A Family of Art

I was very excited to act on the inspiration the education department gave me at their intern talk and volunteer at the MCA's November Family Day last weekend. I was assisting with a project called the Art Telescope. Kids were given cardboard boxes in their unfolded state, they were asked to paint them as fully and as abstractly as they wished.

Once the paint was (mostly) dry we volunteers folded up and taped up the boxes, with the painting on the inside. Because of holes that were already cut in the boxes, the kids could peek in from different angles and see what their work looked like from a completely different perspective than they had when they painted it. It was very creative and fun.

I loved getting paint on my hands and helping the kids. It was interesting to see all the different styles the kids had and styles of parenting the parents had. But even though it was fun, and I could have kept doing it all day, I was glad when my shift ended and I could check out all the other fun things going on around the museum.

In the 2nd floor annex there were performances by ensembles either completely, or at least featuring, kids and teens. It was great to listen to this very accomplished jazz ensemble of young musicians.

The third floor also had some arty activities, the most visually stimulating being the dress up area. Big squares of color-sorted clothes for kids to try on and get their picture taken in. I loved this little girl with a mulit-layer cape.

Family Day at the MCA was just as fun as I hoped it would be. And the atmosphere was truly like a big block party. Definitely a community, or even better a huge extened family. I will look forward to going back, and hopefully bringing some more people with me.

Halloween Magic

Can you see the witch? I loved this drawing when I passed it a couple weeks ago. Classic witch.

We had a good Halloween.

We were the Honeymooners with another couple (Al and Lindsay, aka Ralph and Alice). My "character's" name was Trixie, which Mike decided is going to be his new nickname for me.

On my own, most people thought I was supposed to be Peggy from Madmen. But no matter, wearing vintage clothes is a favorite past-time of mine, so though this was not so much of a recognizable costume for me, it was fun.

Where were we, you might ask. Well our dear friend, Cindy, has her birthday party every year on the closest Saturday to Halloween. This means we all have a fabulous Halloween party to attend every year. This year was the most fabulous yet, a private room at Fat Cat with lots of yummy snacks, candy and friends.

Thanks Cindy! (She's the lovely sinorita on the right, Cindy's fellow flamenco dancer on the left is Meg)

Their husbands were hilarious as a Chilean miner and the rescue pod.


They weren't the only Chileans in attendace here is another miner with his loving mistress.




We were also exceedingly lucky to have visitors from the west--our good friends Maria and Diane (aka Lady Gaga and Cleopatra) came back from San Francisco for the party!

We were so happy to have them stay with us. We have missed them so, it was great to hang out for two whole days. (Here with Maria, Diane and me is Megan, who makes one cute alien.)

I have to say that one of the funnest and most magical things about Halloween is how people in costume are normal and people in street clothes look strange. You see someone out of costume and they turn your head, like What the Heck!?! Isn't that funny? What a magical night it is, when the fun of make-believe reigns!

But sooner or later the good times had to end. We took one last picture before the last of us went home.

Speaking of magic, I wanted to mention this great children's book I recently finished.

A wonderful adventure about the power that books can have to transport a reader, the book in the story actually transports three children into the world of books they had read. The children are about 7, 9 and 11, giving the story parts that many children can relate to. However, there is one scene where the oldest girl innocently wonders at her changing body, so I wonder whether this should only be recommend for older children. But I enjoyed it and it was a fun read for anyone who likes to get nostalgic about memories of lazy summer days past.