Who Says Art is Dull?

The Picture Taken By the Chapelboro Photographer

On July 22, 2011 Edmund and I went to a Family Day at the Ackland Art Museum.  I intended to write about our adventure back then, but never got around to it.  Or I did and I'm too lazy to check the old posts.  I'm not sure why or how, but when I wrote the date on the artwork Edmund made that day it engrained in my memory.  We kept his stamp art on the refrigerator for awhile, and then, because it didn't make the monthly art save, ended up in the recycling.  That was almost a year and a half ago, but still that day is fresh in my mind and apparently is in Edmund's mind as well.

For months now Edmund has been begging to go back to the "art museum."  The Ackland Art Museum is located on UNC's campus and now that we're in Durham can be a bit of a drive to do with both kids.  However, Steven has been working long hours and I knew I needed to get out of the house this past weekend.  I did a web search to see when the next monthly Family Day would take place.  I was in luck when I discovered it was on Sunday.  Edmund couldn't contain his excitement when I told him we were going.

Japanese Pattern Inspired Art

Since it was post Thanksgiving weekend I found parking easily.  I mention parking because that was my biggest hesitation about doing this outing on my own.  You may recall that after the symphony Edmund fears my parking abilities, and I didn't want that to be another outing hitch.  With Evie in her Beco (our soft carrier) and Edmund's hand in mine we walked to the museum.  When we entered we were greeted by volunteers who informed us of the afternoon's activities.  The topic of this particular Family Day was "Images of People in Japanese Art" which corresponded to the current exhibit "A Season of Japan."  We began with an art scavenger hunt, but not before having our picture taken by a photographer for Chapelboro.com.  Evie peeked up from chewing on the straps of the Beco long enough to be stunned by the camera flash.

Edmund quickly found several items on the scavenger hunt, but soon tired of the game and asked to go make some art.  He sat down at the table and got to work on art inspired by Japanese patterns.  The volunteer was incredibly friendly and helpful with him and the other children.  She helped Edmund cut ribbon so I could walk with Evie who wanted nothing to do with standing still.   After Edmund signed his artwork we went back to the lockers where I had stored the diaper bag so I could retrieve some wipes.  While I cleaned up the spit-up that Evie had lovingly bestowed upon me, Edmund chatted up a security guard who was clearly trying to eat a snack in peace.  The guard, like the volunteer at the craft station, was incredibly friendly and engaged Edmund for quite some time.  Once Edmund finds someone who will listen to him it's hard to get him to stop talking, so I had to drag him away.

Origami Dog

Next we went and viewed some Japanese pop art.  Edmund found a room behind a curtain showing Japanese pop art films made in the 70s.  The psychadelic like films got Evie's attention and she found them worthy enough for a few minutes of time away from her strap chewing.  Family Day was about to come to a close, so I encourage Edmund to try his hand at origami before it was time to leave.  There was a very simple dog pattern that Edmund did with only a little help from me.  I helped him match corners, but he did all the folding and drew a very cute face.  This was the perfect way to wrap up our time at the art museum.

As we exited the museum I told Edmund we could go to Sugarland, a dessert shop on Franklin St., for some gelato.  To my surprise Edmund asked what Sugarland was.  In all honesty I suspected the reason Edmund kept begging to go back to the art museum was because he remembered we finished our last outing there with a sweet treat.  While we did have a great time at Sugarland, and I got to eat my favorite peppermint stick gelato, I was encouraged that Edmund really does enjoy a bit of culture.  And who knows?  In a couple of years, my strap eating baby may even be cultured as well.