FairieMoon

Cousins...

Of course one of the highlights of our trip was getting to see people we love! I love the Bay Area just for its geography and geology. I love the varieties of food you can find. I love visiting favorite haunts. But really, in life, the things that are most meaningful are the people you encounter along the way and the memories you make with them.

One of the families it was our pleasure to visit while in the Bay Area, was the family of my father's cousin's son. I am not even going to get into what that makes us...suffice it to say, they are cousins to me.

One of the fun things is to note is how much the children have grown and developed over a year.

Here they are, all lined up on the couch, last year.

See how they've grown?

We all dined together at Chevy's. So much fun!

After dinner, they surprised Punch with the traditional Chevy's birthday greeting, which consisted of the Chevy's staff very boisterously descending upon him with a sombrero and a loud birthday song. I only wish I'd been "in the know" because Punch's facial expression was priceless.

Even those who were "in the know" fell into surprised hysterics...alas, this is the only shot I pulled off in my hurried attempt to get my camera out and catch a little bit of the fun on film.

It is so fun to visit and get together. The time is just too short and then it is gone.

Of course it does help to have a little adventure along the way...stay tuned for updates.

The SF MOMA and other stops along the trail...

As former art students, it is important for Mr. MacGyver and I to instill if not outright love, at least a tolerance for art in our children and expose them to masterworks. This means that several times a year we drag them off to museums to look at art. We are keenly aware of their limit and what makes the outing fun and/or tolerable for them and try to plan accordingly.

Last year when we were in San Francisco, we tried to visit the MOMA, but were thwarted in our attempts by none other than locked doors. Apparently the day we'd chosen to devote our hearts to art was also the day the museum was closed. This year I did my research and planned our excursion around half-price night (which is on Thursdays between 6:00 and 8:30, if you are visiting San Francisco).

But before settling in for a night of culture, we needed to feed our tummies, I cannot stress enough the importance of a happy tummy for an excursion of this sort, and so went for Snaps and Fries at Primo Patio, a Jamaican restaurant located close to the Muni station and the new ball park.

It is a tiny little restaurant with seating in the back open air courtyard, but the food is to die for and the surroundings clean and colorful. Everything on the menu is tasty, but our favorite is snaps and fries -- fried red snapper and fries with a delicious, spicy red dipping sauce. If I could, in any way, impart how delicious this meal is through photography, I would, but since my attempts would only pale the experience, I will not.

With our appetites sated, we made our way over to the MOMA.

I love the reflections in this sculpture. I don't know if reflections were an intent of the artist or not, but it adds to the experience for me. The observer is able to become part of the art and interact with it as her image is reflected back to her. You can see me with my camera in this one.

An activity I'd recommend after taking your child to a museum of any sort is to ask them what exhibit they enjoyed best and why, and then share with them your favorite. This photograph above was one of my favorites. "Why?" You may ask, and it is a good question. When I first looked at it, I wondered what in the world the subject of the photo was...a wall, perhaps? I believe this was entitled Self-Portrait and I couldn't figure out what it might mean that a person chose to take a picture of a wall or an untidy mattress and entitle it Self-Portrait. Then, upon examining the photo closer, I saw the man up at the very top fourth of the photo, lying on what looks to be a very battered mattress. I have to admit, something about the passive posture of the man in conjunction with the composition of the photo is a little bit unnerving if not downright disturbing. It almost looks like he is lying "six feet under," even though his image occurs in the top fourth of the photo, or maybe it kind of looks like he is lying in a coffin, but as the photo is entitled "SELF-Portrait," I have to assume that this isn't so. Anyway, whatever the meaning, it is an evocative image for me. I obviously spent some time examining and thinking about the image and how it made me feel.

By the way, I desperately wish I could tell you who created these works of art but I didn't think to photograph the info cards as I walked along snapping photos. I think I felt a little sheepish taking pictures at all, even though many people were doing it. 

Here is something far more uplifting for you to look at. Again, I can't say for sure, but I believe this painting was a part of a larger installment that included many paintings/drawings created by anonymous South American or African artists...I truly wish I could be more illuminating.

At last...This is a painting by Mark Rothko. And I must admit upon first glance, it looks like a pretty boring painting consisting of two blocks of color, but I assure you, upon closer examination, there are actually a variety of shades and hues in each of the blocks as well as interesting brushwork. Not only that, but it is interesting to note that the color black from which the larger block of orange/red seems to be rising, actually dominates the brighter color by surrounding it and keeping it encapsulated. I really love his work!

I framed my photos of artwork on either side with pictures of the MOMA's architecture because I wanted to make a point that it is wonderful when great works of art can be stored in such a pleasing and aesthetic atmosphere. The walls here were very sculptural.

In case you are interested in having an art adventure with your children, I thought I'd give you a few tricks I've learned because taking small people to an art museum is really not for the faint of heart. 

1.  Mentally and emotionally prepared your children ahead of time for what to expect...i.e.: "We will have lunch and then walk around the museum for an hour, after which time we will make a short visit to the gift shop before going to get some hot chocolate." Managing expectations is always half the battle. Also, be sure to plan your trip, meaning DON'T follow our example and just show up to find that the gallery or museum is closed. This really destroys momentum.

2.  Make sure everyone is well-rested, well-fed and has visited the restroom before hiking up the stairs to the first exhibit. Children who are tired, hungry or have to go to the bathroom will resent every step and every piece of art and make your visit miserable...this really goes for adults as well.

3.  Don't plan for a long visit. Most children (and adults) can only process looking at art for a short time. I find that an hour to an hour and a half is a good amount of time. Not only that but start with shorter visits and build on them. If it is important to you, you'll want them to have a pleasant experience.

