A Junkie With A Paint Brush

Our annual passes to the High Museum of Art are ending, so for one of our last trips we took the kids to see the Basquiat exhibit. I was pretty excited, not having seen a lot of his work in person.

I've always taken my kids to art musuems. Since they were in strollers or in baby Bjorn strapped to my chest, we've strolled through galleries, from Dali to DaVinci, we have always taken our kids. I think Frank Zappa had it right, although he was referring to age suggestions on toys, that you shouldn't ever assume what a kid can embrace and learn from. They aren't always super into it, that's for sure.

But here is what is great when you've made viewing and talking about art part of your life. When you've done that, made it normal and not something "FANCY" or "BEYOND" what they should ken, you get to have conversations like the one I had late that evening with Louis.

"So I was kind of disappointed in the Basquiat exhibit," he starts out hesitantly.

I was making my bed, and paused for him to come join me on the other side. "How come?" I asked, wondering where this was going.

"It wasn't what I expected," he continued. "It was sort of, junk. I didn't really like it. I don't get how that's art."

"Well, art can be lots of things," I fluff the comforter and invite him to sit down. "After all, the point of a lot of modern art is to break down the idea of what art HAS to be. Sometimes when we're looking at art, what we're looking at is someone challenging us to accept their work, and by doing that to redefine what's beautiful. If nothing else, it makes us think - and talk."

He shrugged. "I don't see what's so interesting in a junkie with a paint brush. I really thought it would be cool, I didn't like it at all."

"It's not like the Dutch masters where you can't believe it's not a photograph," I continued. "Or other schools of art where different kinds of form and discipline were what mattered. His work is just his own, unique to him and his vision. That's kind of what makes it interested.

He got up to get his pajamas, "I liked some other stuff we saw better."

The best part of the entire conversation was that my kid has some very real opinions on art. He's not mature enough to see the bigger vision of the art world but that's ok. He's 13 and he's having thoughts that I love, because it lets us engage on topics that will carry him through the rest of his life.

I'll always remember how much my own mother loved the Dutch masters, and how sad I was that she never got to see them in person as I did. Someday when I'm gone, art will still be on this Earth and he'll be able to share it with the people he loves, and remember what his mother loved. Maybe he'll get to see pieces I never did - and think of me.

I love that he didn't like Basquiat. But he SAW Basquiat. That's what matters to me.

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A Junkie With A Paint Brush

Our annual passes to the High Museum of Art are ending, so for one of our last trips we took the kids to see the Basquiat exhibit. I was pretty excited, not having seen a lot of his work in person.

I've always taken my kids to art musuems. Since they were in strollers or in baby Bjorn strapped to my chest, we've strolled through galleries, from Dali to DaVinci, we have always taken our kids. I think Frank Zappa had it right, although he was referring to age suggestions on toys, that you shouldn't ever assume what a kid can embrace and learn from. They aren't always super into it, that's for sure.

But here is what is great when you've made viewing and talking about art part of your life. When you've done that, made it normal and not something "FANCY" or "BEYOND" what they should ken, you get to have conversations like the one I had late that evening with Louis.

"So I was kind of disappointed in the Basquiat exhibit," he starts out hesitantly.

I was making my bed, and paused for him to come join me on the other side. "How come?" I asked, wondering where this was going.

"It wasn't what I expected," he continued. "It was sort of, junk. I didn't really like it. I don't get how that's art."

"Well, art can be lots of things," I fluff the comforter and invite him to sit down. "After all, the point of a lot of modern art is to break down the idea of what art HAS to be. Sometimes when we're looking at art, what we're looking at is someone challenging us to accept their work, and by doing that to redefine what's beautiful. If nothing else, it makes us think - and talk."

He shrugged. "I don't see what's so interesting in a junkie with a paint brush. I really thought it would be cool, I didn't like it at all."

"It's not like the Dutch masters where you can't believe it's not a photograph," I continued. "Or other schools of art where different kinds of form and discipline were what mattered. His work is just his own, unique to him and his vision. That's kind of what makes it interested.

