Art-N-About

On our first day of summer vacay we took a field trip to an art museum. It wasn't until we arrived for our personal tour by my docent friend at The Kimball Art Museum that I realized it was maybe just a tad ambitious to take a two year old on a guided tour of the permanent collection gallery. On the drive there my six year old also made it clear that this was not his number one field trip venue as he said, "Looking at paintings is not my favorite, it is your favorite, Mom." I couldn't really argue with that, but I also couldn't turn down a personalized free tour directed to young children. I must say I felt quite a bit better as I witnessed her having to pry her own 6 year old off her legs after the first tour and cram him into our friends mini-van so that she could begin our tour. This wasn't my 6 year old and 2 year olds first time in an art museum. That being said we've had mixed experiences. Ranging from an embarrassing display at The Modern where we were essentially kicked out, to a fun filled afternoon during the Bellini exhibit at The Kimball during their Family Festival. Parents, as you know,  it can go either way. Art museums are not the only place that the pendulum swings on behavioral bliss to tantrum turmoil with a toddler in tow. So sometimes we take the plunge and hope for the best. 

We landed on the best side of things this time around. Even as we started with a wardrobe compromise that resulted in an eclectic pairing that would have been less noteworthy had I just allowed Z his initial selection. For some reason I thought perhaps on a cultural outing we could for-go the basketball shorts for one afternoon. So Z then decided that he should get to chose to wear his cowboy hat. Far be it from me to squelch his artistic expression. Besides, it proved prop worthy during his theatrics at the statue out back the Kimball. That is until he began pontificating the art. His sized up assessment was, "Mom, this statue is a woman." 
"Oh, how do you know?" I don't know why I prompted, I knew perfectly well why, I guess I just wanted to know how his critical thinking was coming along!?
"Because it has breasts." Right you are son. His critical thinking is coming along fine. And...now why don't we head inside for the tour. During which, I was pleasantly surprised that my six year old stayed intent with the group and chose a Caravaggio as his favorite piece. We Fritz's love our rebels. 

The Cardsharps. Caravaggio. 1595. The Kimball Art Museum, Permanent Collection.

My two year old made it through the gallery without any of his screeching sounds that we are attempting to remove from his "I'm displeased" repertoire. I don't know when he transitioned from a normal cry to this high pitch ear hell, but I'm praying eradication is possible. He even sat serenely on the ground and doodled on a paper while I listened to a fascinating history of the French painter Elisabeth Louise Vigee Le Brun, the only female artist on exhibit in the permanent collection at The Kimball.

Self-portrait. Elisabeth Louise Vigee Le Brun. 1781

After we exited the gallery we went over to the gift shop to browse and were pleasantly surprised with the hard to find off-line and year-waiting-period at the library "Elephant & Piggie" books by Mo Willems. A pre-school educator friend of mine has children that hoard these books in her classroom. The pictures are silly, and the stories simple enough for my Kindergartner graduate to read by himself. He read through a couple and I let him choose one to bring home. He chose "Happy Pig Day!"

   

Not only did we think the book was fun but the idea of a pig having his own special day resonated as just last Fall, my then five year old declared one morning in October,  "We already had Mothers Day and Fathers Day. Today should be Kids Day!" And so it began. While he was at school I painted a banner (very quickly, please don't judge my talent by this.) And put out Oreo's with sprinkles over-top. Ta-da, Kids Day! 

Our final stop on our art circuit is a must with children. The large sculpture outside The Modern in Fort Worth. It is genius and if I had the funds? I would commission one for a playground in every major city. You enter the center of the sculpture and it creates an echo chamber. My kids happily stomp, run, shout, jump, dance, and laugh in pure joy. 
FYI: If you do choose to play the video of them dancing, then I might suggest turning the sound way down or off. You will miss their dubstep beat, but you will also dodge the amplified version of the two year old screech.

Something about the interior of the statue even transforms adults into a trance of child-like wonder. Instead of turning pretentious crusty looks on these exploring little souls they usually join in clapping, stomping, and jumping. It is a sculpture that is an instant smile maker. As are "friend fries" from In-N-Out to end our Art-N-About field trip.