First, let me tell you that I posted myhalf-year reading listover on my Reading Blog, if you’re looking for new titles . .
Last post here, I mentioned some on-site sketching with a Ten as my sketching companion, and promised to tell you more. I was referring to a visit with my granddaughter to the VancouverArt Gallery on the weekend to check out their exhibition Alberto Giacometti: A Line Through Time and, as usual, we had a splendid time.
What makes these visits work, I think, is that I let whichever grandchild I’m there with — and I’ve taken them at Six and even at Three — set the pace and the direction of the tour. It helps that we have an annual membership (it’s a very good deal, as is generally true with most public art galleries), so that I don’t worry about “getting our money’s worth” out of the visit, and the kids always know we will leave at their discretion. They always last at least fifteen minutes, and they always engage with genuine interest with at least one piece of art, generally more. It helps to make sure we have pencil and paper, and we choose at least one artwork to sketch (here’s a Six doing just that at the Guo Pei exhibit last fall.
And, of course, it’s good to relax expectations about what a child might want to do at an exhibition. Our Ten thought we should begin by turning left from the entrance, while the curator had obviously intended a right turn. But I’m going to be back later to do things the “right way,” so I let go of my resistance and followed her. . . .
And when we went through the grand old building’s lobby, and I could see her itching to climb the dramatic stairs, I figured, “Why not?” After all, by then, she’d already surprised me by insisting on visiting the exhibitions on all three floors (Moving Still: Performative Photography in India is wonderful, fascinating, and makes accessible so many questions about what art and photography might be) , not just the Giacometti and pals in the ground-floor main exhibition . . .
And she’d made some perceptive observations — we both read that Giacometti kept women stationary in his sculptures, granting mobility only to the males. But Ten spotted a statue of Woman Walking, and pointed it out — and then observed that “the woman” had only been allowed the smallest of steps, and that she was headless, to boot!
So she’d earned some stair-running. . . .
And thanks to her engagement with the architecture via stair-climbing, I paid more attention to the oculus in the roof — a connection between the Neoclassical/Beaux Arts architecture (Francis Rattenbury designed this former court house which opened to the public in 1911 and was adapted to its current use by Arthur Erickson in early 1980s) and the Pantheon, which I so love, in Rome. So many other differences between the two make that comparison a stretch, I know, and this oculus puts glass between interior and sky, but still. . . .
I love making connections like that, and perhaps this kid will make her own someday — “hey, that staircase reminds me of the one in the old Vancouver Art Gallery that I visited with my Nana” . . .
Another connection for me at the Alberto Giacometti exhibition was spotting this piece — Table Sculpture (Growth), 1949 by Eduardo Paolozzi (one of the contemporaries whose work is included in this show to give context for Giacometti’s art).
I recognized Paolozzi’s name from a colossal piece I saw in Edinburgh’s Modern Art Museum (Modern Two) last fall. Below, his sculpture Vulcan which towers above the cafe in which its feet are planted
reaching all the way to the ceiling panels, also by Paolozzi.
And his Master of the Universe outside the Edinburgh Modern Two. . .
And is it cheating if I sweeten a visit to the Art Gallery with lunch at Nordstrom’s Bistro Verde? Perhaps, but I think a tradition of gallery-and-lunch is worth cultivating — and this girl likes a challenge. This is not the first time we’ve tried the Chocolate Paradise dessert. Not the first time we haven’t been able to finish it either, but she considers it a worthwhile challenge (as with drawing Citroën 2CVs, “if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.”)
I began this post thinking it would be a Five on Friday, but I’m thinking there’s quite enough here already, no? I have a few What I Wore/OOTD photos I was going to share, but I’ll save them for now. But I will recommend right now — why wait?! — the Netflix series Tales of the City. The Armistead Maupin books the series is extrapolated from have been on a vague TBR list I’ve carried around forever, but somehow I’ve never got to them. Have you read any? Have you watched the series? Personally, I was sold at Laura Linney and then Olympia Dukakis, and then there’s the wonderful Ellen Page and Zosia Mamet and a host of other actors both well-known and breaking out. Some sensitive portrayals of LGBTQ folk with an encouraging diversity and nuance.
