A few weeks ago (6th October 2014) we made a visit to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA).  The interesting thing is that this visit occurred just as I had read online an article about art galleries and museums.  www.ideastap.com  A somewhat controversial view which no doubt created some conversation in the world of social media.  It certainly made me think and probably shifted my perception of our visit to LACMA the following day.

Our visit was two families made up of three adults and two children (both 3yo’s) so we headed to the children’s gallery where they could do some painting.  painting1LACMA; painting2LACMA; M&3yoLACMA  (These should all be landscape, but haven’t worked that out yet – I’m just amazed I’ve got the links to work!!)

We then had some time to use before a story time session.  We had already had to curtail the children’s enthusiasm in exploring the ‘noodles’ which we discovered on the way to the children’s gallery.

Now wouldn’t you just want to dash through and twirl etc…well especially if your three!

So we decided to check out another outside exhibit which was a ‘big rock’ suspended over a walk way.  No perching on the wall allowed (as I attempted to balance my bag to find my sunglasses) – good job we had already told the boys “no climbing”!

Despite the number of attendants and guards wandering about keeping an eye on things, they seemed shocked and surprised as we reported a big bin that had caught fire, next to a tree, next to the tar pits…..suddenly a flurry of activity as we watched the tree begin to catch alight.  Others were watching – perhaps they already thought staff were aware – taking photos.  We moved away so that the children could have a snack and their patience was rewarded by getting to see two fire trucks!

We took a few minutes to look around the display of kimonos and pottery while we waited for story time.  Three books read aloud in the foyer area including Dragons Love Tacos which we had heard before, but is a fabulous book to read aloud.

Then our final burst of activity was to play amongst the lamp posts. These are positioned between the LACMA buildings and the street, so you have to be a bit careful, but it did mean that hide and seek was played without interruption.

Apparently the design was one of the reasons some of these lamps were removed from the streets….

The children were signed up to a NexGen scheme so they have free membership until they are eighteen and can bring in one adult free with them each time they visit.  So the museum is certainly keen to have younger visitors.  The architecture of the buildings themselves was very pleasant on the eye and there is obviously much more to experience.  So we do need another visit or three.

It was probably the first grown up art gallery our child has visited and he did take interest in the things he was shown and I do want to take him back another time.  I also want to look round the things he may not be so captured by at his age and have some grown up time wandering around.

Short visits are definitely the way to experience this type of place when you have children with you.  I have fond memories of visiting such places with my parents and with school as I became older.  To have a love and appreciation of the arts is a valuable thing and I want to be able to nurture that in my child along with his love of books and literature and the outdoors.  So our walking feet and our looking eyes and our inside voices will be back another day!