Hello everyone!! The weather here has been absolutely dismal most days! What is happening? Isn’t it spring? Luckily we have had a few sunny days! I’m just really waiting on those spring flowers now!
We have been keeping busy though, and having adventures despite the gray skies.
Last Saturday we went to the Detroit Institute of Arts. They have a special exhibit that I wanted to see, called Painted with Silk, and I also wanted to wander the Dutch Masters area with Wyatt, as we are reading a book set in Holland for Language Arts. (The Wheel on the School)
We set out into the rainy icky day early in the morning, arriving at the museum just after opening. I like to get there early, especially on the weekend, and we got a great parking spot – something of an accomplishment in Detroit on the weekend! We found our way to the exhibit but not before stumbling into a room filled with the most vibrant, story filled modern works. This one is just stunning.
I can’t believe how impossible it has been to find the name of the artist, and of this painting – I should have written it down but I didn’t anticipate it would be difficult. I have found that the name of the artist is Titus Kaphar, and this painting is from his Exhibiting Forgiveness exhibit, but that is all I could find. If anyone knows the name of this particular work, I would love to add it here.
Wyatt was drawn to this one. This is Radical Openness by Stanley Whitney. I can see why he likes it.
After spending some time in this room, we wandered out into the hall to find our way to the Painted in Silk exhibit.
These pieces were exceptionally done, and amazingly, were made by children. 11, 12, 13 years old girls, a lot of them, and were completed between 1600 and 1800. They served as a diploma for the girls from wealthier families who could afford to send their children to school. The piece was a displayable symbol of the girl’s ” mastery of an important practical skill and the diligence and self-discipline that society expected of its more privileged members.” It was mind blowing and at the same time, incredible. I am sorry, the angle on some of these photos are wonky. This room, despite getting there early, was already full of people. I love that this was a popular room, and also to see so many people at the museum.
I thought these memorial pieces were beautiful. They were done in black and white purposely, and are called print works.
My favorite pieces were modern pieces done to represent an older style. They were all done by the same artist, Elaine Reichek. She uses this form to “question assumptions about gender, class, race, and ethnicity that the older works expressed and reinforced.” It was fascinating to see representations from two very different perspectives. We also learned that it is very rare to see a historical piece that depicts a Black person, or that was done by a Black person , although they did have a wall of a few.
I loved this piece representing Moby Dick. If you want to see much better photos, and more information on these makers and artists, you can view the exhibit online here.
I was in awe of this whole exhibit. My son, however, was a bit bored…
From here we moved on to the Dutch artists, which he enjoyed a bit more. He liked all the boats and windmills, and the hidden meanings in the paintings with what was painted. They also had I Spy games for different rooms which he enjoyed as well, which was like a visual scavenger hunt for objects in paintings.
That last photo was one I had to take because my brother’s youngest is giving her parents the business these days when they go out, with typical two year old trying to run away in places behavior. They were joking that they might need a leash for her. I saw this painting and was like, I guess this a very old issue, as this woman has her child on a leash.
We were starting to get hungry, so we left the museum in search of food. We ended up picking up sushi from The Goblin and chicken nuggets for Wyatt. Billy and I each chose a roll and then swapped half with each other.
Later that night we all sat and painted and colored. It was the perfect end to a rainy day.
The next few days we just went about our normal lives, appointments, work, school, etc. Then last night we had scouts! I wanted the kids to do something Earth Day related that tied into their advancements, so we worked on the Build It loop! The kids worked with Billy making bug houses out of wood, then stuffing them full of materials they brought with them or I collected, and they also decorated bird feeders made out of old jugs. It was really fun, and really busy! It was an all hands on deck meeting, with all the parents and grandparents pitching in to help the kids. Wyatt had such a good time, and I heard from other mothers that their kids absolutely loved it as well!
And that about sums it up for today!! I will leave you with some random photos from the old camera reel!
ETA: I had just published this post when I saw this on Facebook. I wanted to share it here with you all today.
I hope that whatever you do today, you do something that makes you smile! And pay attention to those glimmers.
Still Life, With Cracker Crumbs.. 
Aren’t art museums wonderful? You can always find something new. Those silk paintings were astonishing! I think I probably would have not been able to graduate. I loved that painting with the little girl on a leash! We considered one for our oldest. He was always wandering away.
