I don’t remember how old I was the first time I set off the alarms at an art museum. I do remember that I was on a school field trip, and that it was because I tried to climb into a golden carriage at a Russian art exhibit. The velvet cushions were a dark red, and worn through on some places, and the gold was so shiny. A few spotlights above lit the carriage so that it sparkled, and I couldn’t see anything else.
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| Photo from Anosmia on Flickr |
I didn’t know then how precious gold was, or how much of it was needed to fully cover a carriage. And why all of that alone, without factoring in the historical value, made this thing priceless. I only knew that it was pretty, there was a little step up, and the door was open. It was a siren’s call that I had to follow, much to my teacher’s horror.
I didn’t get into that carriage (I only made it as far as the step), but I kind of wish I had.
And really, can you blame me?
I followed that episode up by touching a twenty foot statue of Ramses II that I wasn’t suppose to on another museum visit… and being confronted with four very stern security guards.
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| Photo by Ivo Jansch on Flickr This isn’t the statue I touched, in case you’re wondering |
“Why, why, why would you do that?” my dad hissed at me as we left as quickly as my little feet could move.
“I wanted to know what it felt like.”
“And what did it feel like?”
“…stone…”
And then there was that time that I got a little too close to a ceramic vase at the Getty (it’s now under glass, I noticed the last time I went), that time I came too close to a Monet, that time I bumped into a sculpture at the Met, and that time I tried to go down a hallway I wasn’t suppose to at the White House. And of course, there was that one time I leaned too far over at the wax museum and set off the alarms. Actually, I’ve done the wax museum thing twice – once in LA and once in London – and for the record, I think those things are a little too sensitive. But what do I know; I’ve never made a wax sculpture, nor have I tried to keep one from melting.
Lest you think that I perpetually go into museums with the intention of setting off the alarms, I don’t. I have a great appreciation for art – making it, viewing it, preserving it. But I couldn’t help it then; I do my best to curb my instincts now by not getting too close. I’m not even sure I want to know what it says about me as a person that I keep setting off alarms… but sometimes, art is just so fascinating.
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| Photo by steevithak on Flickr |
My sister and the kids came for an impromptu visit this past weekend, so I suggested we take them to the science museum. They had a good time, but can I tell you something? They didn’t even try to climb the dinosaur skeletons, or duck under barriers, or set off any alarms. There was no rushing feet of the security guards, no reprimands.
My niece is pretty good about following the rules, but I thought for sure my nephew would have done something, considering I’ve found him climbing up anything he can his whole life – the couch, the refrigerator, the curtains, the walls. A fairly calm, uneventful museum visit felt… strange. Maybe being allowed to touch and interact with all of the exhibits had something to do with it. Next time, I’m going to take them to an art museum and see what happens.
It’s probably a good thing that they’re well behaved, enabling us to take them anywhere and not have to worry – but still. Auntie Brandi was a little disappointed. I kind of wanted to see how far up the T-Rex skeleton my nephew could get.
Not that I was expecting that or anything; it’s just something *I* would have done.
How about you? Ever been kicked out of a museum? What’s the most embarrassing thing you did as a child?
This post is part of the 835 Story Tour. To view more stories or submit your own, click here.
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Christie at Displaced Urbanite
Rachel at TatterBeans
Brittany at The Home Ground
Cindy at Sweet Bead Studio
Click on over to see lovely palettes they’ve created!
I love this post Brandi! I think it's very endearing that you are so curious about the exhibits (wherever you are) that you feel the need to be a part of them.
LOL! I can only imagine the anxiety adults felt around you. : ) But as we see all that curiousity pays off as an adult in YOUR art!
You are funny!!! Great stories to tell! I am always tempted to touch things at museums to this day even though I never have! ~Val
I absolutely loved reading about you getting into trouble at the various museums and art galleries! I'm kind of the same way…. I want to touch and smell everything! I once was invited to a special opening at the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco with a coworker/friend of mine. In rooms where there were no security guards, I DID smell the ancient Japanese sculptures… they smelled… weird. Like stone, but with some smell almost like a burnt match layered under it. It was fascinating! We also did cartwheels where there was room…. this was only about 5 years ago, mind you. It was soooo much fun!!
Brandi, you're a rebel! I like you!
Ha, well, I did like to keep the adults around me on their toes! I was a pretty precocious kid.
I was a pretty adventurous kid as well. I never went to museums as a kid, but I never wore shoes as was always covered head to foot in dirt, literally. Thanks for sharing your story!
OMG. This post had me laughing out loud. I had some similar incidents when I was a kid. Eventually, they figured out they should take me to a place where I could touch the exhibits- like a hands-on museum or a petting zoo.