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!