Release Date: July 31, 2006

National Gallery of Art Launches Audio Tour of "Henri Rousseau: Jungles in Paris" Exhibition for Young Visitors

Washington, DC—The National Gallery of Art is introducing a new family audio tour of the Henri Rousseau: Jungles in Paris exhibition designed especially for young visitors ages seven through twelve. Using exciting dramatization, music, and sound effects, Children's Audio Tour: Henri Rousseau: Jungles in Paris, written and produced by Acoustiguide, gives listeners the opportunity to enter the world of Henri Rousseau and take a journey through his imaginary jungles, forests, and gardens. The informative yet educational audio tour helps children explore the paintings of this intriguing, self-taught French artist, provides historical information, and encourages close observation.

The new audio program includes ten stops: an introduction, eight paintings, and the taxidermy diorama from the Natural History Museum in Paris. Each stop is identified with a number in the center of a picture of an animal's paw. Young visitors can hear commentary on the following paintings: Tiger in a Tropical Storm (Surprised!) (1891), Carnival Evening (1886), The Customs Post (1890), Liberty Inviting the Artists to Take Part in the 22nd Exhibition of the Societé des Artistes Indépendants (1905–1906), The Football Players (1908), Diorama – Rousseau's Inspirations; The Flamingos (1907), The Waterfall (1910), and Tropical Forest with Monkeys (1910).

Children's Audio Tour: Henri Rousseau: Jungles in Paris is offered on Acoustiguide's new state-of-the-art exSite Premium™ handset and is available for rental for $3 at the audio tour desk located at the entrance to the show on the East Building Mezzanine. The tour takes approximately 30 minutes. The exhibition, Henri Rousseau: Jungles in Paris, is on view in the East Building through October 15.

General Information

The National Gallery of Art and its Sculpture Garden are at all times free to the public. They are located on the National Mall between 3rd and 9th Streets at Constitution Avenue NW, and are open Monday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. The Gallery is closed on December 25 and January 1. For information call (202) 737-4215 or the Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) at (202) 842-6176, or visit the Gallery's Web site at www.nga.gov.

Visitors will be asked to present all carried items for inspection upon entering the East and West Buildings. Checkrooms are free of charge and located at each entrance. Luggage and other oversized bags must be presented at the 4th Street entrances to the East or West Building to permit x-ray screening and must be deposited in the checkrooms at those entrances. For the safety of visitors and the works of art, nothing may be carried into the Gallery on a visitor's back. Any bag or other items that cannot be carried reasonably and safely in some other manner must be left in the checkrooms. Items larger than 17 x 26 inches cannot be accepted by the Gallery or its checkrooms.

For additional press information please call or send inquiries to:

Press Office
National Gallery of Art
2000B South Club Drive
Landover, MD 20785
phone: (202) 842-6353 e-mail: pressinfo@nga.gov

Deborah Ziska
Chief of Press and Public Information
(202) 842-6353
ds-ziska@nga.gov

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