This past weekend I went to the LACMA (Los Angeles County Museum of Art). An incredibly unassuming name for such a fabulous collection. In any case, I was impressed by the volume families there, and children of all ages were receiving impromptu crash courses in everything from German Impressionism to Fauvism. This is good stuff, I was thinking. I’ll have to pay attention and take mental notes on how parents properly inspire and expose their kids to art appreciation. I find a good study at a piece by Ludwig Meidner, a German Expressionist from the early 20th Century period.
Father and son are discussing the painting. The boy looks about 9, and the father is casual but polished, with a flair of contemporary, if you know what I mean. Think, LL Bean meets American Apparel – at the office.
“So son, what do you think of this piece?”
“There is a lot happening.”
Good, good, ask open ended questions…I could learn a lot here about how to introduce my future kids to art. I’ll have to stay and eavesdrop.
“How does this piece make you feel, anything?”
Brilliant! Encourage children to explore their own reaction to art! This is what art is meant to do – elicit an emotional response – let him formulate his own thoughts about it.
“Yes. Not happy. Kind of uneasy. It seems sort of dark.”
Yes child! The painting is from 1913 Germany – why do you think that is! Oh I love it! Art and world history on a Saturday afternoon with quality family time to boot! What upstanding parenting!
“What seems dark about it? What do you see happening?”
“Well, the railroad tracks are broken. People are running. People look scared. There is a fire…”
“Why do you think the people are scared?”
“Go on, go on, yes! Because we are on the brink of the war to end all…”
“You see, son, the title of the painting is Apocalyptic Landscape. This is what is going to happen to us right before Jesus comes to save us.”
Aaaaaaaawwwwwwwwww. Shit.
