Growing Up Creative

How to engage with art (for children and adults)

Unlike many adult visitors to art museums, young children do not feel they need to be “experts” to respond to artwork. They are open-minded and spontaneous in their responses and interpretations.  There is a lot to be said about the importance of historical context and the understanding of art, but it is much more important to encourage an open ended dialogue about the work of art, a dialogue that values both adults and children’s opinion.

ART IS ‘beautiful or thought-provoking works produced through creative activity’ (Encarta Dictionary). It is a subjective commentary of an artist that is meant to be viewed differently by each person. Art can be sometimes intimidating and difficult to approach, that is why I have compiled yet another list. This one will give you some ideas of how to engage with art.

DEVELOP A CONVERSATION
Start by Reading the label: The title, the artist, the year it was made, and what it is made of. This is a good way to start a conversation.
Start by not reading the label, Look at the work of art first; see if you can imagine what the work is about.
Change where you stand. Change how you view a painting by moving really close (remind them “no touching”) then move really far.
Relate what you see to what is familiar to your child. It is only natural to make a connection between what you see and what is familiar to you. Making references to the child’s world makes it easier for him/her to understand and engage with art.Terms you may wish to use in your discussion:
Line
Color
Texture
Shape
Emphasis
Movement
Pattern 

MAKING
Sketch from the original, sit together with your child in front of an artwork. Practice your drawing skills by sketching from a master. Drawing from observation will help you and your child notice details and understand the artwork on a deeper level. It will help you remember what you have seen (why is drawing important)

Write a story: one of my favorite activities is to sit in a café and imagine the life of the person sitting next to me. This is kind of the same game: Find a realistic painting or sculpture and make up a story about it. You may draw or write the story (or both). Some guiding questions may be: Who are the people? Where are they? What are they doing? You may start with “once upon a time” (always a promising beginning for a good tale)

PLAYING GAMES
Turn your child into the Tour guide.  Give your child the control over the visit to the museum. Let him/ her be the tour guide, navigating you through the different rooms, focusing on the art work they find important, for as long as they want to. Have them explain the work to you just like tour guides. Help them develop ideas with open ended questions. “This kind of experience shows them they have valuable contribution to make and allows them to learn actively from artworks, through self directed inquiry.” Katrina Weier Empowering Young Children in Art Museums: letting them take the lead.

Play detectives (This one is great): Buy some postcards of the art work featured in the museum at the Museum Shop, and then try and find the artwork throughout the museum together.
Who doesn’t like to play "I Spy." Have children choose an object in a gallery and describe it to other family members so that each one can take a turn guessing what the object is.
Seek and Find. Ask your child to find paintings that have his or her favorite colors, shapes, or objects in them. This game teaches children to look very closely at objects.

I hope this is helpful, please take a moment to share any other ideas or thoughts you have. I am looking forward to hear about your next visit to the museum

tali

Other posts from this series:

Inspiration and investigation

Art museums are also for children

Art museums with children

Inspiration and Investigation

I have started taking Zoe to art museums ever since she was a tiny baby (well, she was never really tiny). I used to carry her with me to so many breathtaking exhibitions, she hardly ever complained. When she grew a little so did her nagging… I started looking for the different family activities in the art museums to keep her interest. It was no longer about what I wanted to see. I have discovered an entire different experience in the art museum. A whole new world had opened up to me and Zoe of course. Art museums will never be the same …the efforts and energy that is invested in the children art education by most museums is incredible. As parents we MUST take advantage of it. Intriguing family rooms, festivals, story time, art hunt etc beyond your imagination.

^{Zoe and me drawing from observation at the Getty Center garden}

^{Zoe is drawing a postcard for Yotam in the Japanese family festival at the Getty Center}

I have asked Zoe today what is it that she likes most about going to an art museum? She answered what took me a while to figure out: “It is the details of the pictures that I like... noticing those details... and also the ideas I get for my drawings from looking at the paintings.” In other words: Inspiration and Investigation, attention to details. How can she be so young (almost 6), and have such clear understanding, I was blown away.
I was certain she would say “the brownie”, I am so happy she didn’t.

what is it that you like about going to art museums?

