Displaying kid's art

(via Pinterest) 

How do you display your child's art? We have so many pieces it's hard to display them all, so at home we opted for multiple frames that we change out every so often. At work I have a large cork board where I hang art and change weekly. I also hang some pieces from a clothing line pinned up with clothes pins.

With so many different and creative ways to display your child's art there seems to be a method for everyone. Here are a few of my favorites, perhaps if we ever move we could steal a few of these ideas!

What is a Curator?

September 16th is #AskACurator Day where you can ask a curator from museums throughout the world any question you like! To see if your favorite museum is on the list look here.

Before you get to asking questions, let's review just what a curator is. Simply put, an art museum curator is someone who is a specialist in their field of art. They select what pieces of art will be displayed in the museum and where the pieces will go.

Here's a short video with the curator for the Oakland Museum of California - one of my favorite museums!

Mind Blowing Art to Kick Off Your Weekend

I don't often use the phrase "mind blowing," mainly because I think it's overused in online articles, but when I saw these 3D printed sculptures that use strobe lights to simulate animation, my mind was a little bit blown.

One thing I love about looking at art is that because it's visual, you can almost always have an immediate "ahhh" or "ooh" moment, an instant connection or emotional experience. Looking at these sculptures is one of those "ooh" moments for me, not only are these visually stunning, but they make you appreciate the artist's attention to detail, their cleverness, and their ability to mesmerize you.

So here's what you do...

WATCH
 Watch this video of the sculpture in action and tell me you don't feel something right away! Watch it with your kids (who will want to watch again and again).

ASK
Ask them what they think about the work.
Was it hard to make?
How do you think they did that?
Do these exist in real life or are they just computer animations?

READ
Now read the caption under the video to find out how they did it and then watch it again!

Matisse: King of Color

We just read this great children's book called, Matisse the King of Color by Laurence Anholt. While you may already be familiar with Matisse, his famous cut outs, his beautiful, playful paintings, his outrageous use of color, what you may not know is that he also had a very big heart....


 In 1948 he commissioned and designed a chapel for his friend and former nurse, Sister Jacques-Marie, whose convent was too poor to have a chapel. At first the sisters were appalled by the work he was doing, the chapel was in no way traditional, but as time went on his vision and generosity seems to have won them over. Today you can visit this Chapelle du Rosaire du Vence in France.


For more on the chapel - check out this video by the BBC to get a glimpse into this beautiful work of art and when you're finished, scroll down for a lesson plan!

Now to the fun part, after watching this video and/or reading the book with your child you can get to work on some cool art projects. Today I have two suggested activities for you: Matisse stained glass and Matisse wall drawings.

Museum Highlight: Allen Museum at Oberlin

Recently I've been working on a list of family programs at art museums throughout the country (which will be out next month!). During my search, I came across the Allen Memorial Art Museum in Oberlin, Ohio. I loved their family program so much, I had to share it with you...

Thought for the day...

Русский: Фестиваль Yota Space 2010 - MSA Visuals

“The old rules of not touching a work of art or of reverentially paying homage to each picture in a state of quiet awe are now gone….” 
-  Ossian Ward in his latest book Ways of Looking: How to experience Contemporary Art. 

What do you think? Do you agree or disagree? Do you think the experience of visiting a museum will be different for your children as it was for you as a kid?

I've been thinking quite a bit lately about what art museums are going to look like in the future. Will you be able to put on a VR headset and virtually step in to the painting? Could haptic gloves allow us to feel the art? All of these thoughts continually go back to technology's influence on the future of how we experience art. But before we get there with technology, contemporary artists are encouraging us to move beyond the standard "stand and stare" that we so often do when visiting a museum, and to get involved with the piece itself.

Check out these hands on exhibits and tell me what you think, is this just a trend or the wave of the future?

What Artists Inspire You: Early American Artists

American Progress John Gast 1872

Today, I'm teaming up with Patience Brewster in celebration of August's Artist Appreciation Month. After much consideration, I realized I cannot write one, short post on this topic because there have been so many artists that have inspired me throughout my life, whether personal or professional. And so, if you can bear with me, I've decided to break it up into segments. Starting with 19th century early American art.  (Don't worry, I promise it will be interesting!)

