Art Camp at Laumeier

We're trying a lot of new things this summer, specifically we're trying out day camps. There are lots to choose from in St. Louis, and this week, the kids are doing an art camp at Laumeier Sculpture Park.

In addition to all the normal summer camp things (nature hikes and games and trips to the swimming pool), there are daily art sessions. The kids get to paint, collage, sculpt, etc. during the camp.

I'll have to post some pictures of their projects later on.

It'll be an adventure trying out this camp and a few others. Still to come are camps at the zoo and the city park near my parents' home.

Over the River

Monday evening, we left our hotel and crossed the river. Lots of other people were crossing too. There was a Reds game.

On the other side of the river the bridge ends right at the stadium, so it works out for the fans really well.

We had only a few more blocks to go to get to our destination: The Contemporary Arts Center.

This Zaha Hadid structure is home to the UnMuseum, a hands on environment where all the artworks can be handled, interacted with, explored. Monday nights, it's free.

This elephant was made for the blind. The bottom picture on the right shows Stella's reaction to a drawer that roared when she opened it. Below, Danielle running through the exhibit, which thankfully was 100% allowed.

After the museum we went to this lovely garden a few blocks away.

Danielle fell in just after I took this picture. So we walked home with wet, quishy shoes.

The game was still on as we crossed back to our hotel on the other side of the river.

At DIA

The Detroit Institute of Art stays open late on Fridays and brings in live music. I love museums, and I love it when museums stay open late. My girls wanted dinner, and since you can almost always count on major museums to have food too, we went.

Stella had polished off her hot dog before I could even get the camera out. They liked their desserts and discovered that they were best shared. That's why Danielle moved to Stella's side.

Then we made our way through the exhibits.

One really cool thing about DIA is that they have these eye-spy games in almost every room. Each one has a hint about a certain object in the room. The answer is under the flap.

It gives kids something to look for and learn about. As a parent, it's appreciated.

Our visit to the museum ended with a far too much time spent in the gift shop. It shouldn't surprise anyone to read that I really love museum shops. We walked out with a glitter-filled bouncy ball for each girl.

Here's Danielle with hers, just as we were on our way to the hotel for the night.

The Awakening

One of the first things my parents told me about as we drove home from the airport was The Awakening--a huge sculpture in Chesterfield. Last year an outdoor sculpture exhibit went up just as I was moving to Beirut. I was scrambling to get everything done and never had a chance to see all the sculptures. The Awakening remains though, and it's in a perfect place for kids--between a park and a library. I guess the city bought it . . . ?

Anyway, The Awakening is five pieces--a hand, an arm, a face, a foot and a knee, emerging from the ground. It's as though a buried man is struggling to stand. The kids scampered all over it, which is allowed thankfully,


See what I mean?

Here's Stella climbing the knee. Danielle didn't feel like it.

Normally I don't have any pictures of myself to post, but my mom took this picture, so I have one and I'm very happy about that. Thanks mom!

This sculpture is also in a Washington DC park by the Potomac, I think. It's been years since I was there, so I can't remember. Probably it's in other places too, though I don't know for sure.