For the past few semesters, I've been asked to sub for
HCC's museum field trips class whenever the teacher can't make it. I usually bring Owen with me, and this is the perfect way to spend a Friday. The bus picks us up at school, takes us to a museum where we usually have an exhibition tour, some free time, and lunch, and then in the afternoon we visit another museum before heading back to school. The people in this group are very nice, it is a real
privilege to have a docent share background information on the art, and the bus takes the hassle out of getting to DC.
I did museum studies for grad school and worked in museums, so I've spent some time considering visitor experience and factors that affect museum attendance. Toting a little one around the museums has given me a new perspective. The quality of the art collections goes without saying, but now there are other things that really earn points with Owen and me: ramps, easy access to food and bathrooms, big open spaces so Owen can get out of his stroller sometimes, and if we're really lucky, a water feature. Here are our reports on the museum's we've visited so far.
National Gallery of Art: We've been here several times and we love it. Lots of easy-access bathrooms, including one with a
sinkless countertop that's perfect for changing an excited toddler that has no intention of lying down even for two minutes. The cafeteria has a ton of good options for mom and baby. It's expensive (my favorite sandwich, the grilled vegetable and hummus
panini, is $9), but museum admission is free, so you really can't complain. The buildings themselves are gorgeous, with lots of huge open spaces, indoor plants, and several fountains. We've found that taking time to run around and enjoy the surroundings has helped cut down on "museum fatigue," that feeling when your feet hurt, your eyes are glazed over, and your brain is full from trying to absorb so much. One thing to be aware of is that the museum is huge (more than you can do in one day), and I know of at least one entrance (4
th Street Plaza entrance to West Building), that has stairs but no ramp. It's easy to just use a different entrance, and the buildings are even connected underground.
National Museum of Women in the Arts Ok, I'm biased because I used to work here, but Owen and I had a great time at
NMWA! I was feeling ambitious and we went in without a stroller. Owen was tired and antsy, so I figured out pretty quickly that we needed one. It turns out that they have strollers you can borrow. It was actually easier to steer than our stroller, and it must have been comfortable because Owen fell asleep right away. The galleries are all accessible by elevator and there are bathrooms on every floor. I've never eaten in the cafe.
Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden We visited here twice and enjoyed it. The galleries are all accessible by elevator. There's actually a staff member who rides the elevator constantly and delivers you to the floor you want. I'm not sure why, as most people can figure out an elevator on their own, but maybe it's to limit access to other floors. The first time we went to the
Hirshhorn, Owen was pretty little and still nursing often, and I had a difficult time finding a good place here. There's a lot of comfy seating in the galleries, but for us, that's not the best place to nurse because Owen would get so distracted by the other people. We ended up sitting on the bathroom floor. Luckily, there's a huge accessible bathroom, so we didn't have to be anywhere near the toilet. I don't believe there's any food or eating area indoors here, but you can picnic in the sculpture garden if the weather is nice.
Corcoran Gallery of Art This museum is nice but not easy to navigate with a stroller. As far as I could tell, the only way to get in the main entrance of the building to the main floor is via stairs. I know there must be another way because the museum has to be ADA accessible, but I didn't seek it out. The only bathrooms are on the lower level, but the galleries are on the upper floors, so if you want to use the restroom, you need to take the elevator, which is not as easy as it sounds. The only elevator is a freight elevator that visitors cannot access on their own. You have to ask a guard to call another guard who will call the elevator and ride it with you, all the while doing a pee-pee dance! I think now that Owen is walking, I will just skip the stroller next time and things will be much easier. The cafe was very nice. I had a gourmet pizza--yum!
Phillips Collection When I visited this museum, I wasn't sure if bringing Owen was a good idea, so I left him with my mother-in-law. I'm glad I started bringing him though because he loves the trips and we get to spend more time together. I didn't pay any attention to ramps and such, but there was a huge bathroom where I could plug in my breast pump and sit on the floor very far away from the toilet. I'm sure it would be fine for nursing, too.
Smithsonian American Art Museum and
National Portrait Gallery LOVED IT! I can't say enough good things about this experience. Beautiful ramps, accessible doors, easy elevators, friendly staff, a little cafe, and a gorgeous, spacious courtyard with a water feature you've got to
see for yourself. Owen did really well being in the stroller for a good part of the day, but at a certain point in the afternoon he just needs to run around. We went into the courtyard and he had a blast running around, checking out the plants and trees (pronounced "
chees") and peaking in the windows. There are huge, sculptural marble benches that have rounded corners, which are a great idea around toddlers. The floor is also made of stone, I'm not sure what kind, so you need to watch very carefully if your little one isn't stable yet. The water fountains were just incredible. They were basically two large, rectangular, flat sheets of water that fill an area of the floor that's recessed about 1/2 inch. I think the water is continuously running, but it looks very flat without a lot of ripples. Since the water isn't deep or blocked off, you can walk right through it. Owen loved splashing through it--the perfect reward for being a good boy all day--and I was very glad I brought an extra change of clothes!
Of course, we love our local museums, too! We've lived in Baltimore for almost two years, and I'm still amazed at how close we are to the museums. We have been to
Port Discovery, which is one of the top children's museums in the United States, several times and liked it so much that we bought a membership. I've also really enjoyed visiting the
Baltimore Museum of Art (I love eating in the cafe
surrounded by art in the sculpture garden!), the
American Visionary Art Museum, and the
Walters Collection. Owen hasn't been yet, but they are on our list.
You can see that in only 15 months, Owen has already been exposed to a lot of art and culture! A great source for finding out more about baby-friendly and kid-friendly destinations (and making your own comments) is
http://www.lilaguide.com/.
I did this print on a whim (so glad I tore all that paper last week). I had rolled out a lot of Akua Intaglio ink for some other prints, but couldn't use it, so instead of trying to save it, I pulled out these blocks again. I'm so glad I did because the intense color really transformed the landscape and really brings out the roughness of the blocks. 
The Akua Kolor, which is of course made for monotypes, worked beautifully with a small amount of tack thickener mixed in. The print below was done mostly with Akua Intaglio, but there is one layer of Akua Kolor in burnt siena. I can't wait to play with it more. Thank you Akua for being wonderful. 
