Hellobee

After two years of renovation the Renwick Gallery, The Smithsonian American Art Museums’s home for contemporary craft and decorative art, opened with this inspiring, kid and Instagram friendly exhibition they call WONDER.

The exhibition transformed the entire museum into an “immersive artwork” by giving nine contemporary artists each free reign over a gallery to create a site specific installation inspired by the idea of wonder. I personally can’t think of wonder without thinking of children and couldn’t wait to bring my own as soon as I saw pictures popping up in my Instagram feed. All the works are created from “unexpected” and “commonplace” materials – think marbles, index cards, strips of reclaimed wood, branches, tire scraps, bugs!

My children are only one and two years old, but I think experiencing this style of art would be very inspiring for older children, less stiff then a typical art museum experience. It’s so often children in the first place who are dreaming up and creating with “mundane and commonplace materials.” How wonderful for them to see the extent to which creative visions can be realized. A fun and accessible way to experience art.

As far as my young children were concerned, the exhibit still served for a near perfect museum experience. Perfect being an experience in which they are free to touch. These exhibits are “immersive” but of course touch is not permitted, which is why it was totally necessary to wait for a day my sister could accompany us! Roman began an attempt to tear himself out of his stroller seat as soon as he glanced upon what I would call the room of giant nests, where he had a grand time running in and out of.

He was in awe of the rainbow and the colorful net that hung from the ceiling. Keeping a toddler from touching art can be a handful, but fortunately the giant room in which the netting hung offered a place for him to run free, while others sat in calm contemplation. (If only I’d known this when I arrived ten minutes before my sister!)

Photography is encouraged and the installations seem to have been designed with this in mind. Check out #emptyrenwick and #renwickgallery on Instagram for everyone’s awesome pictures!

The exhibition is showing for six months, starting November 13th 2015. Admission is FREE! The museum is located just across the street from the White House and open daily from 10am – 5:30 pm. We visited on a Monday morning which worked out very nicely as far as crowds were concerned. We will definitely be revisiting and I highly recommend it if you’re in the area!

Do you find your kids are interested in art galleries and museums? Any great ones or special exhibits you’d recommend in your part of the world right now?