N is psyched to go any place that has a gift shop. This gift shop was up front by the admissions counter. Big mistake. He wanted to go there right away. I dug deep to invoke all my Grandma power, convincing him the gift shop would be the end of our adventure.
We first encountered a blown glass sculpture as tall as the ceiling. It looked like an purple and yellow alien Christmas tree. He thought that was cool. I felt hopeful.
Next was a contemporary painting with no definable shape. It depicted stylized, frenetic representations of angry people wearing horse heads. He pondered it before exclaiming "Whoah, that's just WRONG!"
Horse Head painting must have really creeped him out, because I had to cajole him into the other gallery spaces. He stood outside the entrance ways pointing towards the gift shop. He wanted to leave. He was actually afraid, poor kid.
I thought maybe abstractions were the problem, but he seemed equally freaked by the representational art. We stopped in front of a large painting of a woman with two children. It was painted in a loose, impressionistic style with thick impasto. His thoughts? "Why does it seem like she's staring at me, Grandma?"
The next room had reasonably benign landscapes. Not interested, he high-tailed it through to the next room which brought him to a skidding halt. An artist had piled all sorts of daily artifacts, toys, and plastic fruit/veg about a foot high on a long, narrow table and spray painted the entire piece bright pink. I loved it. He didn't want to go near it. His eyes were as big as saucers.
He power-walked through various rooms without looking. Happily, the final room saved the day. An artist created miniature rooms in glass boxes with all the related teeny accoutrements. There were also headphones alongside the displays. Niko liked putting the headphones on. I have no idea what the artist was telling him, but it made him happy. Perhaps the guy said "Find the gift shop, young Skywalker."
And that's what we did. Art may now be ruined for him, but he got a great toy. A CubeBot, which is a representational abstraction, right?
Great toy! He may have been overwhelmed, but I'll bet later in life he will look back and think you were cool for taking him there.
ReplyDeleteHow on earth do you blow a glass sculpture that big, let alone move it to display??
I think it breaks down into various limbs. I'm going to try a folk art museum next. IF he'll go.
DeletePerhaps he is just not ready for art meant to stir the emotions of adults. A gallery more aimed at juvenile tastes might be his interest right now.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure that's true. It never occurred to me he'd be afraid. But he sure was.
DeleteI remember all the art camps I consigned grandchildren to, for a week at a time. The girls loved it. The boys, not so much. All are eight or nine years older than that first art camp and they did not become wild deviants. I bet every one of them would have spring for a Cubebot, too.
ReplyDeleteThe Cubebot was the big payoff.
DeleteI don't know what to think about this. I imagine that 7 year olds might be into their "it has to be this way" phase still, but his mom and sibling might have more insight into what's going on inside that head.
ReplyDeleteThey just thought it was funny. The inside of his head is filled with lego pieces.
DeleteHe may be a future scientist. Maybe bring him to visit a lab or an engineer's workshop next time.
ReplyDeleteMy dad used to bring us to the milk bottling plant once a year - the best!
He would love a milk bottling plant. Also, his favorite is the Science Center.
DeleteYou can never really predict what they're ready to receive. My Grand-Daughter at Age 6 begged me to take her to the Human Body exhibit which I knew had real Dead People preserved for Scientific and Teaching Purposes. She's quite the Wednesday Addams Child tho' so I finally relented and she Loved it and was intrigued and curious, quite aware these were deceased Humans and sometimes just their parts. But about a Week later I bought an Antique Display of Museum Quality Exhibited Butterflies, she was terrified and lost her Mind about the Poor Dead Butterflies, it really Freaked her out! Dead Humans, no problem... Dead Butterflies was traumatic for her! She's okay with the Butterfly Display now, just not at that time of her development. Perhaps your Grandson will be able to receive this kind of emotion stirring Art later? I'm glad he found one exhibit that he could Connect to though... and of coarse THE GIFT SHOP Bonus! *Winks*
ReplyDeleteI have to smile when you describe her as a "Wednesday Addams Child."
DeleteWe try to please and excite them when we do Grandma days but they are often their happiest when we buy them something. I remember taking three of my granddaughters to see the Lion King on Broadway. I paid a fortune for the tickets and had perfect seats. When we left and we’re on the way to the famous ToysR Us, I asked them how thy like the play. They all told me that they liked the DVD better.
ReplyDeleteOMG, that's hilarious.
DeleteThe best ever!!! Whoah! I’m in agreement with N. Sometimes contemporary art loses me at best and disturbs or pisses me off at worst. Lack of art education I’m am sure but I will never understand a toilet being art. Still, you go grandma for having a great day with N
ReplyDeleteHe's a constant source of joy and material.
DeletePs. I’m so glad you stop by my blog because, for some reason, yours won’t show up in my feed. It reminds me to head your way💜
ReplyDeleteHmmm. I've had that happen with a couple of the people I follow, too. Not sure what that's about.
DeleteHow funny. Kids are so unpredictable. Maybe he'll be more into it when he gets a little older. Or maybe contemporary art just isn't his thing! (I know a lot of people who would agree, although I tend to like it.)
ReplyDeleteI like contemporary art a lot, but I do understand that it is a bit like contemporary jazz, too different for most people to relate to.
DeleteArt galleries / museums can be overwhelming even for the most dedicated art love / looker. Kudos to you for building an adventure for him. Next time, a very definitive, specific exhibit over the entire museum / gallery might be more manageable / enjoyable for him.
ReplyDeleteGood advice! I think that might work better for him. He was definitely overwhelmed.
DeleteI frequently fear art. What must it be like to live inside the mind of Rothko who looks out on reality and converts it into coloured squares? Guess he ain't using Rand-McNally to get around.
ReplyDeleteWhile on my brother's yacht for the first time and in late life, I beheld the winches which raise the heavy sails and yet have a delicious geometrical simplicity that proves the old adage about form following function. Fashioned from orangey-silvery bronze too. I'd put one on my mantelpiece any day. Blogged about them with this in mind and no one came to the party. Tried to explain the poetry (and compactness - very important) of a well-designed gearbox and heard only silence.
Mine is the failure. The sadness is that the designers and engineers who wrought these minor miracles continue to beaver away unsung.
It's probably a boy's thing.
Sounds a bit like Dada. There is a painter called Picabia in that genre who I think you would like a lot. His best (and machine-like)pieces are from later in his life.
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