Family Friendly Art
Parents and children can find surprise and delight in the art movements of Realism and Modernism and mediums of sculpture (3D), paintings, and so much more.
Walt Disney's Pinocchio was the subject of Maurizio Cattelan's "Daddy, Daddy" (2008) where the puppet was placed in the fountain of the base of MoMA's rotunda.
A child might find the scene humorous, and yet an adult might understand the artist's intent on its darker meaning – the puppet is dead. Did he fall? Was it intentional?
Cattelan is best known for "Comedian" (2019), a fresh banana affixed to a wall with duct tape. The asking price? $1,200. Most children can relate to a banana in their breakfast cereal.
If you can visit a museum (some offer free admission on specific days) you can plan a day of fun.
You might first ask the child their interests or hobbies. Do they collect coins? Check. Do they enjoy fashion, jewelry? Check.
Does the child like knights? If you're in NY, the Metropolitan Museum of Art has an extensive arms and armor collection with (alleged) knights on (alleged) horses.
If you enjoy sculpture, the Met's Sculpture Garden allows you to walk around a work of art. The child will see the similarities to humans today, even if the sculpture was created centuries ago.
If you're in the Boston area, the Museum of Fine Arts has a family portrait, "The Daughters of Edward Darley Boit" (1882) by American artist John Singer Sargent. A child may relate to the interaction (or lack thereof) by the siblings in the painting.
The idea of wowing children can be challenging. Interactive art for kids can be part of a local community or museum workshop. They can express themselves by creating art, that can then be projected or hung on a wall. It's that simple!
Children are curious by nature, and may ask questions about the art. If they have a phone, they can take pictures (if allowed by the museum) to post to social media or to view later.
For those who don’t have access to a museum or outdoor art in most cities, books contain a wealth of information. Once knowing a child's interest, the possibilities of sharing art are endless.
If the child likes cowboys and Indians, be sure to introduce him/her/they to American artist Frederick Remington's "Bronco Buster" (1895), if only from a book. It’s an action-packed sculpture.
If the child is curious about travelling or learning more about other cultures, again, books can transport someone to Easter Island to see the moai statues or the massive temples of Egypt.
Viewing outdoor art is usually free to the public, and allows a child to play, run, or merely gaze at the art.
Jeff Koon's "Balloon Dog" at the World Trade Center Memorial, NYC is a fun sculpture for all ages.
It is one of nine (9) works by Koon to see in NYC, according to untappedcities(dot)com.
Walt Disney's Pinocchio was the subject of Maurizio Cattelan's "Daddy, Daddy" (2008) where the puppet was placed in the fountain of the base of MoMA's rotunda.
A child might find the scene humorous, and yet an adult might understand the artist's intent on its darker meaning – the puppet is dead. Did he fall? Was it intentional?
Cattelan is best known for "Comedian" (2019), a fresh banana affixed to a wall with duct tape. The asking price? $1,200. Most children can relate to a banana in their breakfast cereal.
If you can visit a museum (some offer free admission on specific days) you can plan a day of fun.
You might first ask the child their interests or hobbies. Do they collect coins? Check. Do they enjoy fashion, jewelry? Check.
Does the child like knights? If you're in NY, the Metropolitan Museum of Art has an extensive arms and armor collection with (alleged) knights on (alleged) horses.
If you enjoy sculpture, the Met's Sculpture Garden allows you to walk around a work of art. The child will see the similarities to humans today, even if the sculpture was created centuries ago.
If you're in the Boston area, the Museum of Fine Arts has a family portrait, "The Daughters of Edward Darley Boit" (1882) by American artist John Singer Sargent. A child may relate to the interaction (or lack thereof) by the siblings in the painting.
The idea of wowing children can be challenging. Interactive art for kids can be part of a local community or museum workshop. They can express themselves by creating art, that can then be projected or hung on a wall. It's that simple!
Children are curious by nature, and may ask questions about the art. If they have a phone, they can take pictures (if allowed by the museum) to post to social media or to view later.
For those who don’t have access to a museum or outdoor art in most cities, books contain a wealth of information. Once knowing a child's interest, the possibilities of sharing art are endless.
If the child likes cowboys and Indians, be sure to introduce him/her/they to American artist Frederick Remington's "Bronco Buster" (1895), if only from a book. It’s an action-packed sculpture.
If the child is curious about travelling or learning more about other cultures, again, books can transport someone to Easter Island to see the moai statues or the massive temples of Egypt.
Viewing outdoor art is usually free to the public, and allows a child to play, run, or merely gaze at the art.
Jeff Koon's "Balloon Dog" at the World Trade Center Memorial, NYC is a fun sculpture for all ages.
It is one of nine (9) works by Koon to see in NYC, according to untappedcities(dot)com.
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