I am still learning how to look at art. On our recent visit to the exhibition “Making Africa,” my children and I sat down in front of the art. We slowed down and made ourselves comfortable. It makes sense that a museum is a good place to take your time and give yourself space to …
When do you talk to your children about racial injustice? September Gray, a gallery owner in Atlanta, will open an exhibition at the end of the month that is all about the dialogue. The upcoming show, “IF NOT NOW…WHEN?,” showcases six artists who have something to say about the history and present of racial injustice. …
About Two Squares is a book for children by Russian artist El Lissitizky that was first published in a dense art journal called “De Stijl” in 1922. The book weaves together the rigor of Lissitizky’s studio art practice with the mode of a children’s picture book. Different than most children’s books, you can read this book and …
I had two things on my mind when we started this road trip a few weeks ago. First, I am raising three white boys in Alabama, and I wonder what they will grow up to think about race and power. Second, I am so loved. My partner-in-crime surprised us by arranging an adventure to see …
The Laumeier Sculpture Park is located on over 100 acres at the edge of the city of St. Louis. It was drizzling and muddy when we began our hike through the “Eastern Woodland” section with grandparents and preschoolers. The art park is divided into a few different areas with some mulched and some paved paths. The …
There is a narrative in the professional world of art that equates choosing to be a mother with losing influence and relevance. 51% of visual artists today are women, including half of the granted MFAs in the USA.* However, the representation of women in museums, biennials, or the art market is well documented to be strikingly …
The Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum is tucked away in a small town in Connecticut. It was founded over 50 years ago by an influential art collector, Larry Aldrich. Even though this museum is located outside of a major cultural hub, it consistently exhibits ambitious contemporary art. Thus the historic building, quintessential main street, and quiet …
You can find Vincent Mahé’s (aka Mr. Bidon) illustrations all over The New Yorker, including the above illustration of the new National Museum of African American History and Culture in D.C. We picked up one his picture books in Paris this summer. 750 Years In Paris is one of my favorite architectural history books. With 60 large scale illustrations, …
When my family and I visited the Gori Collection, we learned about the children’s tours designed by Stefania Gori. We took the general tour with our kids, but I saw pictures of children touching and playing with some of the artworks in their bookstore. They were engaging nature and art by pulling out sounds, textures, and …
During the summer, you can visit Guiliano Gori’s art collection at Fattoria di Celle. The property stretches over 70 acres of diverse rolling landscape. The artworks are all site-specific and thus take on a different feel than other collections in sculpture parks. Each artwork is integrated into the landscape by the artist. The ditches, bridges, fields, and groves …