Museum of Art Nov. 25, 1997 Contact Heather Brown (541) 346-0942 or John R. Crosiar 346-3135 EUGENE--In conjunction with its current exhibition "Water: The Renewable Metaphor," the University of Oregon Museum of Art has opened a new interactive "Water Discovery Room" for children of all ages and abilities. This self-guided room encourages visitors to discover water by participating in a variety of activities that use all the senses. By seeing, touching, hearing and smelling the essence of water and by using a hands-on water booklet, visitors are able to create their own wetland, draw a watershed and write a poem based on water music. The museum also has created a take-home activities booklet that lists suggested readings and additional projects for families to do at home. "This gallery provides an opportunity for families, children and individuals to interact with concepts of water and water conservation through the exploration of original works of art and interactive exhibits," says Lisa Abia-Smith, director of educational outreach for the museum and curator of the "Water Discovery Room." She says this interactive exhibition appeals to an array of learning styles and abilities because it incorporates different learning techniques based on discipline-based art education and the principles of the late Swiss psychologist Jean Piaget. The discovery room will be open through Jan. 4, 1998, the closing date of the "Water: The Renewable Metaphor" photography exhibition. Accessible to people with disabilities, the UO Museum of Art is open from noon-8 p.m. Wednesday and from noon-5 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. Admission is a $3 suggested donation, but it is free from 5-8 p.m. Wednesday during the weekly MusEvenings! extended viewing hours. To schedule a tour and group activity, call the UO Museum of Art, (541) 346-3027. A taped message about current museum exhibitions and events also is available 24 hours a day by calling GuardLine from a Touch-Tone phone at 485-2000, ext. 5665, or visit the UO Museum of Art's Internet website at <http://uoma.uoregon.edu>. -30- #P-2105/A&E