Learning about art / culture suggestions etc

[Artsuggestions2022]

I’m nearly 50, very regular MN user but changed for this.
I went to see a Van gough exhibition today - oh my god it was like a whole new world opened up to me. I loved it.

I realise it has opened a void I always knew was there (don’t worry I wasn’t screaming in the Sistine Chapel 😜).

I work full time in a demanding job, I’m a single parent and two demanding SEN children (they don’t necessarily have the same desire to visit museums).

What would you recommend? I’m south west.

I want to explore the feeling I had today of learning and the feelings the paintings evoked in me but don’t know where to start.

any ideas? I’m dyslexic but I want to learn.

I bought a DK book about Art which is a good introduction (very visual and bitesized text; DCs are dyslexic) and shows the way art has developed from the first paintings to contemporary art.

Documentaries are great but can sometimes be difficult for picking up the timeline and context in the bigger picture.

What was your PhD research on, OP? Do you work in that field?

You can never go wrong with a few hours spent at the Ashmolean in Oxford. Marvellous collections and currently have a Pissarro exhibition. They also have online podcasts with many of their curators.

Look at art books in your local library to get a sense for what you like. I recommend an amazing set called 100,000 years of beauty.

This might help. Poetry and art in one 😂

The image didn't attach but at least it wasn't repeated 6 times!

I think you might enjoy an Open University History of Art foundation course. You would have no pressure of having to achieve but could revel in the sheer learning for the sake of learning about something that interests you.

Also, you can do do a lot of research yourself, say for instance you loved Van Gogh and the exhibition you saw. Get a book, buy it, borrow it from the library, read about his life which will help you contextualize his work and introduce you to his contemporary artists such as Gauguin and Cezanne etc
Then you can explore their work the same way and one artist will lead to another

I do this a lot with art, literature and history - I totally indulge going down really fascinating rabbit holes of interest and I LOVE it.

Then when something REALLY catches my attention over a sustained period i plan a trip to go and see it in the flesh. This way I have visited paintings, buildings, historical sites, walking the streets of cities featured in books I have loved etc

I can't tell you how enriching it is and how having done this for the past 20 odd years I can't imagine travel being about lying on a beach for me. I have seen and experienced so much in those years that simply nourishes inner me!

I have managed to keep doing it even with small children by being really selective and picking one or 2 things per trip for me to focus on and then balancing that with things the kids would like.

Lot of museums / galleries have educational days and programmes, mostly free and you and your dc might enjoy. Lots of the bigger ones also run accessible events too for people with additional needs. It's really worth checking out.

And just think what opportunity you are giving your dc to experience so much

Good luck OP

or even a Coursera / MOOC type course on art, which are free!

I second the Van Gogh in Amsterdam and also the Rijksmuseum, it was the only time my children were literally speechless - and did not ask to leave after an hour. The huge painting of Waterloo is one of the most incredible paintings I have ever seen in my entire life.

If you can't travel for a few days off, then possibly join a painting class in the evening on line? And slowly gain confidence to paint yourself, and encourage your children to get involved in the holidays.

Its also worth watching Grayson Perry's ArtClub on Ch 4 - there are a couple of back series as well as the one that is currently on. A lovely mixture of work sent in by people, the work of different contemporary artists, celebs having a go, and Grayson's work practices. I find it really inspiring and thought provoking - especially about how art is created and what exactly is "art".

Maths and yes.

thank you for these suggestions everyone. I mentioned to eldest about going away and doing an art week holiday and she seemed keen. I’m up at 5 am with the animals and at work by 8am and I work to 6 pm usually and then go into 24:7 parent mode - rushing them to activities. So podcasts would be good - it might shock you but my no contact abusive mother told me not to look at art as I was stupid to get it and then regarding pod casts - I’m dyslexic so they would be perfect she said don’t bother your brain can’t cope. I’m literally starting to see my brain was conditioned at a very young age to think itself stupid etc and it’s really not.

I ordered some of the sister Wendy books and the childrens impressionist books etc and history of art and some dvds etc so hopefully have them later on this week.

recommendations for fb groups, podcasts etc gratefully received - I don’t even know what a podcast is but I'm sure I can manage it!