 

When I was in graduate school I had a long commute from Berkeley to Sacramento twice a week for classes. I'd get up very early, pour a large cup of coffee, and hit the road. As I drove the sun would be rising over the hills and the tips of the tall grasses that lined the highway would start to glow. This strip of highway runs through a few towns, but mostly you're driving through hills with cattle grazing and seemingly endless farmland.

I remember thinking one day as I drove, "this is manifest destiny*." The same idea that drove so many people westward, inspired by art like John Gast's American Progress. There was something so serene, so inspiring about the landscape that I felt like I was driving into a painting. Since then whenever I drive that strip of highway, I feel inspired, perhaps the same way these early American artists were, at the prospect of something new and exciting.

Now I want you to think, have you ever driven/walked/biked through a painting? Have you ever stood in one point and looked out at nature thinking, maybe, just maybe, a hundred to two hundred years prior an artist sat there with his easel and paints, just as inspired by the landscape as you, and created a masterpiece? 

Here are a few pieces that always make me ask that last question...

Yosemite Valley Albert Bierstadt c.1868

Niagra Falls Frederic Edwin Church 1857

Sierra Nevada Albert Bierstadt c.1871

*Please note that I do not support the actual concept of "manifest destiny." Nor do I support the removal of native peoples from their land that resulted from this movement. 

PS

This is not a sponsored piece. However if you'd like to learn more about Patience, check her delightful Christmas ornaments. 

Kids + Music + Photography = Amazing

This Picture: Music + Photography from Carnegie Museum of Art on Vimeo.

These students paired original musical compositions with photography from the Carnegie Museum of Art and I am blown away by how amazing they are! Check out the video, it's truly inspirational!

If you want, you should try creating your own composition paired with a work of art. Listen to the Ms. Dorris as she talks about how her students composed their pieces and consider these aspects as you and your child compose a piece of your own.

Tell me a story - story telling through art

The Widow, Botero 1997

The Getty Museum has some great resources for teachers. Here is one of their ideas- have your kids make up a story about the famous image above. You can use any image of your choice, I chose this Botero because  my kids love his style of characters.

Here are some questions to get your child started

:Where is this story taking place?
:Who is the story about?
:What is the name of the cat?

Here are some story prompts

:Ernesto always wanted to play with the kitty, but today Mama said no. They were going to the...
:Sara quietly sat on the floor next to her Mama, she was thinking about...
:Max spotted something shiny on top of the table, he moved a little closer to look at it, and then...
:Molly was a plump and fuzzy cat who loved her family very much. On Saturdays Molly would always...

image: http://rebrooksblog.com/tag/botero/

Gardner Museum Heist Update

I can't believe I completely forgot to add this podcast on the Gardner Museum heist to my post yesterday! I'm a big fan of Stuff You Missed In History Class, for reasons you can probably guess (history nerd).

Unsolved Mysteries of the Art World - for kids!

In the mood for a little mystery? Want to try and solve the greatest art heist in American history? Let's talk about the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum Heist of 1990. This is an entertaining story for any kid over the age of 6 and there's even an interactive piece to go along with it!
Note: There are a few details that might cause anyone under the age of 6 a bit of anxiety- like people dressing up as police officers and then stealing art.

Check it out:

In the early morning hours of March 18, 1990, a pair of thieves disguised as Boston police officers entered the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum and roamed the Museum’s galleries, stealing thirteen works of art.

They gained entry into the Museum by posing as Boston police officers and stating that they were responding to a call. The guard on duty broke protocol and allowed them entry through the Museum’s security door...

Introducing Young Children to Art

Interested in giving your little one an early start at art appreciation? Well you've come to the right place! You don't have to be an expert, a teacher or even an art connoisseur to introduce your child to the world of art. Heck you don't even have to go to a museum if you don't want to (although I really think you should sometime!)

Here are a few easy ways for you and your wee one to enjoy art together...