Okay, I’m done. Ready for your feedback now . . . Wishing you a Good Weekend!
Frances, I just watched the new "Tales of the City" and really enjoyed it. The writers managed to update the cast to incorporate how the LGBTQ+ community has changed and sensitively deal with some of the internal tensions those changes have brought. Laura Linney's character is still rather infuriatingly naive. Some of the young cast are interesting. The series does rather skate over serious problems in San Francisco, but hey, I wanted uplifting and I got it. Brenda
I love the way you let your grandchildren lead the way with these cultural activities. I confess that I've never thought of taking mine to the art gallery – they do love the museum, so the art gallery would be a good next step.
Francis Rattenbury certainly left his mark on this part of the world, didn't he? I'll be checking out your reading list – I'm collecting reading material for our trip in a couple of weeks.
One-on-one time is so important with children. I can easily imagine that Ten will hold some of these trips with her Nana as fond memories well into adulthood. The chocolate cake likely won't be forgotten either.
It is precious to have children as companions,to introduce and share art together. Your N. is an amazing girl indeed
We had Giacometti's The Walking Man exibition,a couple of years ago in Zagreb
Thank you for the recommendation-it is possible to have Netflix here as well now,so I'll think about it after holidays
Did I mentioned "The Grey Zone" here? I liked Chernobyl,Gentleman Jack and Spanish Princess(about Katherine of Aragon) and now am watching Riviera with Julia Stiles
Have a wonderful weekend
We have about 34°C (and I still have to do this and that almost every day)
Nevertheless,Spica coffee in half empty city was a little much welcomed treat today
Dottoressa
Laura Linney aside, whose acting, in any capacity, I am not a fan of- I was a huge fan of Tales of the City in book form so will maybe watch what Brenda above says, to her mind, is light entertainment. Too often I shy away from movie or series versions of books. Just moments ago bemoaning with a dear one how badly cast and acted the movie version of Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood was.Painful.
On a positive note, sharing the art and cake!! so available around you in your great city is an enriching joy for you and your grandchildren. I love to see what catches their eye, what makes an impact and hear what they tell others about it. One of my God children is home-schooled and I have done a lot of art outings with him- one of the most fun, a walking tour of Notting Hill, photographing and discussing street art and graffiti with him and the difference between the 2 and the tagging and territories unique to graffiti artists. He loved it and enthusically explained this to a waiter in a cafe after our tour.It totally escaped that 8 year old that the waiter spoke Italian as a first language and was likely only catching every 5th word of the 8 year old's rapid-fire explanation, but he kindly played along.
A. in London
wrong glasses, wrong device, barely any signal..maybe it will get through?!
Brenda: Yes, your brief review nails it! The series definitely paints a rosy picture of SF, but for a light and, yes, uplifting, series, I thought it really got at some of the generational differences. I never watched (never knew about, even) an earlier series. Guessing you read Maupin back in the day 😉
Lorrie: He really did, that guy — we had a courthouse of his in Nanaimo as well. . . I think you'll have fun taking yours to a gallery, especially if you allow them to set the pace. I know you'll be open to the completely different perspective they will offer.
Mary: It's so grand, that one-on-one!
Dottoressa: First of all, my sympathies about the heat — I couldn't function! Any chance you'll get to the beach soon? Now I'll have to add all these new series, but I think most of them are on subscriptions we don't have. It gets very frustrating, trying to decide which packages to buy and then finding out they don't carry the one show everyone is talking about!
A. in London: Ha! I quite like LL, but I can see how she could annoy. I share your skepticism about adaptations, but I'm often fascinated by the process, about seeing what works in what medium, why the changes, imagining or recognizing the problems posed, etc.
Sounds as if you have a rich relationship with your Godchild — what a wonderful relationship! (and maybe wrong glasses and wrong device is the approach to take, because you're here 😉
Dottoressa, I hear you about the weather! Just returned from a little village 20 mins from Bergerac in France for a week long visit. 100F the first day and low humidity,,,95F to 105F with very high humidity thereafter. I simply do not function in that weather. I am a humidity wimp-loud and proud. Take care and hope you have a good fan and a well air conditioned car! (we didn't…..yikes).