Your Boy Scout troop is blooming! What wonderful projects you do!
https://marshainthemiddle.com
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I love ours and we really need to utilize it so much more. There is so much there to explore! And lol, I would not have graduated either! It is astounding to me that they were done by kids Wyatt’s age.
Oh my gosh, I cracked up at that. Like who knew that was a thing even back then? E. is soo different from her older sister. L. was very easy when compared to E.
And thank you Marsha! We had a great meeting this month!
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This whole post felt like one long glimmer—art, connection, creativity, and a rainy day wrapped in warmth. That museum trip sounded amazing (and props to you for weaving it into schoolwork—brilliant). I’m obsessed with how you tied it all up with that gentle reminder at the end—pay attention to the glimmers. Because yes, that sunlight between clouds, a kid’s giggle, a quiet moment with coffee? That’s the real gold. Loved this.
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Oh my gosh, thank you so much. That makes me so happy that you felt that way about my post, and about our day. And yes – those little things are the real gold. Thank you for bringing a smile to my face today!
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The exhibition looks wonderful! Thank you for sharing the link!
It’s funny you mention glimmers. I just wrote about some myself last week.
Great scout projects!
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It was so cool!! I kept thinking, I need to show this to Cat! Lol.
I am so behind on post reading. I need to catch up! And thank you Cat. 🙂
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What a fabulous museum trip! 😀
The weather here has been nuts as well – we had a FREEZE WATCH Wednesday morning, after hitting the 80s over the weekend. What???
Yes, yes, yes. Forever searching for glimmers – may we all find them ❤
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Thanks Rebecca!! We had so much fun. And this weather is wacky. We had rain, snow, warm weather, cold weather, all this week. I am so over it.
I hope you caught a glimmer or two today. 🙂
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The first cup of tea of the day, eggs for breakfast…two glimmers already and it is only 07:20am…. Great post – thanks!
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Perfection! I hope that your day continued to be full of them. And thank you!
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I love the kid on a leash in that painting! And the Scouts event looks wonderful, you must be so proud of your troop!
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Oh my gosh that cracked me up when I saw it! I had no idea those were even a thing way back then. I guess some kids are just runners, and parents need solutions, no matter the century. Lol.
And thank you! They did such a great job. I was very proud of them!
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We woke to a light dusting of snow this morning and I couldn’t help the “NOOO!!” That flew out of my mouth; I really want spring. That first painting is just incredible! I love the colors and how vibrant it is.
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Oh my gosh, that was us yesterday!! There was literal snow on the ground and I am pretty sure I also yelled “Noooo!” Lol. I am so done with this weather!
And isn’t that gorgeous? I could have spent more time in that room, taking it all in a bit longer. It emanates warmth.
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I need to check how long that exhibit is there — that looks like one I’d like and I haven’t been to the DIA since Van Gogh. And I can’t tell you how much I love it that you ALL painted! Scouts is looking very good too! Well done, Erin!
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Jeannie you would love it! It ends in June so you have some time still. Thank you!
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Wow you all had a good full week with these activities. Can’t go wrong with the Dutch painters. And love that the kids were decorating bird feeders. We are big into bird feeders here … but the seeds have gone (way) up in price! Enjoy your week and thanks for your words on my site.
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We had such a good time at scouts! And yeah, bird seed really has gone up! I was going to buy some for the kids but decided to leave that up to the parents. Lolol.
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Erin! I’m always in such awe at how creative you are, and how you manage to make learning and scouts fun. Even more importantly, you seem to create opportunities to learn by doing things that are more fun than ‘regular learning’ the old way that we used to do it. I remember being in elementary school and always being most excited about a field trip.
While I completely get why Wyatt may not appreciate all that the museum has to offer (yet), that you’re creating a chance for him to see, analyze, and learn more in out of the box ways. Wyatt is a lucky kid to have a mom like you doing his homeschooling. I don’t think just anyone could handle homeschooling their child, but you do it fabulously.
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Aw thank you Leah!! I think the fact that I love homeschooling Wyatt so much is the key. I want him to enjoy and love learning and to learn and explore and experience – just all the things.
Lol he made me laugh at the museum with the embroidery. I kind of figured he wouldn’t care about that too much. He is pretty hit or miss with the stuff there, which I get too. Lol. And thank you again!! That is such a wonderful compliment!!
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When you do what you love, it shows. Apparently I’m meant to be rehabbing anxious dogs, haha
That piece of art with the words as a weeping willow is so beautiful!
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