Tacoma Art Museum: Eric Carle Exhibit “Beyond Books”

“The Very Hungry Caterpillar” by Eric Carle

Today Taylor and I made a day trip to the Tacoma Art Museum.  Their current exhibit “Beyond Books” features the works of Eric Carle who is best known for his children’s book illustrations, you probably know him from his book “The Very Hungry Caterpillar”.  I was thrilled to see an exhibit that was so applicable to my research this quarter on children’s domestic space.

As we approached the museum a large group of children and teachers (who were busily keeping the group together) passed us on the sidewalk.  The children were energetically talking, skipping, laughing, dropping their lunches, distracted as they almost walked into other people walking by as we passed.

We entered the museum, pulled out our wallets, student ID’s, and prepared to pay the $8 student enterance fee.  When they saw that we were Evergreen students the woman said that we had free admission. I did not know until today that Evergreen pays the Tacoma Art Museum a membership fee for students – so we get in for free!

The entire museum allows photography (darn!  I didn’t bring my camera – so the photos were taken with my phone…), except for the Eric Carle collection of personal art work (which he calls “ArtArt”… more on that later).

Chihuly Glass

We first stopped to see a small exhibit featuring some beautiful Chihuly glass.  The museum also showed glass work of other artists.  While looking at the glass, we heard another huge group of children coming from the neighboring Beyond Books Exhibit.  It must be a destination for school field trips!  The 20-30 children walked by and left.

“ArtArt”

Over recent years Eric Carle has stepped away from what he is most well known for (children’s illustrations), and has begun experimenting with other forms of art – hence the exhibit name Beyond Books.  In this section of his private work, we were asked to not take photos.

Eric Carle has dabbled in numerous art mediums throughout his life, constantly tweaking his style.  His first works shown were from the 50′s when he started out doing poster art.  The exhibit then moved on to his early book covers, and also block prints.

There was a short film interview with Carle playing in the exhibit which I sat down to watch.  It was beautiful to hear about his passion for color.  He talked about his fascination with colors – even colors that are not possible for humans to perceive, while certain bugs can – he said that he wished he could be one of those bugs and have that experience.  Growing up in Germany during World War II, he talked about the overcast grey weather (sound familiar?), and camouflaged cities in an attempting to avoid bombings.  He found comfort during this time from the abstract painters who used bright, unreal colors.

“Large Circles” by Eric Carle

Since his success with children’s illustrations, Carle has begun what he humorously calls “ArtArt”.  He experiments with painting, collage (often using scraps from old illustrations), glass work, and photography.  He keeps his same style consistent using bright colors.

I was inspired by Eric Carle’s recent photography.  In his interview he talked about his ability to play in a parking lot all day – exploring often unnoticed details, colors, lines, and shapes.  To capture these details he has taken up street photography (see image on right).  He calls his photos “found art” because he is admiring and capturing what is already there.  His photography and viewpoint inspired me to think differently about my own photographs, and to simply capture “found art” in everyday life.

Classic Eric Carle Illustrations & Art

After viewing Eric Carle’s “ArtArt”, we stepped into a second area of the Beyond Books exhibit.  This section did allow photography.  Featured were images from his books, notes to friends, and typography art.

Catering to children, this second section had two interactive art pieces which were colorful boards with magnetic strips to create your own Carle inspired designs.  The exhibit also had a desk in the middle with access to some of Eric Carle’s books in various languages.  I appreciated that by adding these two simple features the exhibit encouraged interactive reading and art for children.

Interactive Art

Overall, I appreciated Eric Carle’s dedication to children’s book illustrations and his passion for art and color.

“A Blue Horse and…” by Eric Carle

 

 

 

 

Tacoma Art Museum: Eric Carle Exhibit “Beyond Books”

“The Very Hungry Caterpillar” by Eric Carle

Today Taylor and I made a day trip to the Tacoma Art Museum.  Their current exhibit “Beyond Books” features the works of Eric Carle who is best known for his children’s book illustrations, you probably know him from his book “The Very Hungry Caterpillar”.  I was thrilled to see an exhibit that was so applicable to my research this quarter on children’s domestic space.

