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Discovering Art Together

By Amy JaredTitle

Studies show that most adults who visit art museums also visited museums as children. I grew up in a rural area and there weren’t any art museums nearby. As I got older, we occasionally visited art museums during family vacations and collected postcards of what we had seen. I became the “refrigerator curator,” and often arranged them on the door based on a theme such as animals or trees.

Art museums may not seem to be inviting places - especially for families. There are rules like “no-touching” and guards to enforce these rules! But, art museums all over the country are focusing on ways to make looking at art a fun, imaginative and informative family activity. Most museums provide programs designed especially with children in mind such as hands-on workshops and performances. Introducing people to art at an early age helps develop a lifelong interest, and museums provide a supportive setting where people can continue to learn and be inspired regardless of their age.

I recently asked parents who bring their toddlers on regular visits to the Philadelphia Museum of Art how they plan their outing. The unanimous response was “come often, stay for a short time, and create a routine out of the visit.” If they aren’t involved in a children’s program, they decide on just one area of the museum to visit. Being well informed about a museum before your visit is always an advantage. If you don’t have time to look in the paper or search a museum website, check the information counter in the museum’s lobby for a map and daily schedule.

You can develop lively conversations with older children, especially if you approach objects as a co-learner and detective. Keep in mind that you must look closely at the evidence! Even if you didn’t take Art 101, there are some fun and easy techniques that can assist you in discovering art together:

What is going on in the painting? Does it portray a scene? Who are the characters, where are they, and what are they doing? Make up a story about the painting. What if the sculpture or painting is abstract? Look closely at the elements of art such as lines, shapes, colors and textures. Create a list of 20 words that describe the work of art such as curvy, smooth or dark. Compare two works of art that are next to each other. How are they the same and different? Is the mood or painting technique different? Which do you like better and why? What can you say about decorative objects such as plates, weavings, or furniture? Describe the materials and tools that the artists used to create them. Would you like them in your own home? Why or why not? Every object has a label next to it that contains the maker’s name, date and origin, and sometimes a brief description. But, knowing these facts is not nearly as informative as looking, questioning and thinking. Even Einstein said, “Imagination is more important than knowledge.

Art museums, unlike any other place you might visit with your child, are a places to ponder and discover yourself and your child in your own answers. So, visit an art museum soon, and before you leave, buy a postcard for your refrigerator door!

Amy Jared is Manager of Family and Community Programs at the Philadelphia Museum of Art where she joined the Division of Education staff in 1984. For more information about family programs and children’s art classes call (215) 235-7469 or visit www.philamuseum.org and look under Education Programs.