We spent two days in New York City. (Get a rope.) Our time was limited, so we saw only two things. The most important things, in our minds:
- The Statue of Liberty (only from a distance)
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Because the Met was so amazing, I am totally satisfied with our short time in NYC.
Taking a trip to an art museum — any art museum– is a wonderful experience just as is watching a Shakespearean play or listening to a live symphony. So if you have a chance to attend any type of fine arts experience, I recommend you take it whether you’ve studied the topic before or not.
However, after our trip to The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, I am so thankful for our years of artist study. In a Charlotte Mason style, we study one artist per term, looking at one piece of art each day. We add on some simple biographical background and do at least one reproduction of the artist’s work. It doesn’t take a lot of time each day, but consistent exposure to art adds up over the years.
At the Met, both Sprite and I were able to appreciate the pieces on a much deeper level than simply thinking, “I like that one.”
For that matter, if we hadn’t done any artist studies, I doubt we would have been as interested in visiting The Met. Maybe we would’ve spent our few hours in NYC walking in Central Park or gazing in the expensive shops. That’s why I say that CM artist study “took us to The Met.”
We saw familiar pieces that we had studied before.
We saw art from historical periods that we had studied.
We guessed at painters and were thrilled to see that we were right.
We found favorites from our art calendar.
Of course, the objective of our daily artist studies is not to improve our experience at art museums. That is only a secondary benefit. Our trip to the Met verified that Charlotte Mason artist study is providing Sprite (and me) a solid overview of art — both understanding and appreciating it. To see her recognize the works of various artists and be excited to visit The Met proves the value of a CM education.
Don’t underestimate the value of small but consistent increments of time.
[If you understand the “get a rope” line at the beginning, be sure to let me know in a comment. I couldn’t resist.]
Yep, I knew you were going to love it! Wasn’t it like seeing old friends? I think seeing the size of paintings in real life is also always interesting since when have prints or view on a computer screen they all look the same. I like seeing the frames too.
Thank you so much for sharing such a rich entry with the carnival. I am glad that you were able to visit the Met and I look forward to going someday myself. 🙂
This looks like such a wonderful experience for Sprite!! I’m sure you loved it as well. One day I would love to take my children to NYC. We recently visited a museum at Emory University here in Atlanta that has an amazing collection of Ancient Egyptian artifacts, and the current exhibit was actually Winged Beasts – Monsters & Demons in Grecian Art. Wow – what a great trip that was.
We do not do formal artist study but I hope to implement that next year. We pick an artist now and then and read a story for children, look at some of their work and do a little notebooking, but I need to be more organized!
Thank you for the links!
Yay! That looks amazing. One of these days we may make it to NY yet…
I know! It’s the Pace Picante Sauce commercial 😉
And I’m envious that you got to go there – not sinfully envious but wishing someday we could see those masterpieces in real life. Wonderful experience!
Pace Picante sauce! Super cute commercial! It looks like y’all had so much fun.
That’s great that they let you take pictures! The museums around here have no camera policies. 🙁
It’s so great that you had such a fulfilling trip. How exciting to exerience fruits of the homeschool labor 🙂
But did you have any picante sauce while you were there? 😉
Oh, I want to go! We have the Getty here, which is the most fabulous place I’ve ever been 🙂
I recognized many of those paintings but one is my favorite. When we lived in Ohio we actually visited a topiary garden modeled after the masterpiece. I think you’ll enjoy it: http://tinyurl.com/3l7znf3
Can’t wait until I’m able to visit the Met! How exciting!
I can’t wait to go there someday. It looks like you had a wonderful time.
Blessings,
Dawn
I agree with Barb – those frames are so beautiful, and it is always amazing to see the original size, textures and colours in real life, rather than the prints. You are exceedingly fortunate to have so many masterpieces to view! Here in South Africa, we have very few opportunities to see so much under 1 roof.
My children have viewed your post such excitement, pointing and calling out who the artist is and a even giving a few facts! Yay! CM has truly enriched our lives!
We were just there in December and it was amazing. We couldn’t stay terribly long as we were traveling with a toddler but even my three year old was able to recognize some of the art from her little art books. We had just finished studying Mary Cassatt before we went and we had quite the hike to find her. We got lots of great shots for our future studies too.
Next time we’re in NYC we’re going to the Museum of Modern art because it has some of my little ones favorites.
I’m bummed that you didn’t get to stroll through Central Park. It was my absolute favorite.
Looks like you had a wonderful time! I would love to visit NYC. I’ve never been up that far . . . yet.
Amazing!! That Museum must be so inspiring!
“New York City!?!?!!!”
“Get a rope.”
One if the best commercials ever!
Great post, Jimmie!
How wonderful!
I’m sure we’d feel the same way.
We followed your idea about the calendar. It’s just fabulous! My son, who isn’t really ‘into’ art, is the one who checks out the details to share each day. He’s finally found that he likes how art connects with history, even though he doesn’t consider himself very artistic.
New York City?! Get a rope. — A salsa commercial though I don’t remember the brand. Though things like this always make me wonder what cultural cues my kids miss because they don’t see commercials.
Also, this has encouraged me to revisit artist studies. We’ve dropped it lately. Thanks for the encouragement to keep it up.
Oh Jimmie, I am so please for you and Sprite! It must have been a wonderful experience – look at all those van Goghs!! It is so good you were able to take pictures! We weren’t allowed to for the Impresssionists exhibition we saw, maybe because the paintings were on loan from overseas.
Great post! It amazes me how much my children have grown to love and appreciate great art, because of the CM method (me too!). I feel blessed everyday to have a chance to teach them in this method.
I am desperate to go to the Met, so I feel like I got a little chance to live vicariously through your visit. 🙂
yay!
I love it! It looks like it was a fantastic experience. I recognized the Degas too as he is our artist this term. I simply must get the calendar. Thanks for sharing!
How fantastic! I have wanted to go there since reading “From the mixed-up files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler” when I was a kid.
And the MoMA…and the Guggenheim….so much to see!
“Don’t underestimate the value of small but consistent increments of time.”
I love this and it’s exactly what I needed to hear! Thanks!