2 for 1 Holiday Special at OC Museum of Art

This holiday season, bring your family and friends to the museum and receive 2-for-1 admission for all through December 31, 2010.
Holiday hours:

Wed–Sun, 11–5 pm
Thurs 11–8 pm
Closing 3 pm on
Christmas & New Year's Eve
Closed Christmas and New Year's Day

Thank You OC Register

For all of you who did not catch it, The Orange County Register published my story on The New Children's Museum of San Diego.  You can catch it here!  If you are in the San Diego area, this museum is a great experience for you and your children.
Click Here to view article

Art at the Ducks Game

I recently went to my first Anaheim Ducks game at the Honda Center.  I sat astounded surrounded by a virtual light show of magnificent sight, sound, fashion choices, and flying balloon sculpture. I understood why people pay $40 a ticket.  When the light show and music stop all you see is, hockey.Sporting venues know the value of a great lighting artist. They are conductors of mood and feeling.  It expands the original experience.  I  wondered if people were really present to what they were experiencing.   That this form of illustration art featuring music and light was controlling their actions, telling them when to cheer, when to settle down. It was doing what all great art does. Create an emotional response.
  I was fascinated by  the remote controlled  aerial lamb sculpture circling the stadium dropping phamplets. They wanted to experience this grand piece of art.  People wanted it to come near them, fly over them. They were happy when it flew directly over them and they could catch what it was dropping, and disappointed when it wouldn't fly their way.  Even the girls baring their mid-driffs running out to scoop up ice were artistically inspired. No one would be paying attention if they were dressed in turtlenecks and big thick parkas.
   People in Sunny Southern California are filling the Honda Center not just to watch a bunch of guys play hockey.  They are going for an experience enhanced by light,  music,fashion design, and sculptures floating through the air.

Art stays forever....

I just came back from a CPR class and was astounded how life-saving maneuvers changed over the years.  For example, you lean over a chair or a table in order to cure self choking.  I remember when it was put your fist and hand below the breastbone and push!  It made me think of how much information changes over the years. Art, however, stays consistent.  Art tells stories.  Our personal stories, illustrated from our saved children's artwork through the years, our cultural stories which helps us identify our heritage, and most important our civilizations stories.
 Its important not only to preserve beautiful artwork,  but also terrifying art displayed at museums  commemorating events such as the holocaust, or the Spanish inquisition.  Art is knowledge, pure and simple.  It records events  we would soon forget.  It doesn't change with time or "discovery".  It is the purest of sciences. Why? Because it tells the truth of the artists views, emotions, or events as they see them.  Just like we embrace our children's art as precious. We as a society must embrace art that way also.

Art for Everyone?

I'm the chairperson for the PTA art contest at my son's school. In addition to giving them award "certificates"  I'm trying to solicit our local arts venues for donations for our music students.  Our local arts festivals have been more then generous with donations for passes and whatever is needed to support the fine arts for our young artists.  Music on the other hand has been an adventure.  I called our local concert hall and was greeted with a elitist attitude I've seen satirized in regards to the arts.  It begged the age old question. How do we make the arts for everyone instead of associated as an elitist pursuit for a privileged few?  On a more practical level, it appears to me this elitist attitude bites the hand that feeds them.  Young artists are the future money-makers for their current jobs. It seems smart that art venues would want to encourage the arts in public schools and take a keen interest in what is happening to the arts in the public schools.   A six year old in my Reflections program submitted original music, hand written (with the notes) on plain paper.  I was astounded.  Lets encourage him by recognizing his efforts on a community level.  Will he be one of the lost ones in the forest of academia getting math, science, language, and eventually business, marketing...etc emphasized as the way to "success" and wonder why he feels unfufilled as an adult.  How many stories have I read of artists feeling lost in their lives, then going back in their minds to realize that what they really loved, their passion, was art.  Some catch it in time and can make a living doing what they love, others are lost forever, merely existing, trying to survive at whatever job they can.  I feel like Alice in Wonderland when it comes to watching our local arts community.  I read an article interviewing the new "chair" at a local university who was pondering the question of how to reach the community.  Hello...get involved with your local elementary schools.  Your feeder schools(the local ones who will fill your program) who don't have any money for the arts.  Develop programs to go OUT into the elementary school located across the street.   Universities, the arts venues, symphonies, galleries, museums, REACH OUT!! Get involved in your public schools!!