As we approached the museum a large group of children and teachers (who were busily keeping the group together) passed us on the sidewalk.  The children were energetically talking, skipping, laughing, dropping their lunches, distracted as they almost walked into other people walking by as we passed.

We entered the museum, pulled out our wallets, student ID’s, and prepared to pay the $8 student enterance fee.  When they saw that we were Evergreen students the woman said that we had free admission. I did not know until today that Evergreen pays the Tacoma Art Museum a membership fee for students – so we get in for free!

The entire museum allows photography (darn!  I didn’t bring my camera – so the photos were taken with my phone…), except for the Eric Carle collection of personal art work (which he calls “ArtArt”… more on that later).

Chihuly Glass

We first stopped to see a small exhibit featuring some beautiful Chihuly glass.  The museum also showed glass work of other artists.  While looking at the glass, we heard another huge group of children coming from the neighboring Beyond Books Exhibit.  It must be a destination for school field trips!  The 20-30 children walked by and left.

“ArtArt”

Over recent years Eric Carle has stepped away from what he is most well known for (children’s illustrations), and has begun experimenting with other forms of art – hence the exhibit name Beyond Books.  In this section of his private work, we were asked to not take photos.

Eric Carle has dabbled in numerous art mediums throughout his life, constantly tweaking his style.  His first works shown were from the 50′s when he started out doing poster art.  The exhibit then moved on to his early book covers, and also block prints.

There was a short film interview with Carle playing in the exhibit which I sat down to watch.  It was beautiful to hear about his passion for color.  He talked about his fascination with colors – even colors that are not possible for humans to perceive, while certain bugs can – he said that he wished he could be one of those bugs and have that experience.  Growing up in Germany during World War II, he talked about the overcast grey weather (sound familiar?), and camouflaged cities in an attempting to avoid bombings.  He found comfort during this time from the abstract painters who used bright, unreal colors.

“Large Circles” by Eric Carle

Since his success with children’s illustrations, Carle has begun what he humorously calls “ArtArt”.  He experiments with painting, collage (often using scraps from old illustrations), glass work, and photography.  He keeps his same style consistent using bright colors.

I was inspired by Eric Carle’s recent photography.  In his interview he talked about his ability to play in a parking lot all day – exploring often unnoticed details, colors, lines, and shapes.  To capture these details he has taken up street photography (see image on right).  He calls his photos “found art” because he is admiring and capturing what is already there.  His photography and viewpoint inspired me to think differently about my own photographs, and to simply capture “found art” in everyday life.

Classic Eric Carle Illustrations & Art

After viewing Eric Carle’s “ArtArt”, we stepped into a second area of the Beyond Books exhibit.  This section did allow photography.  Featured were images from his books, notes to friends, and typography art.

Catering to children, this second section had two interactive art pieces which were colorful boards with magnetic strips to create your own Carle inspired designs.  The exhibit also had a desk in the middle with access to some of Eric Carle’s books in various languages.  I appreciated that by adding these two simple features the exhibit encouraged interactive reading and art for children.

Interactive Art

Overall, I appreciated Eric Carle’s dedication to children’s book illustrations and his passion for art and color.

“A Blue Horse and…” by Eric Carle

 

 

 

 

Tacoma Art Museum: Eric Carle Exhibit “Beyond Books”

“The Very Hungry Caterpillar” by Eric Carle

Today Taylor and I made a day trip to the Tacoma Art Museum.  Their current exhibit “Beyond Books” features the works of Eric Carle who is best known for his children’s book illustrations, you probably know him from his book “The Very Hungry Caterpillar”.  I was thrilled to see an exhibit that was so applicable to my research this quarter on children’s domestic space.

As we approached the museum a large group of children and teachers (who were busily keeping the group together) passed us on the sidewalk.  The children were energetically talking, skipping, laughing, dropping their lunches, distracted as they almost walked into other people walking by as we passed.

