Modern Art Museum of Ft. Worth

On the 2nd Wednesday of each month, the Modern Art Museum of Ft. Worth hosts Wonderful Wednesdays, a free event for families of all ages. It is designed as an "informal introduction to the Modern's collection and special exhibitions."

We entered into the museum's beautiful front doors & were greeted by two very cheery & friendly museum docents who introduced themselves, shook my hand, and then introduced themselves to Reese. I was impressed with their enthusiasm and the fact that they introduced themselves!

We went upstairs and the docent gave a quick overview of museum rules with suggestions from the kiddos...no running, no touching, talking softly. She also discussed the artist whose work we would be seeing today, Williams Kentridge. The docent showed a map of Africa, and we located Kentridge's home country of South Africa (we also came home and marked this on our world map on the wall as well).

After seeing the art work, which in this case was a room full of videos on the wall (really neat stuff!), we went into another gallery for an art project done in a similar manner to Kentridge's work.

Our goal today: create artwork that had movement. The children tore paper (it was actually roofing paper...what they lay down before putting down shingles on a roof) into different shapes, and then connected them with brads. The roofing paper was quite heavy and tore nicely in the children's hands.

This is my favorite picture of the day.

His hands are busy moving, but his "artwork showing motion" is perfectly still...

:)

I know I'm not really knowledgeable in artsy-fartsy things, but some things at the museum I just didn't "get". Take this:
It is an acrylic & chrome box. That's it. This looks like something that came from IKEA or Target. I don't get it.

And this:

Two large blocks of pink granite. They weren't carved into anything. They were just blocks. Don't. Get. It.

We toured the museum after our art class finished & have definite plans to return. We weren't able see much of the museum because they were closing & literally kicked us out. I was wondering why all these people were watching Reese & I and talking on their walkie talkies. Finally someone said "We are closing." I felt like an ass....

Wonderful Wednesdays are on the 2nd Wednesday of each month from 4:00-4:45. The museum closes at 5:00, so I would recommend arriving early to tour the museum. Admission is free on Wednesdays, and the art class is also free!

And just down the road is the Ft. Worth Botanical Gardens, so you could even bring a picnic & make an afternoon out of it!