International Holidays Family Festival, Free! December 5

It's Free!
INTERNATIONAL HOLIDAYS FAMILY FESTIVAL
12 PM - 3:30PM
On the first Sunday of every month, the Bowers invites you to bring your family to the museum for a free afternoon of cultural fun! This month`s spotlight shines on the music, dance, arts, and food of the world.
TARGET FREE FIRST SUNDAY
Sunday, December 5, 2010 (10AM - 4 PM)
The Bowers Museum offers free admission to the museum on the first Sunday of every month.
Sponsored by the Target Corporation.

History Makes Sense at the Getty

Recently my daughter, a sophomore in high school, asked me a question regarding her current studies of ancient Greek and Roman civilizations. I got my “wise fool” (the literal meaning of “sophomore”) in the car and drove to the Getty Museum in Malibu.

Upon arrival, she could instantly see why these two cultures were important. Viewing the Roman Villa which houses the Getty’s opulent Greek and Roman antiquities, her understanding of the ancient Roman philosopher Cicero crystallized when he said, "The enemy is within the gates; it is with our own luxury, our own folly, our own criminality that we have to contend." Rome, the strongest world power in its time imploded. Third world gangs knocked it over easily ushering in the Dark Ages.

The Getty collection adds insight into human nature as well as history. The museum's vast array of sculpture depicting ancient Greek gods shows how polytheism profoundly influenced the Greek philosophers. Greeks made Gods out of every emotion, passion, and natural element and surrendered their lives to them. Individual’s lives were directed by the god’s perceived favor or disfavor. This personal chaos caused the philosopher Aristotle to backlash by reasoning, "Happiness depends upon ourselves."

These treasures not only make history come alive, they help us understand ourselves. Socrates said, "An unexamined life is not worth living." Visiting the Getty gives time, space and beautiful surroundings to pause and examine life. Realizing we are part of a continuum of history and not an island unto ourselves can readjust our motives, thoughts, goals, and understanding of our world.

This knowledge is in our own back yard and can help connect the dots visually between ancient history, ancient thinking, and our present time. We can easily help our children connect those dots by visiting the Getty in Malibu, and hopefully help our children become more “wise” then “fool”.

Halloween Alternative at the Getty in Los Angeles

For those of you looking for an alternative to scary Halloween activities, the Getty is offering a "Family Art Stop" this weekend.  A gallery teacher greets and leads you to a family friendly art piece in the museum.  After you are led to a studio experience which focuses on the the art work just viewed. My family did this last summer. It is a fun, educational, and interesting experience. Sign up at the Museum Information Desk beginning at 1:30 p.m. for the 2:00 p.m. program and at 2:00 p.m. for the 2:30 p.m. program on the day you'd like to participate. The program is geared for families with children ages 5 and up. click here for more information. The museum is free, however parking is $15.00. Happy Artsy Halloween!

Stories in the Afternoon: Autumn Colors at the Norton Simon Museum

At the Norton Simon Museum in Pasadena, get ready for changing leaves and crisp breezes as you listen to stories about the harvest season and create a fall foliage wreath in front of Georges Lacombe’s Autumn: Chestnut Gatherers, 1894. Sunday October 31, 2-3pm Admission for Adults is $8.00, free for under 18.
click here for more info

Free Day at the Huntington Library

Once a month the Huntington Library is Free!!  Click Here for Info  If you haven't been to this museum it is a must.  Among the notable artworks are those by John Constable, an 18th century English painter who is considered one of the greatest landscape painters of all time.

