Art Gallery of Western Australia

During the school holidays my children (3 and 5) checked out the Art Gallery of Western Australia. Here they had a great craft activity suitable for a broad range of ages and upstairs ‘wonderland’. Wonderland is a family activity space designed especially for families visiting the current Wonderlust collection. I'd say wonderland would amuse babies up to 6 year olds but probably not beyond. The space is small but well designed and a good way to amuse children if you are interested in a longer look at the art work. You can’t leave them there unsupervised of course but between two adults you can arrange for the kids can have a good play out of the rain and for you can get some culture.

The Art Gallery of Western Australia is at the Perth Cultural Centre, www.artgallery.wa.gov.au

Toddler Tuesday - Gallery of Modern Art Brisbane

The Queensland Art Gallery - Gallery of Modern Art runs a hugely successful program for 18mth - 3 year olds called Toddler Tuesday.

Each program focusses on one specific art work and runs for 2 months, 2 sessions a day on Tuesdays.

I have attended two programs with my children and have found both to be well designed for the target age group and most of all, fun.

The next Toddler Tuesday program runs from 5 August - 30 September 2008. Bookings are essential - 3840 7255.

Tashi and the Phoenix

Book reading and children's afternoon tea

Occassionally the Four Seasons Hotel has afternoon tea and book readings for children. This Saturday it was Tashi with Anna Fienberg, promoting Tashi and the Phoenix.

It is incredible the patience of the children as they queued up afterwards for a book signing. It took us an hour and a half to get our book signed. However saying this, Anna was really good with the kids and took time to chat with everyone. My daugher really enjoyed the outing.

As for the afternoon tea concept, great but it felt totally random. The hotel has a side room set up with a kid's afternoon tea, cute little jelly cups, swan cakes, fairybread, sausage rolls etc.

However, if you arrived just a little before the advertised start time of 2pm, it was extremely chaotic, the tables were practically all taken and I had to work really hard to get two seats together at a table. It wasn't particularly clear that this ws the children's afternoon tea and that there were cushions on the floor for the kids to listen to the book reading, with the adults having tea outside.

I have to wonder if the Four Seasons staff have any real understanding of children as there definitely didn't seem to be enough table seating for everyone in the room, or maybe parents weren't supposed to sit down. This probably being a little unrealistic for some of the younger children. You can't imagine a parent wanting to wander off to another part of the hotel for afternoon tea to leave behind a five year old!

As for the adult's afternoon tea, not sure why this just didn't happen with clockwork precision, as they had catering numbers beforehand and it was after all a set meal. Whilst a very pleasant concept there was a bit of waiting around and I know that the tea couldn't have been prepared fresh (hence the waiting time) as the bread on two of my sandwiches was hard. However on the bright side I did get to read the Saturday papers and the staff were very friendly.

Would I do it again, perhaps, now that I know the procedure.

Joanne Kee

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Tashi and the Phoenix
ISBN 9781741754742
Allen & Unwin
Suitable for Age Group 5-8 years
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Four Seasons Hotel
Childrens StoryTelling Afternoon Tea

House in Focus - Photo Competition

Mischas Opera 2008

Sydney Opera House are launching House in Focus; a global photography competition where one lucky winner will have their best shot exhibited at Sydney Opera House.
The winning photo will be mounted onto a large-scale canvas for display in the Western Foyer - home to three Sydney Opera House theatres – where thousands of visitors will see it every week.

We went the Opera House today with a visiting relative and my daughter (aged 6) took some photos to enter. Its a special image for us because we are all in it and the Opera House acts as the backdrop. You can vote for Mischas image here.

We would love to hear of any Arts Rocket readers who get their children to enter. Entries close July 30 2008. The competition is global and can also be an interpretation of the Sydney Opera House.

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For more information:
House in Focus Global Photography Competition

Block Rockin Kids! Wollongong

Community Event for the Whole Family
Showcasing local youth in Circus and performance.
Dont miss the launch of Block Rockin Kids!
Saturday 12th of July at 1:00PM

A Beyond Empathy Building Blocks Project
with the young residents of the Bundaleer Estate in Warrawong
and the crew from Circus Monoxide
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Wollongong Youth Centre
Forecourt Burelli and Keira Streets, Wollongong

Picasso and his Collection - QLD

Lucien Clergue Picasso beside a figure from the Marquesas Islands 1955 Gelatin silver photograph Collection: The artist © 2008 by Lucien ClergueCourtesy: Patrice Trigano Gallery, Paris

The exhibition features over 100 works from Picasso's extraordinary collection plus more than 80 important works by the artist himself. A range of documentary photographs also feature. Picasso & his collection' includes paintings, drawings and prints by artists such as Chardin, Matisse, Renoir, Cézanne, Rousseau, Miró, Modigliani and Braque, as well as an extraordinary selection of Oceanic and African works.

Patrick aged 5 visited the Picasso Exhibition at the Queensland Art Gallery on Thursday 12th June with his school. This will extend the work his class have been doing on the visual arts theme as well as understanding of what a gallery is.
Patrick attended a kids workshop on Picasso and viewed other displays as they relate to the curriculum.

I asked Patrick questions about his trip to the gallery:
What did you do at the Gallery?
Played with my mask I made and cut out the holes.
Walked around with my friend Nash looking at paintings.
Who is Picasso?
A painter.
Favourite part of the trip to the gallery?
Eating.
What did you see at the Gallery?
I saw lots of different paintings.

Would you visit the Gallery again?

Yes, it was fun.

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Picasso and his Collection
Queensland Art Gallery
9 June - 14 September
Admission fees apply