I’d never really thought much about it before, but I would like my offspring to have an appreciation of The Arts.
I don’t expect him to be an artist or even have an artistic or creative job necessarily but I would like him to see the value in artistic endeavours. I sometimes feel that the predominant thinking in this area amongst the beancounters who run things these days is that art is a “nice to have” rather than a necessity. I’d like my child to grow up understanding that a vibrant arts scene, if nothing else, is a sign of a healthy society.
I’d also like him to view museums and galleries not as elitist establishments solely for people who have theatres and auditoriums named after them, but as places for The People. Places that you can (mostly) go for free and see and experience things. I’d like for him to feel as at home in these places as the suburban shopping malls that he will almost certainly spend far too much time in (as I have).
I also want him to associate the still struggling central city of Christchurch with pleasant excursions and artistic delights. If Christchurch is to have any chance of getting a thriving inner city back then it will need a new generation of citizens who actually look forward to going there and understand that there is something unique about being “in town”.
To this end, I like to take my one year-old into town with me to see exhibitions every now and again.
Last weekend I took him to The Canterbury Museum to see the Unfolding T-shirt exhibition, part of the Spectrum Street Art Festival.
Outside were a clutch of Catholic “protestors” carrying placards and praying because of one of the offensive t-shirts inside. I’d actually forgotten about the inclusion of the shirt, so seeing the protestors outside was a good reminder for me to check it out. So really it was a bit like that time Father Ted protested a movie. None of their signs said “Down With This Sort Of Thing” but they may as well have.
But my plans to check out ‘Cradle of Filth’s’ banned t-shirt ‘Vestal Masturbation’ came to nothing as I hadn’t factored in my underage companion. The walled off area that contained the shirt was strictly 18+ only. So strictly that I wasn’t allowed to take my one year-old in with me. I even offered to keep his eyes covered but no dice.
True, I could have left him just outside for a bit while I went and had a look but I didn’t really feel comfortable doing that (what were you doing, madam, while your son was being abducted? Oh, just perving at a picture of a nun flicking the bean, officer) so instead I just took a picture of him being denied entry.
I was surprised by this but I probably shouldn’t have been. I’m just so used to having the kid with me wherever I go (including the loo and shower) that it honestly didn’t occur to me that I wouldn’t be able to take him in with me.
So that was a bit of a fail.
Next we carried on to the main Spectrum exhibition at the YMCA building on Hereford St. Not really being familiar with this venue, I followed the signs towards the exhibition space, only to find it was upstairs. I went back to reception with the stroller and asked where their lift was. They don’t have one. When I asked how I was supposed to get up there the nice lady offered to keep our stroller in a back room and I could carry junior up the stairs.
The little dude is about 10kg now. I’m glad I don’t have to lug him upstairs very often. It was a warm day and I had a bit of a sweat on once we got up there. Fortunately there were plenty of open floor spaces that he could crawl around in so I didn’t have to carry him the whole time, but this was less than ideal. And I can’t help wondering what people with mobility issues are expected to do.
I know there are limited venues in Christchurch at the moment but public art events should really be as accessible as possible, and this one was not.
Kiddo seemed to enjoy it though, and so did I, but after both of these episodes happening in rapid succession I was struck by the notion that enjoying art is just not as easy if you’re a mother and child unit. And I really hope it’s not always like that.