Celebrate your Inner Light at the San Diego Museum of Art

Enjoy cultural performances, an outdoor procession, lamp lighting, henna, varied cuisines of the Indian subcontinent and an array of vendors selling Indian goods at the third annual community Diwali Festival. The Museum’s galleries will be open late for visitors who wish to see an important collection of Indian miniature paintings and events will be held throughout the park in celebration of India’s Diwali holiday, which highlights the victory of good over evil.  click here for more info
$10 Individual, $15 Family

Breathtaking Landscapes at the Irvine Museum

 Some of the most breathtaking landscapes and seascapes EVER are at the Irvine Museum. Hurry because they leave October 23!! You can click here, click on "go to exhibit press release" to see a sampling of these incredible paintings.  This is a wonderful oppurtunity to see early California art for those of you with children who are studying California history.
Every Thursday at 11:15am, The Irvine Museum has a docent available to present an informative tour of the current exhibition. The tour is free and lasts about 20-30 minutes. No reservations required. Have fun and enjoy being inspired!!

Treasure Hunt at the Mingei! Sunday, October 31

For those of you who want to skip the usual Halloween festivites, the Mingei Museum in San Diego has a wonderful alternative.  On the last Sunday of each month, from noon to 4 pm, Mingei International Museum has the Discover Mingei Treasure Hunt.

Children and families can explore  colorful exhibitions of folk art, craft and design, and win a prize for completing the Treasure Hunt!
Special Community Sunday admission, from noon to 4 pm: $5/family, which is a great deal for a day of family fun.

See Artists in Action

Monday, October 11-Friday the 15th.  Plein Air Artists will be in and around Laguna Beach competing in the Laguna Beach Museums annual Plein Air Invitational.  This is a wonderful way for  kids to see actual artists at work, outside, and painting fine art in it's purist form. click here for more info  I highly recommend this experience for anyone who has children who love to paint.

Free Halloween Art Activities, October 10, Orange County Museum of Art

This Sunday October 10, Orange County Museum of Art is having a Goulfest!  Activities start at 11:00 am until 4:00pm. click here to see the schedule of events and times.  Families are invited to arrive in costume for this event so get your goul on and have fun!! This event is free!

If the School can't go to the Museum, Bring the Museum to the School!

Museums offer one , if not the best form of arts education and arts history education we have today.  We have a school system that systemically eliminates arts education programs, countered by a thriving museum community housing some of the greatest art works in the world.  Yet the two exist on different planes.  This discrepancy is ridiculous.  The schools don't have the funds to bring school children to museums, which leaves only one other option. The museums must come to the schools.  I am not suggesting that Getty bring their $75million dollar Irises by Van Gogh to the public schools.  But why not a poster while sending out art educators and curators from the museums to talk and educate the children.
My daughter is currently studying Greek and Roman philosophy in her history class.  There is absolutely no understanding this topic unless the art of that time is introduced also.  Unless the children can see the grandeur and understand these amazing cultures by their art and architecture, they will never care, understand or appreciate them. 
The museums must therefore make better efforts to reach out to the schools.  The teachers need to coordinate their curriculum with the museums and the museums need to make an effort to help these teachers bring their subject matter to life through their collections.  Only then can our students have a "well rounded education". 

Resnick Pavillion opens! Go to LACMA Oct 2! Free Admission

The weekend of Oct. 2 and 3rd,  the Resnick Pavilion at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art will open to the public. The single-story, 45,000 square foot structure is the largest purpose-built, naturally lit, open-plan museum space in the world. The collection features 18th century art including Peter Paul Rubens Click here for free tickets.
While you are there, check out the newly installed Matisse recently bequeathed by Frances Brody.  It is a magnificent work  located in the Ahmansen building.
The museum has a great sculpture garden for kids to run around. Make sure you visit the welcome center to pick up a family guide to enrich your children's experience. LACMA is one of my favorite museums. It contains examples of at least one significant western artist from the 19th century to present day. This is a great museum for teaching art history from that period to present day.

Go to The Getty on Saturday!

