Maya Meets Mommy’s Latest Assignment
Excited to showcase the great Dutch artist Rembrandt van Rijn to my four year old, Maya, I decided to bring home the catalog for the exhibition. For Maya, flipping through exhibition catalogs is as commonplace as reading an Eric Carle book. We sat down one the bed, and I said, “Tell me what you think.”
Even as a museum professional, I sometimes feel challenged to make art exhibitions accessible to my four-year old daughter. You may be surprised, but the current special exhibition, Chinese Art in an Age of Revolution: Fu Baoshi (1904-1965), has been one of her favorite museum exhibitions. How did that happen? When we went to the exhibition, we focused on something she already liked. In our case, my four-year old daughter and I are always ready with our cameras to capture the world around us.
The Cleveland Museum of Art loves children. Listen here for the sounds of children enjoying our art classes.
By Seema Rao
Museum Educator
The Lure of Painted Poetry: Japanese and Korean Art may not seem to have too much lure to someone who can’t read English poetry, let alone Japanese. However, the exhibition can hold quite a draw to the under 5 set. Below is a tour of the exhibition by Maya, a 4-year-old visitor who chose a few of her favorite works.
“My name is Maya. I like to do stuff at school and home like painting. Here are some things here that I like.”
In preparation for the Cleveland Museum of Art's Parade the Circle, stilt walkers practice their moves. Don't forget: Parade the Circle is Saturday, June 11. Parade begins at noon, and Circle Village will be open on Wade Oval from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. See you at the Parade!
We recently talked to Thomasine Clark of our Education department about how parents might use the museum’s special exhibition as a great adventure for learning and bonding with their children. She helps plan our family day activities to ensure that there is fun for all ages, so who better to share thoughts on how children might enjoy the current exhibition at an age-appropriate level?
Ever wondered what happens in an Art for Parent and Child class? We visited a recent summer session to give an up-close view of what transpires when you combine more than 10 toddlers and their caring adults with the creative classroom of one of the nation's top art museums. Mix in two experienced teachers, and you have an equation that equals time well spent on a Wednesday or Saturday morning.
Welcome learners!
