Art That Appeals to the Family
Definitely a visit to be taken with older children, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art offers a comprehensive art collection that is worth a day trip.
The museum features collections of American Art-paintings and sculptures produced in the United States from the colonial period to the 1940s; works by the Impressionists; collections of Islamic, Korean, Chinese and African arts; as well as 20th century works by Picasso, Pollack and more. An impressive collection of Japanese Art is housed in a separate building and features Edo-period paintings, engaging netsuke-carved figurines, woodblock prints, and porcelain, and examples of tea ceremony ceramics, Buddhist sculptures, and gold lacquer pieces.
To appeal to kids, the museum offers well done audio tape tours that are worth the reasonable price. The museum presents family tours on Saturdays, as well as various workshops to help give adults and kids a better understanding and appreciation for art. In our experience, the trick to keeping younger kids (say, those in elementary-school ) entertained is to try and relate the works of art to something that they can understand, for example, a certain period in history or a particular technique or medium.
A visit to the LACMA is a bargain. Adults are $9, but kids 17and under are free. Meanwhile, students over the age of 18 are $5. While most parents may not initially think of taking kids to the art museum, the LACMA has made an effort to make its art approachable. And it succeeds.
Ages: eight and up
www.daytrum.com Editorial Staff
