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guitarnan
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| Posted: May 07 2007 at 5:56pm | IP Logged
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I can't believe I am reporting this, but my children ASKED to go to the National Gallery of Art, and we went today. No one said, "I'm bored," and no one whined for food. Wow!
I attribute this mysterious event to two fantastic authors, Mike Venezia and Blue Balliett. Mike Venezia's Getting to Know the World's Greatest Artists series is great. He weaves in some funny cartoons to keep kids interested in the artist's life and works. We've read about 20 of his books so far. (We'll try the composers series next year!)
Blue Balliett's Chasing Vermeer, written for about grade 6 and above, really got my children interested in Vermeer, art theft and pentominoes. (It's hard to explain to children why art thefts occur, by the way!)
We visited all the paintings my children wanted to see...dd created a list last night, paging through a stack of Mike Venezia books...I nearly fell down in surpise when I saw what she was doing!
I'm exhausted from driving through DC traffic, but elated that my long-term strewing planted seeds that have grown beyond my expectations.
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Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
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lapazfarm
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| Posted: May 07 2007 at 6:15pm | IP Logged
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That is absolutely fantastic! Good for you!!!
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Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
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Jen L.
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| Posted: May 07 2007 at 6:57pm | IP Logged
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How great! and inspiring! (going to look up those books now)
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Jen
dh Klete,ds (8/95),dd (12/97), dd (11/00), and ^2^ in heaven
"...the best state in which to glorify God is our actual state; the best grace is that of the moment..." St. Peter Eymard
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Mary G
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| Posted: May 07 2007 at 7:41pm | IP Logged
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Yep, Nancy -- ain't it great when they really OWN their education .... they have fun with it and remember and ask about it... My 7 yod is a BIG Monet fan and wherever we are, she'll say, "Mommy, look -- it's a Monet" or whatever....
Don't you love homeschooling!
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MaryG
3 boys (22, 12, 8)2 girls (20, 11)
my website that combines my schooling, hand-knits work, writing and everything else in one spot!
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Mary Chris
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| Posted: May 07 2007 at 7:56pm | IP Logged
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Nancy,
If you read Blue Balliett's next book let us know we will meet you at the Frank Lloyd Wright house near Belvoir.
We still need to go to NGA  .
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Blessings, Mary Chris Beardsley
mom to MacKenzie3/95, Carter 12/97 Ronan 3/00 and wife to Jim since 1/92
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Rachel May
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| Posted: May 07 2007 at 8:14pm | IP Logged
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We'll go with you to the NGA anytime. Or have you over when you go see the Frank Lloyd Wright house.  Please?
Nancy, Which pics did they choose?
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Rachel
Thomas and Anthony (10), Maria (8), Charles (6), Cecilia (5), James (3), and Joseph (1)
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guitarnan
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| Posted: May 07 2007 at 9:07pm | IP Logged
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Mary Chris, what a cool idea. We saw a FWL building in Racine, WI, last summer, but it didn't interest my two enough to check out other buildings. I hope to get the next book in the next week or so.
My dd picked St. Martin and the Beggar (El Greco), A Lady Writing (Vermeer), A Girl With Watering Can (Renoir), Four Dancers (Degas), Roses (Van Gogh, not in any books we read) and a couple of others. I took the time to point out the Rembrandt, Rubens, Titian and da Vinci paintings...we quickly glanced at the Picassos. We were too late for the Matisse cutouts, which I think all of us would have liked. (Next time!)
Ds didn't choose anything in advance. He didn't like the modern art at all, but said he liked the impressionist pieces fairly well. He carefully studied the Vermeers. We all laughed at Roy Lichtenstein's House I sculpture in the sculpture garden (talk about channeling Blue's Clues!). Both children were intrigued by the number of artists who were sketching or copying various works.
I don't think we've advanced to the point of being able to head off to the Walters and the Phillips Collection next week...but it is a great start. (Remember, we started from the "I hate art!" spot. We dragged them to many Italian art museums under extreme protest.) I was more than willing to cruise in, see the Vermeers, and head down to Air and Space...that would have been good enough.
I hear the Walters has good family programs...we'll have to look into that, if any of you are interested.
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Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
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marihalojen
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| Posted: May 08 2007 at 6:53am | IP Logged
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guitarnan wrote:
| Blue Balliett's Chasing Vermeer, written for about grade 6 and above, really got my children interested in Vermeer, art theft and pentominoes. (It's hard to explain to children why art thefts occur, by the way!) |
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An enjoyable book then? Marianna and I just finished From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler and watched Night at the Museum, throughly enjoying both. Perhaps we should extend the museum trail to Chasing Vermeer?
Glad you had such a thrilling day!
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~Jennifer
Mother to Mariannna, age 13
The Mari Hal-O-Jen
SSR = Sailing, Snorkling, Reading
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guitarnan
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If you liked Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, you will probably enjoy Chasing Vermeer. There's some bizarre stuff about coincidences (the author is very intrigued by seemingly random events that happen to connect), but it's a fun read. Scholastic.com has a few web pages about the book and author, too.
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Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
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4Real Forums : The Arts in the Everyday
Topic: Art Field Trip Victory!