He got up to get his pajamas, "I liked some other stuff we saw better."

The best part of the entire conversation was that my kid has some very real opinions on art. He's not mature enough to see the bigger vision of the art world but that's ok. He's 13 and he's having thoughts that I love, because it lets us engage on topics that will carry him through the rest of his life.

I'll always remember how much my own mother loved the Dutch masters, and how sad I was that she never got to see them in person as I did. Someday when I'm gone, art will still be on this Earth and he'll be able to share it with the people he loves, and remember what his mother loved. Maybe he'll get to see pieces I never did - and think of me.

I love that he didn't like Basquiat. But he SAW Basquiat. That's what matters to me.

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I Have Dreams, You Know

It was the last day of the Mo Willems exhibit at THE HIGH and so despite my reduced lung capacity and general malaise we drug the troops to midtown for an excursion this weekend.

I think as an author you've really done something right when children actively crack up at your stories. We don't actually own any of these books at our house, but they've been a mainstay coming home from the library since even when Louis was little.

Sometimes people wonder how we take two severely autistic kids to an art museum?

First of all it helps to do something kid friendly where they can touch things. A whole day of NO TOUCH isn't good. Also - letting them lick the walls is one of those battles I don't much fight. I would rather they not lick the walls - but knowing WHICH walls it matters about is really the key. yes, part of my parenting skillset is knowing which walls to allow for licking. 

My main reason for taking my children so often to places like this though is that I want them to be crammed full of experience. I want them, even Miles and Charlie, to have a wealth of amazing memories to pull from - and I want them to include not just the positive emotions of love, security, self worth, but experiences that aren't every day.

Such as, remember the time we sat and had a snuggle next to the Rubens?

And look here is a dress that was worn by a REAL princess.

And this lady? She was a queen! She was the third wife of Henry the VIII (Divorced Beheaded DIED - she's that one, Jane Seymour).

And it's true Miles and Charlie don't always take away the finer points of what we're doing or seeing but that's ok.

Sometimes for the sake of their attention span, especially in a bigger exhibit, we split the place up and find a place to sit and hang out with them, and take turns viewing the items. They usually don't mind. They thought it was fun to look at some of the things but the finery of the Hapsburgs wasn't really on their list of cool stuff to learn about, so we found a sofa in an alcove.

Two of my favorite pieces were this sorbet dish - just take the one with your portrait engraved on it!

..and this sleigh....dashing through the snow....

It was a really big exhibit but the twins did great, especially with some chill out time in the alcove, and Julia & Louis loved it a lot. Louis wasn't interested and then he got inside and was amazed.

I have dreams, you know. I'm just lucky that mine walk around with me every day.
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I Have Dreams, You Know

It was the last day of the Mo Willems exhibit at THE HIGH and so despite my reduced lung capacity and general malaise we drug the troops to midtown for an excursion this weekend.

I think as an author you've really done something right when children actively crack up at your stories. We don't actually own any of these books at our house, but they've been a mainstay coming home from the library since even when Louis was little.

Sometimes people wonder how we take two severely autistic kids to an art museum?

First of all it helps to do something kid friendly where they can touch things. A whole day of NO TOUCH isn't good. Also - letting them lick the walls is one of those battles I don't much fight. I would rather they not lick the walls - but knowing WHICH walls it matters about is really the key. yes, part of my parenting skillset is knowing which walls to allow for licking. 

My main reason for taking my children so often to places like this though is that I want them to be crammed full of experience. I want them, even Miles and Charlie, to have a wealth of amazing memories to pull from - and I want them to include not just the positive emotions of love, security, self worth, but experiences that aren't every day.

Such as, remember the time we sat and had a snuggle next to the Rubens?

And look here is a dress that was worn by a REAL princess.

And this lady? She was a queen! She was the third wife of Henry the VIII (Divorced Beheaded DIED - she's that one, Jane Seymour).

