clearly demonstrates the high level of commitment that these volunteers bring to this position. A visitor to the Wadsworth, which is the oldest public art museum in the United States, becomes a student of art no matter what their age. They rely on the docent to educate them about nineteenth-century American landscapes, to educate them about French and American Impressionist paintings, to educate them about twentieth century masterpieces, and to educate them about its MATRIX program of changing contemporary exhibitions and performances, one of the first of its kind in the country. Most importantly, for some visitors the Wadsworth is the first art museum they have visited, or at least the first art museum in Hartford they have visited. That is what makes the docents so special. They are more than tour guides. They are ambassadors of art. They are ambassadors of Hartford. As a resident of nearby East Hartford, I have made many trips to the Wadsworth as both a student and a father. It remains a place that educates the mind and excites our soul about the amazing world of paint, canvas, sculpture, marble and textiles. But just as a painting is not complete without the perfect frame, no visit to the Wadsworth would be complete without a lesson on the world of art from a docent. It is with great pride that I congratulate the volunteers that have maintained the Docent Program for 30 years at the Wadsworth Atheneum. Thank you for so generously providing us with your time and knowledge. ____________________