a visit to the art museum

last week i took the kids to the art museum. that's right...four small children at the art museum. i was nervous at first, but felt much better when we arrived and i saw busload after busload of noisy little children entering the museum. i have always thought of the art museum of a quiet, peaceful place, and i was not quite sure how the munchkins would do in such a setting unlike our usual boisterous outings. i was not sure if they would appreciate the beauty and understand the magic of looking at fine art. all of my worrying was for nothing. they loved the art museum, they spent their time looking around, taking it all in, asking questions and making guesses as to what the pieces were or what they meant. it was as if the peacefulness of their surroundings had a calming effect on them. they spoke in hushed, almost reverent tones, and looked around with wide eyes while holding tight to mama's hand. it was truly a magical morning. and when we got home the pencils, markers, and paper came out and their own masterpieces were created.

the exhibit that excited the children the most is an instillation that is in progress of being put together right now...artworks: the american road. they are in the midst of painting a rather large mural on the 2nd floor, and have numerous neon signs & the like ready for display. i cannot wait to go back and see what the finished product will look like. the kids were excited about "big boy" being a part of the exhibit (can you see him in the picture below?).

we only saw a fraction of the artwork at the museum, because we just stayed for a short while, but since it is free to visit (you only have to pay for parking) we will surely be back again before the summer is over. i am hoping to tie some things that we saw at the museum into some art projects i have planned for the coming weeks.