A reminder this coming Saturday, September 25, is Museum Day.  Visit your local participating museums for free. Just click museum day to get your entry ticket for two and find participating museums. My suggestion. Go to the Getty Center in Los Angeles! After 5:00pm, parking will be free and the crowds will be gone.  Go to the West Building to see an impressive array of impressionists painting including Van Gogh's, Irises (see what $75 million dollars looks like!)  I suggest getting the audio tour. Enjoy!

What's the Difference!!

Whats the difference between fine art and contemporary art?  To an adult it's visually obvious.  But to a child knowing the difference is a little confusing.  After all, when a child views something they can create (and indeed their are children selling  art for thousands of dollars) heralded as fine art, what makes art valuable?  To a younger child viewing contemporary art is an experience, and that experience is the art's inherent value.  Bright colors, broad brush strokes, shapes, all these elements combined create sensations in a child's mind that touches them emotionally, mentally, and hopefully, spiritually.  To an older child, the experience is the same, however, some historic background on the individual artist makes the experience richer.  For example,
to see Pablo Picasso's works go from this:

To this:



is in itself intriguing!!  What made him change his style from realism to a style called "cubism"?  The answers are as interesting as the works themselves!
Art takes you on a journey that is emotional, psychological, and (hopefully) spiritual.  That is the value of Art!

5 Steps for a Great Museum Experience with Your Child

 We know the importance of Arts Education for children. Now  how do you make a museum fun and interesting for your child?  Here are five steps for a great time with your children.

1.  Focus on one painting during your visit and open a discussion  .  You can choose a painting  while your walking through the musuem or most museums have web sites featuring their permanent or temporary exhibitions. Before your visit, pick one that you deem interesting or important. For children 5 and under focus on shapes, colors, and the subject matter in the art. Children 5 -10, focus on brush strokes, medium(that's the material the artist used, and the artist him or herself. Children 10- 18, focus on historical background of painting, artist, and why the work and/or artist is important in history.

2. Make sure museum has open spaces for play.   Most museums have open inside or outside space where a child can unwind. Take frequent play stops between art viewing.

3. Make sure restaurants, a snack bar, or a sack lunch from home is allowed and/or available.  Hungry and thirsty children have difficulty staying focused. Bring water to drink.

4. Visit museum shops and buy!  Lets be honest, one of the greatest and most memorable part of going to an amusement park or event is buying a trinket.  Reinforce a positive memory in your child by buying a trinket at the museum store.  Most museums have trinkets ranging from a couple dollars on up. Let them know a museum holds special treasures they can own.

5. Have fun and be inspired yourself. Children pick up on their parents emotions.  If you are inspired, excited, intrigued, and having fun.  They will too.

San Diego's New Children's Museum a Delight for Adults too!

It's a joy visiting a museum and find inspiration. Especially in a museum focused on children. A children's museum inherently contains rowdy kid's playful energy along with tired, hungry toddlers needing naps and attention. A visit can be distracting as well as exhausting.  Yet, this museum offers a bonus transcending distraction .  It features artists who stimulate and interest the adult mind as well as a child's.

While your kids are running around enjoying the children's venues, take a moment, read the displays about the artists.  It will add depth and breadth to an adult's experience.  The  museum's web site has a wonderful link giving info on each  artist while explaining their work in detail. (click artists)

 My favorite installation is by featured artist Mungo Thomson titled B/W. You hear his artwork as you enter the museum. You are greeted by the sound of chirping birds. Once inside, you hear whale song. But strangely, what you are really hearing is the opposite of what you thought. One track of b/w speeds up vinyl recordings of humpback whale song 16x until they resemble birdsong; the other track slows down birdsong recordings on vinyl 16x until they resemble whale song. It's an transcendent experience. Your mind grapples with reality hearing opposite of what you know to be true. This created perception distortion is the perfect brain expander enabling one to erase preconceived ideas as you enter the museum and experience other artists and venues.click the "talk back" box

The museum itself is a wonder.  Towering three stories, spacious, and utilizing the newest green technology, the building itself  is breathtaking. The museum has wonderful kid friendly activities including painting and clay venues, places to run, jump,as well as hands on creativity, and a wonderfully decorated rock climbing wall. There are special toddler spaces and bubble making. A DJ was there on Sunday adding a fun party atmosphere to the entire museum. It is enormous, yet not overwhelming. It can be explored in two hours so for those with toddlers and pre-schoolers on nap schedules, a wonderful morning or afternoon outing.

