Spring Break...

It's Spring Break here in Vancouver (otherwise known as "half term"...I think...in England). Bronwyn has the week off preschool and I am trying to think of things to keep her occupied. As every parent knows, the problem with school holidays is that every activity that you can think of has already been thought of by about 1000 other desperate parents. We have the luxury of doing things during the week when it is quiet and so during school holidays I get a bit (albeit unfairly) put out that other people and their kids want to crowd us.

Anyway, last week we got chance to go to the Museum of Anthropology at UBC. It has just opened following a 6 month break for renovations. It's probably my favourite museum in Vancouver (although Vancouver cannot boast of many museums). I was disappointed that some of our favourite exhibits where still under wraps and, although they have re-opened, there is only a small part of the collection that is open.

However, we arrived on Tuesday to find a dance in progress as part of the opening festivities. The dancers were performing for school kids. It was a real treat and the kids were transfixed. Bronwyn was entranced by the dancers and especially a little girl who was part of the group. They were the Dancers of Damelahamid, an Aboriginal dance collective from BC's west coast. Their costumes and the dances and songs were beautiful and captivating. So much so that we went back again on Wednesday morning. Unfortunately, we were not permitted to take pictures of the dancers or their costumes and sets. I am using a press photo.

The Museum of Anthropology is an amazing building and I love the Great Hall. The Great Hall is especially beautiful during a summer sunset, when the orange light filters in through the 15 metre glass wall and illuminates the gallery and the towering totems. I couldn't get a good picture of the Great Hall because the dancers were set up there. I will take more pictures later on and also write a bit more about the museum and it's collection. We joined as members and we only live 5 minutes away so we go there a lot.

One of my favourite pieces is The Raven and The First Men Sculpture by Bill Reid. Carved from laminated yellow cedar it depicts the Haida legend of the Raven . The figure of the Raven is cracking open the shell that contains mankind. It is a wonderful piece and I especially like the ominous, yet quirky figure of the Raven (the trickster). I also like that you can walk all the way around it. Unfortunately, "The Rotunda" where it is housed is still closed.

Last time Bronwyn saw it she got a kick out of the humorous side of the sculpture and exclaimed, "Ha, look, there's a bum sticking out!".

River also has a great reaction to some of the exhibits. He was really engaged by this one. He kept touching it and running back and forth laughing his head off!

Of course he wanted to take a closer look and kept trying to climb into the displays.

This is one of Bronwyn's favourite pieces. Obviously it is more contemporary.

The figures are made out of lots of different small pieces of broken crockery and tile etc. We intend to make our own version of this soon. I love seeing kid's responses to art. As adults I think we look at art in a different way and that we often lose our initial response amidst a bunch of over-thinking. Kids simply look and respond in an authentic, unselfconscious way. Museums and art galleries should be experienced by everyone in their own way and I think that is happening more and more. Fortunately, my kids are not at the roll-eyes-and-yawn stage yet.