On a whim, I accompanied Simon on his field trip today. Capitol Hill participates in this great program with the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, where a theme is explored through five or six pieces from the collection. A parent volunteer receives training from the MIA then gives an age-appropriate talk to the students. The lesson culminates with a trip to the museum where students receive a docent-led tour to see the actual art.
This year’s theme was “Where We Live,” which seemed to only be tangentially linked to the art. The docent did a fantastic job with the kids even if only a handful of the 15 students listened at any one time. (My responsibility was to be the sweeper, taking up the rear, making sure all kids got from one gallery to the next.) We saw an African ceremonial mask, two Greek black- and red-figure vases, Egyptian funeral reliquaries, the veiled lady (Raffaelo Monti, 1860), and separate portraits of a couple.
Simon was drawn to countless items not on the art adventure so I promised him we’d return. Dale Chihuly's Sunburst chandelier, which hangs in the entry, is my favorite piece for its energy, vibrancy, and fragility. I have this plan to take the boys at least once a month this summer. Tackling the museum’s three floors in bits is a sane way to see more art. Follow up with a picnic in Washburn Fair Oaks park, with its exquisite views of downtown Minneapolis, and we’ll call it a civilized day.
(photo credits: top [picasaweb], middle [minneapolis institute of art], bottom left [www.chihuly.com])
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