And it's true Miles and Charlie don't always take away the finer points of what we're doing or seeing but that's ok.

Sometimes for the sake of their attention span, especially in a bigger exhibit, we split the place up and find a place to sit and hang out with them, and take turns viewing the items. They usually don't mind. They thought it was fun to look at some of the things but the finery of the Hapsburgs wasn't really on their list of cool stuff to learn about, so we found a sofa in an alcove.

Two of my favorite pieces were this sorbet dish - just take the one with your portrait engraved on it!

..and this sleigh....dashing through the snow....

It was a really big exhibit but the twins did great, especially with some chill out time in the alcove, and Julia & Louis loved it a lot. Louis wasn't interested and then he got inside and was amazed.

I have dreams, you know. I'm just lucky that mine walk around with me every day.
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We Enjoy The Louvre - And You Should Too

Well - in fairness, it was a travelling Louvre exhibit. But I might never GO to the Louvre and my children might not, and with that being said - I think that getting to see the amazing pieces is not to be missed. So I take my children to the lovely HIGH Museum of Art when we can.

My kids are there, and that probably messes with your awesome experience of soaking in the art. I don't really care. They also deserve to see these amazing pieces, learn about the Tuileries gardens and have their minds enriched. Yep, even the autistic ones. Why?

Because art is good for you even when you don't exactly know it is. I know it makes an impact on the twins, because when they've done their "what I did this summer" reports for school, one of the pictures they choose for their responses is "museum".

They might make some weird noises, and jump or flap their arms, but they aren't chewing on the art so you don't have to worry.

Also at the HIGH was the GO WEST exhibit which Louis was VERY interested in seeing.

There was an interactive work space where kids could make their own OLD WEST style art, with tons of options and honestly, so easy a three year old sat down and make a picture. This is hers.

Louis spent more time making his and and was pretty proud of it. It's always interesting to see the choices they make when they have the opportunity to create things.

Miles decided he had to get into the action too, and once Julia was done with HER picture, he created a social commentary of some sort I think.

Charlie on the other hand wasn't having any of this "doing activities" business.

My sweet little Charlie doesn't understand that he isn't a tiny little boy. So he gets very sad when I won't carry him about halfway through anything we ever go do. Luckily most museums have spots to sit and take in (or ignore) the art for patrons.

Days full of art are good days, even with Charlie's protests and the confused eyes of strangers on us.

I can't wait till our next one.

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We Enjoy The Louvre - And You Should Too

Well - in fairness, it was a travelling Louvre exhibit. But I might never GO to the Louvre and my children might not, and with that being said - I think that getting to see the amazing pieces is not to be missed. So I take my children to the lovely HIGH Museum of Art when we can.

My kids are there, and that probably messes with your awesome experience of soaking in the art. I don't really care. They also deserve to see these amazing pieces, learn about the Tuileries gardens and have their minds enriched. Yep, even the autistic ones. Why?

Because art is good for you even when you don't exactly know it is. I know it makes an impact on the twins, because when they've done their "what I did this summer" reports for school, one of the pictures they choose for their responses is "museum".

They might make some weird noises, and jump or flap their arms, but they aren't chewing on the art so you don't have to worry.

Also at the HIGH was the GO WEST exhibit which Louis was VERY interested in seeing.

There was an interactive work space where kids could make their own OLD WEST style art, with tons of options and honestly, so easy a three year old sat down and make a picture. This is hers.

Louis spent more time making his and and was pretty proud of it. It's always interesting to see the choices they make when they have the opportunity to create things.

Miles decided he had to get into the action too, and once Julia was done with HER picture, he created a social commentary of some sort I think.

Charlie on the other hand wasn't having any of this "doing activities" business.

My sweet little Charlie doesn't understand that he isn't a tiny little boy. So he gets very sad when I won't carry him about halfway through anything we ever go do. Luckily most museums have spots to sit and take in (or ignore) the art for patrons.

Days full of art are good days, even with Charlie's protests and the confused eyes of strangers on us.

I can't wait till our next one.

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