Art-lovin' sproggen
Gutterboy
I had timed my trip so I could see the Art Nouveau retrospective at the
National Gallery. One of the best special exhibits I'd ever seen, hands down --
an exquisite collection of furniture, jewelry, home design, vessels, glass,
ceramics, poster art, etc. They had even brought over and reconstructed one of
Guimard's fin-de-siecle Metro entrances from Paris. Staggeringly beautiful, and
just staggering in its scope. (And I kept thinking of Noelle as I walked
through, wishing she was there. More info at:
http://www.nga.gov/feature/nouveau/exhibit_audio.htm)
Naturally, I didn't even attempt to visit on the weekend, but went on a Monday
afternoon. Still, I didn't even get INTO the first room without hearing the
eEeEeEeEeEeEeEeEeE
of a Quietly Fussing sprog.
Said sprog was in a stroller, kicking its feet and ululating like a smoke alarm
while Moo stood, staring at a Lalique dragonfly brooch, ear pressed to a museum
headphone that must have cancelled out the sound of her brat screaming at the
top of its lungs.
I stared directly at her and mouthed, "Jesus CHRIST." Blank moo stare in
return.
It got so bad that I had to rush through the first couple of rooms. In room
two, a pussfruit was pulling at its progenitor, dully repeating "Moe-MEE,
Moe-MEE, Moe-MEE" while she completely ignored it. (What's up with the Moe-mee
pronunciation? They can't say "Mommy"?)
The last 75% of the exhibit, fortunately, was largely sprog-free, except for
the preggo and her mother who stood directly in front of exhibits, not seeming
to see them, while they discussed the contents of her gut. ("He wants to sit
down." "He's not used to you being on your feet this long." [patting stomach]
"Don't worry. We'll be sitting down in a few minutes." "He needs to rest,
too.") Why on God's earth do these people even bother to leave the house?
After finishing the exhibit, I got a bite to eat and decided to hit the
20th-century art wing, a notion that was aborted almost immediately in the
first room.
In its center, amidst the paintings, was a sculpture installation on a large,
low white base. The base was surrounded by a symbolic string, and on the base
was stenciled words to the effect of DO NOT TOUCH.
Five feet away, a HipMoo sat on the floor (!), carrying on a one-sided adult
conversation while its 15-18? month-old proceeded to toddle-crawl over to the
base and CLIMB on it.
"Do you like that one? Do you like that one? It's white. It's big and white!
You LIKE that one, don't you?"
I was the only other person in the room besides a guard, who was staring at the
two of them like they were from Planet X. Finally he walked over, plucked up
the sprog, and said, "Can't you see the sign? You can't let him do that!"
To which HipMoo (black leotard, saggy tits, general hagged-out punk look)
replied:
"Oh, see? We can't touch that! We like it, but we can't touch it! I know you
like it, but the man says we can't touch that!"
I left.
Gutterboy
-----------------
"I have a 14 year old step son who rules the roast." -- Poster to the A0L
Parenting Board
Noelle
news:20010111235255...@ng-bj1.aol.com...
> More sprog tales, this time from the National Gallery.
>
> I had timed my trip so I could see the Art Nouveau retrospective at the
> National Gallery. One of the best special exhibits I'd ever seen, hands
down --
> an exquisite collection of furniture, jewelry, home design, vessels,
glass,
> ceramics, poster art, etc. They had even brought over and reconstructed
one of
> Guimard's fin-de-siecle Metro entrances from Paris. Staggeringly
beautiful, and
> just staggering in its scope. (And I kept thinking of Noelle as I walked
> through, wishing she was there. More info at:
> http://www.nga.gov/feature/nouveau/exhibit_audio.htm)
Aww, thanks! And FWIW, I would have LOVED to see an Art Nouveau exhibit. One
of my favorite times in art history. I know the Metro entrances you're
talking about. Gorgeous, gorgeous stuff.
(Happy Birthday, by the way!)
--
Come on, you raver, you seer of visions
Come on, you painter, you piper, you prisoner, and shine!