We entered the museum, pulled out our wallets, student ID’s, and prepared to pay the $8 student enterance fee.  When they saw that we were Evergreen students the woman said that we had free admission. I did not know until today that Evergreen pays the Tacoma Art Museum a membership fee for students – so we get in for free!

The entire museum allows photography (darn!  I didn’t bring my camera – so the photos were taken with my phone…), except for the Eric Carle collection of personal art work (which he calls “ArtArt”… more on that later).

Chihuly Glass

We first stopped to see a small exhibit featuring some beautiful Chihuly glass.  The museum also showed glass work of other artists.  While looking at the glass, we heard another huge group of children coming from the neighboring Beyond Books Exhibit.  It must be a destination for school field trips!  The 20-30 children walked by and left.

“ArtArt”

Over recent years Eric Carle has stepped away from what he is most well known for (children’s illustrations), and has begun experimenting with other forms of art – hence the exhibit name Beyond Books.  In this section of his private work, we were asked to not take photos.

Eric Carle has dabbled in numerous art mediums throughout his life, constantly tweaking his style.  His first works shown were from the 50′s when he started out doing poster art.  The exhibit then moved on to his early book covers, and also block prints.

There was a short film interview with Carle playing in the exhibit which I sat down to watch.  It was beautiful to hear about his passion for color.  He talked about his fascination with colors – even colors that are not possible for humans to perceive, while certain bugs can – he said that he wished he could be one of those bugs and have that experience.  Growing up in Germany during World War II, he talked about the overcast grey weather (sound familiar?), and camouflaged cities in an attempting to avoid bombings.  He found comfort during this time from the abstract painters who used bright, unreal colors.

“Large Circles” by Eric Carle

Since his success with children’s illustrations, Carle has begun what he humorously calls “ArtArt”.  He experiments with painting, collage (often using scraps from old illustrations), glass work, and photography.  He keeps his same style consistent using bright colors.

I was inspired by Eric Carle’s recent photography.  In his interview he talked about his ability to play in a parking lot all day – exploring often unnoticed details, colors, lines, and shapes.  To capture these details he has taken up street photography (see image on right).  He calls his photos “found art” because he is admiring and capturing what is already there.  His photography and viewpoint inspired me to think differently about my own photographs, and to simply capture “found art” in everyday life.

Classic Eric Carle Illustrations & Art

After viewing Eric Carle’s “ArtArt”, we stepped into a second area of the Beyond Books exhibit.  This section did allow photography.  Featured were images from his books, notes to friends, and typography art.

Catering to children, this second section had two interactive art pieces which were colorful boards with magnetic strips to create your own Carle inspired designs.  The exhibit also had a desk in the middle with access to some of Eric Carle’s books in various languages.  I appreciated that by adding these two simple features the exhibit encouraged interactive reading and art for children.

Interactive Art

Overall, I appreciated Eric Carle’s dedication to children’s book illustrations and his passion for art and color.

“A Blue Horse and…” by Eric Carle

 

 

 

 

Toys to Encourage Imagination & Development

In my last article, Imagination & Creation, I talked about the importance of imagination in child development.  I will create a series of short articles talking about ways to encourage this development.  Today my focus is on a child’s toys.  I’ve been reading the book “You Are Your Child’s First Teacher” by Rahima Baldwin Dancy, and will be using it as a reference because of all the wonderful information within this reading.

Children naturally know how to play, first through movement (infants), then through imagination by mimicking the world around them (pretending to vacuum, cook, etc.), and then through conversational imaginative play.  These stages do not necessarily need to be directed, they will come naturally.  But, the following are some important things to consider when providing toys for your developing child.  The presentation of toys, messages from toys and complexity of toys all have an affect on the development and imagination.