 The museum offers a "teen" section.  An area where teens can have privacy in an exclusive section of the museum including a sign stating "only 11 and over allowed".

 Target stores makes this museum free every second Sunday of the month.  Otherwise, it's $10.00 for adults and children, babies under 1 are free. Pretty pricey for a family of 4 as it is also $10.00 to park in the museum's garage. My suggestion, pay to park in the garage, go the second Sunday of the month for free admission. Arrive after 12:00pm when most of the crowds are gone.  The 2:00pm to 4:00pm hours are the least crowded. The museum also features a snack bar with Peet's coffee and delicious items from Whole Foods.  On the 1-4 Museum Mom scale, this whimsical, thoughtful, beautiful museum space get a rousing four exclamation marks!!!!

Free Target Sunday, September 12, The New Children's Museum

This Sunday is Target Free at the New Children's Museum in San Diego.  The museum's hours are 10:00am-4:00 pm. I suggest going after 12:00pm when  toddlers are at lunch or have to go home for naps! This is a "hands on" studio for ages toddler to teen so you can bring the whole family. A trained artist facilitates the studio so your kids have guidance while creating.  Great for introducing your children to art. There are good family restaurants nearby. They'll give a discount when you present your entrance receipt. I'll see you there!Click here for New Children's Museum

Grandparents Day at Orange County Museum of Art

This Sunday is Grandparent's Day at OCMA as well as Target Free day!  The program starts at 11:00 am.  Click Here OCMA for more information and event times. Admission is Free! So bring the family and have fun!

What's so important about Art?

What is the importance of art?  Discussing which discipline was more important, art or medicine, a doctor arrogantly told an artist that art just didn't seem important. "Medicine saves lives." said the doctor. The artist simply said," What are you saving them for?"
 Art historians, Bruce Cole and Adelheid Gealt explain. "From the dawn of civilization to the present day, our art has been ever present and essential.  It has served as a physical and spiritual bridge between mortals and gods, has helped men and women understand the workings of the human soul, and in times of anguish and sorrow has offered solace and helped reconcile us to life. As in all cultures and at all times, art is not a luxury but a necessity without which we would be vastly impoverished."
 Art creates inspiration unreached by any other means. I encourage people to visit art galleries, go to museums, attend  art shows.  You might find nothing interesting at one particular time or art venue. But on another day, at another venue, you will see something that sparks your imagination, touches your spirit, soothes your mind, creates understanding , or more incredibly, heals your soul.
  Great contributions to society have been inspired by works of art. Thomas Moran's "Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone" was pivotal in establishing the National Parks. Moran's artwork was presented to members of Congress by park proponents which helped inspire Congress to establish the National Park System in 1916.
 Artists are inspired by artists. David Franzioni was inspired to write and produce the epic 2000 film Gladiator after viewing the 1872 painting by Gerome, Pollice Verso. Worshipers are inspired spiritually by great cathedrals, stained glass windows, and religious icons. And many a politician was affected deeply by the political cartoons of Paul Conrad. Art inherently cuts to the truth. About human nature, beauty, the spiritual aspirations of mankind, about what is beautiful and ugly, inspirational or abhorrent.
Art is vital to living an inspired life. A painting by Van Gogh, Goya, or Leonardo Da Vinci won't feed you, clothe you, you can't eat it. (unless you own it and sell it) Yet viewing them, you instinctively know you are experiencing something wonderful.