--Pink Floyd
http://www.fastlane.net/~gnoelle
Mr Tisane
in that particular gallery. However, upstairs in the eeny squeeny little
doll-house rooms section there was a shrieking banshee. I avoided that section
as long as I could, but finally I thought, screw THIS, I came from SEATTLE to
be here. So I went in and...covered my ears.
Actually it worked out well. I couldn't hear the shrieking except as a muffled
bleating, and wonder of wonders the clueless mother of this creature actually
*noticed* how annoying it was. AND SHE TOOK THE KID AND LEFT THE GALLERY.
Ah, bliss!
(apologies if I posted this story before. Kids in art museums are a sore spot
with me---I worked at the Seattle Art Museum for a hellish year and a half. I
think you get the picture!)
Kipling
-----------------------------
xxjac...@yahoo.com
I am glad you mouthed Jesus Christ at that stupid woman!
I think I would be on boiling point too!
As for the DO NOT TOUCH on the sculpture, why do parents think that
everything is there for kids to play with, it is bad enough having kids
in the office playing around with computer leads etc. Are parents thick
or what.
I went to the Tate Modern which opened in the UK fairly recently.
It was packed and full of kids (babies who would have no interested)
and the place was swamped with sodding pushchairs, getting in they way
etc. Screaming it was awful. In fact,it was swamped with stupid
breeders I left fairly early.
Sent via Deja.com
http://www.deja.com/
Typhonblue
Mr Tisane wrote:
>
> Five feet away, a HipMoo sat on the floor (!), carrying on a one-sided adult
> conversation while its 15-18? month-old proceeded to toddle-crawl over to the
> base and CLIMB on it.
>
> "Do you like that one? Do you like that one? It's white. It's big and white!
> You LIKE that one, don't you?"
I have had a similar expirence. In my case it involved a painting and
two sprog. The sprog's handlers were no where near and the damn little
beasts were stroking the painting and *picking* at the cavass. I kid
not. They were pulling peices of paint off the work. I was so stunned I
didn't know how to react. I said nothing, while thinking "you know, that
painting is probably worth more then you are."
I wish I would have said something. Obviously the kids had no idea how
to respect art.
oce...@my-deja.com
>I said nothing, while thinking "you know, that
> painting is probably worth more then you are."
My sis (now an artist herself), when small, was the ultimate weapon
against evil art-defiling sprog. She would sit in her stroller in
museums and galleries, and say, in a clear and eerily adult tone -
"Mother, why is that child being allowed to behave so badly and
disturb others?" The mombies never did know what to do, and would often
run in apparent terror. Heh.
meb
oce...@my-deja.com wrote:
> My sis (now an artist herself), when small, was the ultimate weapon
> against evil art-defiling sprog. She would sit in her stroller in
> museums and galleries, and say, in a clear and eerily adult tone -
> "Mother, why is that child being allowed to behave so badly and
> disturb others?" The mombies never did know what to do, and would often
> run in apparent terror. Heh.
Is your mother a Bene Gesserit (sp) ?
-Mb
Maven
Ha! I had the exact same association. ;-)
Maven
Pete
When the first measure doesn't work, a second, far more pointed, IMO, is
called for.
A hearty "SILENCE THE CHILD," seems in order here.
Your choice dude but not taking the bull by the horns reinforces the
sense of entitlement.
Whatever...Pete
In article <20010111235255...@ng-bj1.aol.com>,
oce...@my-deja.com
> Is your mother a Bene Gesserit (sp) ?
>
> -Mb
I'm not sure - what is that? I will say that in her more whimsical
moments, she claims to be High Supreme Pope; I think she's a secret
Discordian.
meb
oce...@my-deja.com wrote:
> > Is your mother a Bene Gesserit (sp) ?
> >
> > -Mb
>
> I'm not sure - what is that? I will say that in her more whimsical
> moments, she claims to be High Supreme Pope; I think she's a secret
> Discordian.
Your description of your sister as a child matches the character
"Alia" from "Dune" by Frank Herbert. Her mother was a
Bene Gesserit.
BTW, did anyone see the sci-fi channel movie version of Dune?
-Mb