Toys to Encourage Imaginative Play

Mainstream toys today tend to be complicated, brightly colored, high tech toys – which are not really necessary.  The problem with most of these toys is that they don’t require any imagination.  This explains why so many children stand in their room filled with toys and proclaim “I’M BORED!”.  They are overstimulating, and not in the right way – the imagination is not stimulated!

In the book You Are Your Child’s First Teacher Dancy encourages parents to go through their child’s room, and get rid of any toys that aren’t leaving any room for the imagination.  Dancy encourages simple wooden toys multiple times in this read – she encourages creating toys with wood found outdoors, with boxes, etc.  Obviously, wooden toys are not your only option – but try to think about whether or not the toy is filling in for the child’s imagination, or if it leaves room for the child to do the creating.

Toys can affect how children see the world

Another thing that Dancy outlines in her book is to think about the world message that toys are giving children.  Is their toy dark, violent, sexy, angry, upset?  All of these things affect the child and their perception of themselves and the world as a whole.  The best thing would be to have neutral toys, the child will fill in the toys emotion without being told visual specifics.  Dancy has an interesting section talking about dolls, and the importance of dolls to both young boys and girls.

Through play the child familiarizes himself with the world and assimilates it, making it his own.  His senses become sharpened and he is better able to control the instrument of his body and to realate to nature and his fellow human beings.  Play with dolls is important as one of the ways the child can externalize his own inner being. ‘Through the doll the child finds its own self,’ Brits-Crecelius states…in Children at Play. (Dancy, pg. 169)

Displaying & Organizing Toys

One of my favorite recommendations in this book (You Are Your Child’s First Teacher) is when Dancy discusses how to organize and display toys for children.  It is normal to buy tubs and baskets to dump toys into – this is easy for you and the child to put away.  But, according to Dancy this is not beneficial to encourage independent play (which is important for their development).  Dancy recommends displaying the toys neatly by ending each day neatly putting away their toys and setting up “scenes” – preferably on a shelf or table where they are visible.

Although it may seem like extra world to clean up with your child at the end of each day, arranging toys invitingly on shelves or tables will encourage your child to be self-motivating in his [or her] play.  Arranging little scenes on tables or shelves will invite the child to “live into” the scene and start to play with it the next day. (Dancy, pg. 174)

I love this idea of setting up scenes!  How fun for a child to do this with their parent, stimulate their imagination by having their toy dinosaur and doll sitting next to a campfire awaiting their next day of play.

 

Through being conscious of the effect that toys can have on children, parents can ensure that their children’s toys are encouraging the imagination, create more comfort and peace, while supporting independent play.  For more information on this I recommend reading “You Are Your Child’s First Teacher”, and also looking at my article on Children and Physical Space.

 

 

 

 

Reading Reflection 5

The Medieval Kitchen (2012) makes one appreciate that the world has changed. To have lived a life in the medieval times meant hygiene and eating habits that by today’s standards seem crude.

The days were long for people who lived in medieval times. It was believed that if you were to live a long life you would wake up at 5 in the morning, eat dinner at 9 in the morning, eat supper at 5 in the evening and be in bed at 9 at night just to wake up and do it all over again. It was a only eat twice a day; more meals was considered unhealthy and courted sin. Also, it was important to separate one’s self from the lower animals whose behavior was to eat all day.

Hygiene was a really important issue during a formal medieval meal because individual forks had not yet been introduced; everyone ate with their fingers. Towards the end of the 14th century the Italians introduced the regular use of individual forks but, it took another 200-300 years for it to spread to other parts of Europe. This was an important issue because many dishes were served in one big platter. Everyone who sat at the table all reached in to grab their food with their fingers. Therefore it was important for one to wash his or her hands and keep them clean so their germs would not be spread.

The lower class and the upper class at very differently. Lower class people ate a lot of vegetables and food plants along with bread. For dinner a workers diet consisted of barley bread, cabbage, and some milk. The lower class typically boiled their food so they could get the maximum nutrients. On the other hand the upper class people had numerous dishes being served to them for each meal of the day. They were served the best produce, meats, fish and spices they could afford and if any of it went bad it was tossed out for anyone outside of the family who wanted it. One thing both classes had in common was that meat was only eaten on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays were fasting days which means that no one ate meat on theses days.