A.in London
What a surprise to see Cleish in your post! Cleish is a rural parish north of Edinburgh, south of Perth. The father of a friend of ours was Church of Scotland minister of Cleish church, and we were at her wedding in the church, with reception in the manse garden. Beautiful rolling farmland and hills all around, all very small scale and in an area rich in history (tho all of Scotland is!). The yew walk in the gardens of Cleish castle is the oldest in Scotland, dating from around 1620.
How wise not to exhaust with a long gallery visit! I very quickly get museum/gallery fatigue myself.
What a wonderful post, and how wise and kind not to force too long of a visit, or even to shape the agenda. I tend to be much that kind of gallery-goer by nature anyway, and find that when I have taken children, either friends or family, a world of new discoveries always awaits when I just go along with whatever energetic flow surrounds us.
The cake looks marvelous too. Tales of the City seems interesting. I shall check it out, along with other recommendations from comments. I am grateful I don't really have a garden yet that needs tending, as I wilt even in these temperatures in the 90s, with humidity of course.
I meant to answer your question "why change to an automatic now?". It's an MPV bought for my tourist guiding business. The higher spec ones are all automatic. This is a SEAT. We still have a manual Volvo – not giving that up!! And yes, I too miss the responsiveness of the manual transmission. Driving the automatic is like steering a floating sofa.
In my opinion, the building as well as the food (restaurant or cafeteria) are an important ingredient in any museum or art gallery experience.
I do not watch any Pay TV. Technically I probably could, but I prefer not to. I find that I am already spending too much time in front of the TV. Of course I don't know what I am missing.
Now I'm off to your reading blog.
Being a museum member is the best thing! The good museums have too much for one visit, and tickets are pricey and so it turns into a grueling march to ring out every penny's worth. Your tactic of framing the situation–museum visit, paper and pencils available–provides structure without imposing anything on the kids. They get to choose! How often do kids get to choose anything? What power you give them! And they clearly wield it well, making astute observations. Because you listen to what they say. Bravo. You are giving them so many gifts with these visits–familiarity with art, learning how to behave in a museum, agency to make choices….
My aunt reads all the same books and sees all the same movies as her grandchildren. She said it gives her something to talk about with them, otherwise she gets single-word answers to her questions about how they are and what they are up to.
I don't know what happened to the comment I left here a couple of days ago. Very mysterious. Well, nothing of importance. I just mentioned that for me the building and the food (restaurant or cafeteria)always form an important part of a museum or art gallery experience.
When I was a child, for several years my sister and I received annual membership tickets to the local zoo for Christmas, and I remeber the feeling of freedom to come and go as we liked that came with that present.
The giant in your art gallery reminded me of the Hammering Man in a Basel street (right in front of a bank – where else?).
Hope you are better today.
Mardel: Did you read the Maupin series back in the 70s or 80s when they were so topical? I don't know how I didn't, but reading "curation" before social media was a very different proposition, as I know you remember 😉
Linda B: That makes perfect sense. So cool, this new business of yours! Perhaps I need to do a blog interview. . . 😉
As for Cleish, did you ever get to see Paolozzi's ceiling panels in situ there?
Eleonore: It's been one of the pleasures of having a bit more disposable income these latter years, that I've finally got better acquainted with museum/gallery restaurants. Not that they're all particularly costly, but . . . I hear you on not watching PayTV, but I've become quite a convert with this renaissance of TV. Brilliant storytelling happening in a range of genres, and the possibility for well-known actors to stretch, for lesser known to show their chops (and also to find employment, no small matter 😉
TofFrance: Thanks for the kind words! I do love the time I have with them — your aunt sounds a very wise grandmother.
Eleonore — I recovered that earlier comment — had somehow bounced its way into Spam, which you are definitely not. Wow! What a magical Christmas gift, especially in the days when zoos didn't yet elicit all sorts of moral quandaries and judgements. Hah! That Hammering Man should be watched carefully 😉