Do babies and galleries mix?
So there's a baby on the way at my house and I'm thinking that may curtail my gallery attendance. Art.blogging.la has complained about kids playing unsupervised in a gallery, though that seems justified. Museums seem the best bet. Any thoughts from gallery-going parents out there?
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...in the museum may be an art critic. He's loud, but generally harmless ...in the art gallery is probably the owner. No 10% discount for you. [via galleryhopper] If you're gonna take the kid to see art--and I heartily encourage you to do so--don't let... Read More
I think like everything you can't say kids at galleries are definitively good or bad. It's not that black and white. It depends on the kid, the show, the gallery, even whether it is before lunch or after. As an artist (photographer), I am certainly going to take my children to galleries and museums, but of course you do need to be respectful of other people's experiences and know your child's limits, which change as they grow. As a tiny baby my daughter would sleep through gallery visits. As a toddler she wants to walk around and explore, if you force her to sit in a stroller she'll fuss (Note on museums: the guggenheim doesn't even allow strollers, The MOMA now has a whole exhibit oriented towards kids).
On our last trip to a show at the Whitney, my husband and I took turns looking at the art and watching her. As a parent sometimes you may not be able to do both. And I was amazed at how many people were distracted from the art by her mere presence. And she was respectful and quiet on that visit. Before I had children, I don't remember particularly noticing them.
I don't take her to openings (except for the ones of my own shows) because it is past her bedtime and she'll be more likely to be cranky and then as you point out about openings anyway, I'd be even less likely to see the art.
But really it is no different from kids and restaurants or any other public place. It is up to the parent to act and have their child act appropriately. Do I enjoy galleries more without her there?--Yes. Do I always have the option?--No. Same goes for restaurants.
As far as the anecdote about the gallery turned playroom. Now that is just odd.