Reading Reflection 5

The Medieval Kitchen (2012) makes one appreciate that the world has changed. To have lived a life in the medieval times meant hygiene and eating habits that by today’s standards seem crude.

The days were long for people who lived in medieval times. It was believed that if you were to live a long life you would wake up at 5 in the morning, eat dinner at 9 in the morning, eat supper at 5 in the evening and be in bed at 9 at night just to wake up and do it all over again. It was a only eat twice a day; more meals was considered unhealthy and courted sin. Also, it was important to separate one’s self from the lower animals whose behavior was to eat all day.

Hygiene was a really important issue during a formal medieval meal because individual forks had not yet been introduced; everyone ate with their fingers. Towards the end of the 14th century the Italians introduced the regular use of individual forks but, it took another 200-300 years for it to spread to other parts of Europe. This was an important issue because many dishes were served in one big platter. Everyone who sat at the table all reached in to grab their food with their fingers. Therefore it was important for one to wash his or her hands and keep them clean so their germs would not be spread.

The lower class and the upper class at very differently. Lower class people ate a lot of vegetables and food plants along with bread. For dinner a workers diet consisted of barley bread, cabbage, and some milk. The lower class typically boiled their food so they could get the maximum nutrients. On the other hand the upper class people had numerous dishes being served to them for each meal of the day. They were served the best produce, meats, fish and spices they could afford and if any of it went bad it was tossed out for anyone outside of the family who wanted it. One thing both classes had in common was that meat was only eaten on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays were fasting days which means that no one ate meat on theses days.

Reading Reflection 5

The Medieval Kitchen (2012) makes one appreciate that the world has changed. To have lived a life in the medieval times meant hygiene and eating habits that by today’s standards seem crude.

The days were long for people who lived in medieval times. It was believed that if you were to live a long life you would wake up at 5 in the morning, eat dinner at 9 in the morning, eat supper at 5 in the evening and be in bed at 9 at night just to wake up and do it all over again. It was a only eat twice a day; more meals was considered unhealthy and courted sin. Also, it was important to separate one’s self from the lower animals whose behavior was to eat all day.

Hygiene was a really important issue during a formal medieval meal because individual forks had not yet been introduced; everyone ate with their fingers. Towards the end of the 14th century the Italians introduced the regular use of individual forks but, it took another 200-300 years for it to spread to other parts of Europe. This was an important issue because many dishes were served in one big platter. Everyone who sat at the table all reached in to grab their food with their fingers. Therefore it was important for one to wash his or her hands and keep them clean so their germs would not be spread.

The lower class and the upper class at very differently. Lower class people ate a lot of vegetables and food plants along with bread. For dinner a workers diet consisted of barley bread, cabbage, and some milk. The lower class typically boiled their food so they could get the maximum nutrients. On the other hand the upper class people had numerous dishes being served to them for each meal of the day. They were served the best produce, meats, fish and spices they could afford and if any of it went bad it was tossed out for anyone outside of the family who wanted it. One thing both classes had in common was that meat was only eaten on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays were fasting days which means that no one ate meat on theses days.

Reading Reflection 5

The Medieval Kitchen (2012) makes one appreciate that the world has changed. To have lived a life in the medieval times meant hygiene and eating habits that by today’s standards seem crude.

The days were long for people who lived in medieval times. It was believed that if you were to live a long life you would wake up at 5 in the morning, eat dinner at 9 in the morning, eat supper at 5 in the evening and be in bed at 9 at night just to wake up and do it all over again. It was a only eat twice a day; more meals was considered unhealthy and courted sin. Also, it was important to separate one’s self from the lower animals whose behavior was to eat all day.

