As you know, I've been in Madrid - and I spent much of the time in the art galleries. Some of the world's most precious paintings were there - so I spent hours gazing at some magnificent pieces.
I shared much of the space with other tourists, of course. And with children.
I've been to the National Gallery and watched families try to introduce children to paintings. Some looked obediently; a minority actually stared for a couple of minutes and then needed a wee. I recall taking my own children - we didn't last long. Within minutes one was hungry, another hit her sister, while a fourth asked loudly why that lady has no clothes on ... it was my idea of dreadful and I rarely tried again.
But here, in Madrid, I saw groups of schoolchildren and they were enthralled. Even little ones - they can't have been much more than four - were sitting and listening as a curator talked about the picture and asked what they could see, and then helped them to look again and look again until every brush-stroke had been thought about. And then they were off to another painting.
I suspect that the tinies only looked at three or four pictures, and the more difficult pieces were left for older children. But even adolescents (except for a couple of lads who wanted only to gawp at the nudes) were engrossed - and able to engage with pieces that I found difficult to look at or understand. Having been taken to art galleries since they were small they understood the discipline needed to look, and think, and notice what an artist was trying to achieve and how he or she did it.
And so I have thought again. Maybe my failure to engage my children with art was due to my own incompetence at talking about the pictures and helping them to look closely at them. I can no longer blame their immaturity.
Shall I try again, with grandchildren? And you - do you take children to art galleries?
I think it is WHAT pictures..if they are ones a small child might like..colourful, lots of movement...and f the child has been prepared beforehand..so they know what is going to happen, then I think it's great. If it's 'oh look we're exposing our child to ART, aren't we wonderful? then it's going to be a pain for all. Little G is not a great Art baby - but she has been to the London Aquarium and now has a fish fetish. She has also seen some lovely 'live' music performances on my laptop via Youtube..and I reckon would sit through a short concert as a result. Maybe that's the answer..Art online..then Art in the flesh.
ReplyDeleteI was amazed at the way these groups of very small children were enthralled by what they were looking at - those curators knew pictures and they knew children, it was wonderful to watch people so skilled at what they do.
DeleteMy mother took me to an opera in Paris when I was thirteen. I was bored. I had no idea what the story was about and I begged to leave after the interval. When I took my children to an opera, I made sure they knew the story. It helped, although it didn't turn them into opera lovers. The subjects we like at school are often the ones taught by good teachers. I expect it's the same with art galleries.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the critical bit is the good teachers - they can shape small children's minds and views of the world.
DeleteWe worked on the basis that there were three of us and the smallest didn't get to dictate to the others what they did. We're not big gallery lovers, but he went to his first ballet aged 4 weeks (and was completely quiet and didn't disturb anybody else, thank God). Okay, that was a pretty passive experience for him, but by age 5 he was genuinely enjoying Shakespeare and had been exposed to a wide range of other cultural activities. Some of them took (he enjoys theatre rather more than we do now) and others did not (he absolutely can't stand opera). None of this was planned or high pressured – he was just expected to fit in with us when we were having fun, in the same way as I learned to rollerblade to fit in with him.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful, creative and flexible parent you are. Hurrah!!
DeleteHow wonderful to see such focus, Jo. I too was dragged around art galleries as a child and hated them even though I love paintings and art these days. My parents were both art enthusiasts and expected us to be too, but with the best will in the world, they had no idea how to convey their love to us. I don't have grandchildren, but I think the Spanish approach is great. Make it live for them by telling them the stories behind the painting.
ReplyDeleteIt was inspiring, seeing how these children engaged with it. I think I'm going to have to try again with the grandchildren (maybe just the little girl - the boys are like puppies at the moment!)
DeleteYes, many times. And whenever possible, we often availed of the excellent children's programs/tours/workshops on offer. I just looked at a picture I took at the National Gallery in Dublin with my daughter sitting in a group of pre-schoolers on the wooden floor in front of something huge and framed, looking with such concentration and awe, I wish I could remember what it was and what they were listening to.
ReplyDeleteHow lovely to see your own child enthralled by it! She's set up for art-loving all her life.
DeleteI'm always impressed by young families in French art galleries. It is a way of life over there and I often think how fortunate these children are growing up seeing Monet, Renoir et al in the original! Wow!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy Madrid! Last time we were there the streets were seething with anti-austerity protests. But what fun!
Denise :-)
My IWSG post on Mindfulness
This is a really good point that you've raised. I suspect we are all fairly poor at educating our children in the fine arts because we didn't have that kind of input as children. I remember taking a class of children to our local art gallery and being amazed at how much more there was in a piece of art than just the brushstrokes. You see what I mean. I need educating first!
ReplyDeleteGood post. We took our children to art galleries and to art exhibitions as soon as they could walk. Also their one of their uncles is an artist who is currently selling his own cards via Paperchase and John Lewis. So, our children were exposed to art and that is why our son decide to do an GCSE and our daughter will do the same next year. But neither wants to go to art galleries anymore. They grew out of it. If I were you, however, I would not worry, your grandchildren (and even your children) will eventually come back to the galleries, but only to look at what interests them.
ReplyDeleteGreetings from London.