Art museums are also for children

A monstrous architectural masterpiece, with vast open spaces, saturated with serious looking security guards, stillness, quiet, art work displayed at adult eye level, no touching, no running, no yelling policies. All of the above can make children feel intimidated and parents think twice before they choose to spend time in an art museum with their children; a park or an indoor play structure sounds like a much easier choice. I have compiled a list that will possibly make you feel more at ease about taking your kids to the museum tomorrow. I hope you will.

• Plan your visit in advance, Explore the museum's website to learn about the permanent and special exhibits, hours of operation, accessibility, admission fees and discounts (most museums are FREE to the public at list one day a week), check  for family programs (Hint: Sometimes the websites hide the family programs under the “Education” tab.) 
• Find exhibitions that will appeal to your kids, for example if you have a little dancer at home you may want to show her one of Edgar Degas “Little Dancer” etc.
• Find a book that relates to the art work or artist you plan to see, for example: if it is the”Little Dancer” by Edgar Degas, you may want to read Degas and the Little Dancer by Laurence Anholt prior or after seeing the sculpture.
• On the way to the museum go over museum behavioral rules, ask your kids: “what are things we can and cannot do in the museum?” some of the answers may be: yes looking at the art, no running, yes drawing, no touching, no yelling, yes enjoying the beauty of the art etc…
• Find the information desk and ask, "What do you recommend for families?"
• Ask if the museum has a family activity room, if they do make sure you allow for enough time to explore it.
• Don’t make your kids see art they don’t want to see.
• Let your child determine when it’s time to move on to another artwork.
• Don’t try and see the entire museum at once, you will all most likely be exhausted and overwhelmed. A good idea is to become a member and make short visits regularly.
• Visit the museum often
• Don’t go too often
• Museums have the best book stores, with fantastic kid’s books selection; don’t skip them on the way out, our favorite books were found at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts and the Getty Center.
• Make sure everyone is happy most of the times if not…
• TAKE A BREAK, museums always have great coffee; treat yourself for a cup, and your kids for a cookie. It will boost your energies and spirit and will make the visit an even better experience.
• Try and see the art through the eyes of the children. Listen to them, and you will be blown away.
• The purpose of art is to evoke our thoughts and feelings, therefore there is no wrong or right when you talk about art. We all have a subjective view as to what we see. Don’t be afraid to say what you think, encourage your kids to do the same.
• Don’t think you need to be the expert, if your child asks you a question you don’t know the answer, try and figure it out together, or write the question and try and find the answer later.
• If you are going with younger children try to plan your visit according with their nap time. I usually bring a stroller and spend more time with Zoe (6) while Ori (3) is dreaming about Picasso.
• REMEMBER: a visit to the museum with your kids IS NOT ABOUT YOU, lower your expectation, flow with your kids interests and paste.
• Most importantly ENJOY yourselves.

Art Museums with children

^{Ori performing, the Tel Aviv Art Museum family room}

A couple of weeks ago I took my girls to the Tel Aviv Art Museum, first time for all of us. I heard they had a kids room that I thought would be fun to explore, and indeed it was. We ended up spending about 4 hours in that room playing Picasso.
I don’t remember visiting many art museums when I was a child. I did start going regularly when I was in art school (sounds like a therapy session, doesn’t it?). I was a Massachusetts College of Art student which entitled me of free admissions to the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, conveniently located right around the corner (I was reading this out loud with a reminisce of a strong Bostonian accent “KOH-NEH”, I didn’t think I still had in me… ). I used to go when ever I had some time to kill, all by my self, just me and my sketch book. My favorite part was the Greek section, I used to sit down and sketch those little clay goddesses for many quiet minuets.

9 years and 2 kids later, My entire experience of art museum has changed. I still visit them frequently but not so much by my self anymore. If I may say so, it is all about them, those 2 girls of mine that fortunately like going with me and show me the way. I feel very lucky that I can see the art through their eyes.

In celebration of the International Museum Day (may 18th), and just because….I would like to dedicate the next few posts to visiting art museums with children.
I am looking forward to this series of posts, please jump in and add from your experiences visiting art museums with children or without (you too Lindsay…)