4.  If you can, visit a smaller gallery/museum or installment first. If you can find an exhibit with a theme -- Calder to Warhol or Whistler's Out of the Mist -- the thematic grouping will make it easier for them to process what they see.

5.  Bring small sketchbooks and colored pencils and encourage them to draw some of the things they see. Draw with them. This will involve them in the process and inspire them to create art for themselves.

6.  Consider allowing them to purchase a small item -- a post card of one of their favorite pieces, a pencil, something simple -- from the gift shop. I can't tell you how much they love this and it will make their trip memorable and fun.

7.  Plan a refreshing treat after you're finished, a trip to the ice cream store, a cup of hot chocolate and a cookie at the local coffee shop. It will again fill their tummies and give them warm and cozy memories of your trip.

8.  Talk to them about what you saw, their favorites, your favorites, share your drawings. Talk about what they think some of the more difficult/abstract pieces might be depicting, what they might mean and how they make them feel. Share your thoughts.

As they become more seasoned art critics, the props, gifts and refreshments will become less important as they learn to enjoy the time you spend together and gather an appreciation for the things they see. I find that some children prefer modern art to more realistic art. I think they can see more of themselves in it whereas looking at one portrait after another of people you don't know wearing funny costumes gets boring. It is my theory that art has developed over a path for centuries. You can trace its progression through history if you want to. However, it is also my theory that it is easier for children to work from modern to more realistic and then back up again. If they become acquainted with what is more accessible to them and then work progressively back to the artwork that inspired what they've already come to understand, it will build an understanding of where traditions and techniques came from. Of course, there is always an exception to this rule; you can always chose to build their knowledge from the other end of art history. What might be helpful is to brush up on your Greek and Roman mythology and basic Bible stories so you can explain what is being depicted in the artwork.

I would love to hear about your art adventures, so please feel free to leave me a comment or drop me an email at anytime.

Dollhouse...

I have reached a point in my photo diary of our trip to San Francisco in which I need to do some photo processing, and so in an attempt to give you a visual break, as well as much needed time for myself to process photos, I am going to bring you back to "real time" in the Weathertop household today.

Last week, in preparation for school to begin, we did a little fall cleaning which resulted in a much needed drop-off of unwanted things to Goodwill. Doesn't it feel good to get rid of a car load of clutter you don't need anymore? I need to do that more often.

Once we'd gone through the donations line, we couldn't resist a little field trip through the store itself. You see, it is one of Judy and my favorite places to shop.

Well, when we walked in, sitting right inside the door, directly within my line of sight was a little blue dollhouse that beckoned ever so encouragingly to me. I have long searched for an old battered dollhouse of the right size and price. I looked the little house over, assessing its size and quality...it would not due to bring home a house that was shoddily made or structurally unsound; we are quite discerning in these matters, you know...and I was delighted to find that it was very sturdy and in an excellent, if used, condition, making it an almost perfect fit for my requirements. (You see, I do, in fact, have the perfect house in mind. I saw one on ebay once made by an English company that had a little base, little metal shutters that opened and closed and just the right amount of patina, shabbiness and dirt...sadly, I didn't bid high enough...sniff, sniff...and didn't realize until the bidding was over that this was one of THOSE purchases -- or lack thereof -- that I would regret forever.)

To make a long story short, at $12.99, that little blue house became mine and I am here today with pictures of our new abode.

As you can see, it is a simple structure of simple make and model, but the rooms are tall enough for Hitty Dauphine and the structure is sturdy and strong.

You can see the bare bones here.

One of my requirements, you see, was that the house was not made from one of those kits that contain slotted pattern pieces out of splintery wood that fit together like a puzzle. I wanted floors that met the walls smoothly and did not bow and warp.

Hitty Dauphine and Hitty Too gave it a once over and declared it charming indeed. As you can see, the rooms are small but adequate.

My original intent, in my quest for a vintage dollhouse, was to set it on top of my computer cabinet, empty (so you see, the patina and wear was part of the attraction)...this dream is an old one, possibly dating back to before the arrival of Hitty into our cozy little household and so I do not know if this house will actually perform that function as I now have other goodies sitting atop the cabinet and several wee wooden people dreaming of homes.

I've thought of decorating it Anne of Green Gables style with vintage furniture and appliances. That might take some work however. I could also make it into a schoolhouse...the possibilities are endless.

Why don't you tell me what you think I should do? Perhaps you'll light upon a possibility I haven't considered. Leave a comment, by clicking on the comments link below or drop me an email.

Chinatown...

During our ten days in California, we spent a lot of time in Chinatown. The funny thing is, we visited Chinatown last year when we were in San Francisco as well and stayed only an half an hour before we were Chinatown-ed out. This year, however, we couldn't seem to get enough of it and even went back a second day. But then, this year we were on a quest to find the Monkey King, who, now that I mention it, is unavailable for statements as  he is busy sitting on my Mr. MacGyver's desk at work.

Here is Punch at the gates...never a serious moment.

While Mr. MacGyver was inside a store across the street from this bakery, I spent quite a few minutes watching the comings and goings from within. There was something very intriguing to me about this little pocket of life. I never did cross the street to get a closer look; however, I think the charm sprung out of the fact that it was, indeed, so far removed from me and I was only observing the slice of life represented inside.

I was particularly enamored of the swags of lanterns and pennants hanging in the streets. I don't remember them from last year, which doesn't mean that they weren't there, but they definitely lent a air of celebration to our visit.

Like I said, there were lanterns everywhere, both in and out, of every color, size, material and texture.

All in all, it was a delightful visit filled with color and warmth.