#children at museum

[newyorkthegoldenage]

Richard and Robert Tussaint seem bemused by a sculpture called "Apple Monster" at the Museum of Modern Art's Alexander Calder exhibit, September 30, 1943. The piece is made of tree branches and wire.

Photo: Ed Ford for the AP

[chaotic-archaeologist]

https://nypost.com/2024/08/28/world-news/boy-4-accidentally-smashes-bronze-age-jar-that-was-at-least-3500-years-old/

Your thoughts?

Personally, I'm kinda sick of museums being required to cater to kids so much. If you're going to do this open air exhibit, kids who don't know how to keep their hands to themselves just shouldn't be allowed in. The glass is there for this very reason.

Actually, I'm with the museum on this one. Is it unfortunate that the vase was broken? Yes. Was the vase a valuable piece of the past? Also yes. But I think the museum did something very cool by not having the artifacts behind glass and are handling this with good grace and the sense to make this a learning opportunity.

Sometimes we overlook the fact that museums often attempt to arrest or freeze artifacts in time. They are kept in controlled conditions to prevent them from deteriorating and even treated to reverse damage. Many things on display on museums are elevated beyond their original value, alienated from their original purpose, and closed off from interaction.

It's incredible that this jar survived as long as it did—and its age is what makes it special—but at the end of the day, it is still a jar. It has now experienced the thing that happens to pretty much every jar that has been or will be. After all, decay is an extant form of life. (If you want to read a very well written and interesting take on decay and archaeology, check out this article by Caitlin DeSilvey.)

The article I linked above provides some important context and the update that the museum is planning on using this as an opportunity to teach about the conservation process. The jar's story is not over; it is being pieced back together and in this next chapter in its life it will be able to tell two stories: one of its life and the other of its rebirth. The museum's approach embraces that, exactly like the Japanese art of Kintsugi.

I also agree with the museum's decision not to punish the child or his family. Things go wrong in museums all the time despite their highly controlled environments, and this is why they have artifacts insured. Sometimes the thing that happens is a child, and by and large museums do not seek damages.

I would encourage you to rethink your stance on museums and children. Museums are for everyone. Children have a right to experience museums and what they have to offer just like anyone else. There are also many studies that discuss how going to museums benefits children.

In this case, perhaps the exhibit design was slightly flawed, but the four year old boy accidentally knocked the jar over because he was curious about what was inside and wanted to investigate. Curiosity is exactly what museums should be encouraging. In an ideal world that curiosity would have been channeled into some other kind of engagement, but the folks who work in museums have a lot on their plates and cannot plan everything perfectly all the time. Even if they could, they often do not have the resources to do so.

Finally, the AP article mentions that the boy and his family were visiting the museum to get away from Hezbollah rocket fire. Regardless of your opinions on the current conflict, everyone deserves to have a safe place to exist. That museums can serve as those spaces is an honor.

I commend the Hecht Museum and the people working there. They 1) successfully provided a place of learning and refuge, 2) opted not for a punitive approach—which is often the default Western model for justice—but a compassionate one, and 3) are using this twist of fate to create programming that will further engage the public.

@museeeuuuum and @museum-spaces would you care to comment?

-Reid

[reality-detective]

You thought Epstein Island was bad? Wait till people find out about this place.

Investigate the GETTY MUSEUM, a pedophile fortress with more than 12 floors underground. Two million women & children were there till 2018.

There are elevators & practically a city down below with thousands of sex slaves. Only people on the “A LIST” can walk all over this place. The elevators lead to a tunnel system. It is guarded with high security. It is a hell created within another hell!

Epstein Island is just the tip of the iceberg.

Welcome to the Real World! 🤔

[life-imitates-art-far-more]

Viggo Johansen (1851-1935) "Silent Night" (1891) Oil on canvas Located in the Hirschsprung Collection, Copenhagen, Denmark

[bauliya]

“i can make that” yes, now. it’s opened a new style of expression for you. it’s shown you that that expression is worthy of consideration. it is a door that has opened and you can now walk through it. why are you mad at it for doing its job.

[lionofchaeronea]

The Umbrella, Marie Bashkirtseff, 1883

[theancientwayoflife]

~ Children's Toy - Сockerel.

Place of origin: Karachay-Cherkessia, Russia

Culture: Early medieval culture of the Adygo-Alanian tribes

Date: A.D. 8th-9th century

Place of origin: North-western Caucasus, Karachayevo-Cherkessk Republic; Archaeological site: Moshchevaya Balka Burial Mound

Medium: Leather, thread, silk.

[otrtbs]

tuned into my art podcast to see if they were gonna say anything about the newly found caravaggio and instead i find out the tories are trying to ban free museum entry in the UK and make everyone pay 🧍‍♀️ starting with the british museum 🧍‍♀️🧍‍♀️🧍‍♀️🧍‍♀️🧍‍♀️

[goddamnshinyrock]

Noella, age ???, had the best answer to the “What do you value about the salt marsh?” question prompt at the nature center. 🥹

[muffinlance]

Writing update: final Scaled Over chapter nearly done! Whether I'll have time to finish it today is entirely up for debate, but I finished some edits that had been holding it back and it should be smooth typing to the end. <3

Isopuppy sewing pattern is also coming along, currently just figuring out Optimal Shell Curvature for Ultimate Good Dog Hugs. Efforts somewhat stymied by toddler putting a leash on it and taking it for walks while his sister crawl-crawl-crawls after. Come back, momma needs to measure...

[stardotnet]

yes, there will be singing

[emaadsidiki]

Photo Spots 📷 Bronx Zoo 🦍

[reality-detective]

If you thought Epstein Island was bad? Wait till people find out about this 👆 place.

Investigate the GETTY MUSEUM, a pedophile fortress with more than 12 floors underground. Two million women & children were there till 2018.

There are elevators & practically a city down below with thousands of sex slaves. Only people on the “A LIST” can walk all over this place. The elevators lead to a tunnel system that is guarded with high security. It is a hell created within another hell!

Epstein Island is just the tip of the iceberg.🤔

Welcome to reality!

[cauls-antique-pepperbox-pistol]

Says peculiardom’s most sexist man

[life-imitates-art-far-more]

George Romney (1734-1802) "The Gower Family: The five youngest children of the 2nd Earl Gower" (c. 1776-1777) Oil on canvas Located in the Abbot Hall Art Gallery, Kendal, England

[tacagen]

one of the things that fascinate me about thawne: yes, he CAN be normal with kids! surprisingly normal!

((not at all times, though. his mental illness still spills through and as usual he, in trying to manipulate or hurt others, spits out at them the exact stuff that would hurt him (or have in his childhood/barry's rejection interpretation) the most in the first place lmao))

but at the same time. his like second instinct when doing his bullshit is FUCK THEM (as) KIDS

(and, well. whatever this classifies as)