NEWS: Teaching Kids to Be an Art Poseur

CULTURE: Teaching Kids to Be an Art Poseur

There is nothing in the world that makes an art aficionado more nervous than a pack of children tromping through a museum. Art museums and their older patrons can’t handle that level of tactile interaction, random screams, and grubby faces. But many artists are bringing children to gallery openings and museums and parents are teaching children how to behave at art shows.

At the same time, there have been many art shows that seem to be completely perfect for children, but asking them to sit with silent adults observing a piece of steak being stapled on a wall is a bit much. That being said, if parents don’t teach their children how to behave in grown up settings, they’ll have to sit in the corner and be a performing art piece called “the TiMe OUTT.”

Asking an adult to sit silently while a steak is stapled to a wall is a bit much.

[Edited on Apr 07, 2006 9:24PM]

Nothing to do with the article, but I posed nude for a photographer at the university, she made me pose on a big dirty sink while dressed in nylons and a corset while wearing a nasty pig mask. It was cool!

What does teaching children about respect for other people and space have to do with being 'an art poseur'?

While I respect the writer, that's my question as well.

I saw a film about richard serra. Kids were shouting to hear the echoes off his work and being shushed. I like to think that Serra prefers people to explore the work, rather than reflect on it.

It's not about respecting people, it's about having a ridiculous expectation of children and a pompous view of art. While I can't stand people who talk too loud about a paintings FRAME, I can't respect someone who walks into a gallery and doesn't turn into a totally pretentious prick because they've seen "Pollock" and think they are suddenly experts on modern art.

Kids want to interact with art because it's hard for them to understand the abstract concept behind work. They experience things differently, and should therefore be allowed to interact with art differently. I'm not saying they should be allowed to touch every monet or climb on the berninis, but it's bullshit to expect a kid to be seen and not heard when they are forced to endure their parent's need to experience something "cultural". And honestly, if you want your kids to be cultured take them to a science or history museum, or a play...they won't be bored to tears, and they'll still experience something that isn't psp or spongebob.

And the kid PROBABLY stuck his gum on the frankenthaler because there was PROBABLY gum already on it... (not really, but if it had been a Pollock there definitely was. Or at least cigarette butts.)

[Edited on Apr 07, 2006 11:08PM]

Artists should be pleased that anyone shows up.

Won't somebody PLEASE think of the children?!?!

Ah, what's an art poseur?

Ah yes here it is…

po·seur n
somebody who behaves or dresses to impress others

I disagree... Why should that be the better way?

[Edited on Apr 08, 2006 2:28AM]

its ok if your children are having a hard time grasping 'be quiet' and 'dont touch'. theyre just not ready to go to go look at art yet.

besides, imagine being a 4 year old in a modern art exhibit. 'i could do that'. 'i could do that'. 'did that last week'. 'is that poop'? 'i could do that'. probably not the most enlightening experience for them.

i personally like a child's naivete..try not to let the wonder and surprise leave your mind..it's a wonderfull life

exactly the reason i've never been a fan of "modern" art. Take the kid to the surrealist and impressionistic sections...hehe.

Are you serious? When is it ever OK to desecrate someone else's work without consent?

I think she was being sarcastic.

why can't kids just BE KIDS!!!??

I get pretty restless at art shows or museums and start tugging on the sleeve of whomever I'm with, asking to go to Taco Bell. I guess I'm not a poser.

Agreed.

Part of me (the mom part) agrees it's important to instill contextual behavior in children.

Part of me reads this:

...and thinks- That kid is punk as fuck AND an artist him/herself.

Because we live in a culture of disrespect for others, where a person is brought up to believe that they are the single most important thing in the universe, and where the pain and inconvienience of others doesn't matter as long as you're having a good time.

[Edited on Apr 08, 2006 by Shalome]

Wait...are you being sarcastic as well?

I understand. I didn't interpret the previous post correctly. I'm in your camp.