ART SHOW:
Thomas Lanigan- Schmidt: Tender Love Among the Junk
MOMA PS1
November 18, 2012- April 1, 2013
The Catholic Church, homosexuality, and religious iconography are not usually child-friendly topics. In this colorful, gaudy, exciting show-- these topics are covered with the kind of pizazz usually reserved for decorating an Indian restaurant. The artist uses candy wrappers, tinfoil, streamers, plastic bottles, plastic gem stones, aluminum baking pans to create altars and shrines. The glitter and colors actually elevate the material used to become things of pure beauty, that can be appreciated at any age.
QUESTIONS TO ASK:
1. Look closely and see if you can identify three different types of materials used.
2. Why do you think the artist used so many different colors?
3. The artist's work reflects a lot on spirituality-- how do these rooms make you feel? Many people go to church to feel at peace, uplifted, solace...do these rooms make you feel this way?
LINKS TO GET INTO IT:
MOMA Studio Tour Video with the artist.
MOMA PS1 website-- helpful link to visiting and more about the artist.
NY Times Review about the show.
EXTENSIONS:
For Parents:
While visiting the exhibit, be sure to feed yourselves at the extraordinary offbeat restaurant, M. Wells Dinette. With communal dining tables, crayons and pads of paper for drawing and unbelievable concoctions like fois gras oatmeal or maple whoopie pies. There's definitely something for everyone- we ordered a flaky, buttery croissant for our tot and then made sure to share bites of the unusual to help build his developing palette.
For Kids:
Use this opportunity to make some animal sculptures out of tinfoil. Find some bric brac, googly eyes, feathers, paint and a hot glue gun to make something really special. Show this picture of Lanigan-Schmidt's "syphilitic rat" and let their creativity take hold.
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