Today is "Ask a Curator Day"

Today, September 1, 2010 is "Ask a Curator Day" at museums worldwide. This is your chance to ask a curator, (that's the person who runs the museum, knows the art, and knows the art world!) any question about their museums and the works held within. This is an international event. Museums including the Van Gogh museum in the Netherlands, the Tate in London, along with notables like the Chicago Museum of Art are among those participating. Locally, the San Diego Museum of art is answering questions.  This is a wonderful opportunity for children to ask questions about their favorite art works, about what museums are and why they are important, or to ask curators about what they do and why their work is important.Ask a Curator Day

Arts and Crafts at South Coast Plaza

It's time for the annual Festival of Children at South Coast Plaza. The festival brings awareness to children's needs in our community while creating fun for children through wonderful arts events. I would like to highlight the arts and crafts workshops for any of you with budding fine artists. Starting September 4th, every Saturday and Sunday through the 26th from 12:00-4:00 various organizations including Bowers Kidseum, Children's Museum at La Habra, among others, will host art's and crafts while supplies last. This event is free. So get there early and have fun!!

Target Free Days at your local Museums

The generous, supportive, people at Target offer "Target Free Days" providing free admission to our best local museums. This is a significant savings for families. Thank you Target! Click on below to see participating museums. Target Free Days

Free Admission to Museums September 25,2010!

Smithsonian Magazine is hosting Museum Day on September 25, 2010!  Free Admission to ticket holder and 1 guest.
Click smithsonianmag.com/museumday to get your free ticket for two! This site will give you a complete list of participating museums in California.
Orange County Participants include
Laguna Art Museum
Huntington Beach International Surf Museum
Bowers Museum
Click on site, get ticket, and find your favorite museum!!

Family Friendly Museums/Orange County

The Bowers Museum/Kidseum-Santa Ana

http://bowers.org/

Value-Free admission to Santa Ana residents on the first Sunday and third Tuesday of every month, children under 6, and free to everyone on the first Sunday of the month thanks to Target's First Sunday Free promotion. Kidseum $6.00 for age 3 and up.

Otherwise it's $12.00 for adults, $9.00 for children and seniors. Parking is $2.00
Facilities-No Children's Dining at either Bowers or Kidseum, however, restaurants close by. Important Note: Kidseum is not located at Bowers Museum. It is down the street. See web site for directions.
Fun Activities- Great Family Festivals and events. Features cultural events as well as seasonal. Check their calendar of events on website. Wonderful hands-on projects.
Education-Docents and trained activity facilitators lead Activity Tours and Thematic Tours which include everything from playing musical instruments to creating folk art.
Museum Mom Rating-!!!
3 exclamation points for fun and educational aspects and relative value.

Orange County Museum of Art

http://ocma.org/
Value-Target Free Second Sundays otherwise $12.00 for Adults, children under 12 free
Facilities- Nothing specific geared towards families. No Restaurants. However, the huge shopping mall Fashion Island is located nearby and contains restaurants.
Fun-Seasonal workshops, check out web site for calendar of events.

Education- Occasional Workshops

Museum Mom Rating !!
2 exclamation points for Target Free Second Sunday and occasional workshops

The Irvine Museum-Irvine

http://irvinemuseum.org/
Value - Admission and Parking are free.
Facilities-The museum is located on the bottom floor of an office building in a business district near John Wayne Airport
Fun Activities-None geared toward families or children
Education- Besides school tours and beautiful must-see art, their is no real art education activities specifically for families.
Museum Mom Rating !
1 exclamation point for free parking , admission, and incredible art.

Laguna Beach Art Museum

http://lagunaartmuseum.org/
Value- $12.00 for adults Children under 12 free
Facilities- Children's art display, but nothing hands on.
Fun-An occasional workshop, interesting art, children's gallery. Beach next door!

Education-Occasional Workshops but nothing regularly scheduled for families

Museum Mom rating !
One exclamation point for being near beach.

One noteworthy museum which does not house fine art but is fun for the family is The Surfing Museum in Huntington Beach. Not specifically geared towards families, but great if you have children who love surfing and the beach.

Surfing Museum
http://surfingmuseum.org/