Hygiene was a really important issue during a formal medieval meal because individual forks had not yet been introduced; everyone ate with their fingers. Towards the end of the 14th century the Italians introduced the regular use of individual forks but, it took another 200-300 years for it to spread to other parts of Europe. This was an important issue because many dishes were served in one big platter. Everyone who sat at the table all reached in to grab their food with their fingers. Therefore it was important for one to wash his or her hands and keep them clean so their germs would not be spread.

The lower class and the upper class at very differently. Lower class people ate a lot of vegetables and food plants along with bread. For dinner a workers diet consisted of barley bread, cabbage, and some milk. The lower class typically boiled their food so they could get the maximum nutrients. On the other hand the upper class people had numerous dishes being served to them for each meal of the day. They were served the best produce, meats, fish and spices they could afford and if any of it went bad it was tossed out for anyone outside of the family who wanted it. One thing both classes had in common was that meat was only eaten on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays were fasting days which means that no one ate meat on theses days.

Reading Reflection 5

The Medieval Kitchen (2012) makes one appreciate that the world has changed. To have lived a life in the medieval times meant hygiene and eating habits that by today’s standards seem crude.

The days were long for people who lived in medieval times. It was believed that if you were to live a long life you would wake up at 5 in the morning, eat dinner at 9 in the morning, eat supper at 5 in the evening and be in bed at 9 at night just to wake up and do it all over again. It was a only eat twice a day; more meals was considered unhealthy and courted sin. Also, it was important to separate one’s self from the lower animals whose behavior was to eat all day.

Hygiene was a really important issue during a formal medieval meal because individual forks had not yet been introduced; everyone ate with their fingers. Towards the end of the 14th century the Italians introduced the regular use of individual forks but, it took another 200-300 years for it to spread to other parts of Europe. This was an important issue because many dishes were served in one big platter. Everyone who sat at the table all reached in to grab their food with their fingers. Therefore it was important for one to wash his or her hands and keep them clean so their germs would not be spread.

The lower class and the upper class at very differently. Lower class people ate a lot of vegetables and food plants along with bread. For dinner a workers diet consisted of barley bread, cabbage, and some milk. The lower class typically boiled their food so they could get the maximum nutrients. On the other hand the upper class people had numerous dishes being served to them for each meal of the day. They were served the best produce, meats, fish and spices they could afford and if any of it went bad it was tossed out for anyone outside of the family who wanted it. One thing both classes had in common was that meat was only eaten on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays were fasting days which means that no one ate meat on theses days.

Reading Reflection 5

The Medieval Kitchen (2012) makes one appreciate that the world has changed. To have lived a life in the medieval times meant hygiene and eating habits that by today’s standards seem crude.

The days were long for people who lived in medieval times. It was believed that if you were to live a long life you would wake up at 5 in the morning, eat dinner at 9 in the morning, eat supper at 5 in the evening and be in bed at 9 at night just to wake up and do it all over again. It was a only eat twice a day; more meals was considered unhealthy and courted sin. Also, it was important to separate one’s self from the lower animals whose behavior was to eat all day.

Hygiene was a really important issue during a formal medieval meal because individual forks had not yet been introduced; everyone ate with their fingers. Towards the end of the 14th century the Italians introduced the regular use of individual forks but, it took another 200-300 years for it to spread to other parts of Europe. This was an important issue because many dishes were served in one big platter. Everyone who sat at the table all reached in to grab their food with their fingers. Therefore it was important for one to wash his or her hands and keep them clean so their germs would not be spread.

The lower class and the upper class at very differently. Lower class people ate a lot of vegetables and food plants along with bread. For dinner a workers diet consisted of barley bread, cabbage, and some milk. The lower class typically boiled their food so they could get the maximum nutrients. On the other hand the upper class people had numerous dishes being served to them for each meal of the day. They were served the best produce, meats, fish and spices they could afford and if any of it went bad it was tossed out for anyone outside of the family who wanted it. One thing both classes had in common was that meat was only eaten on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays were fasting days which means that no one ate meat on theses days.