Once a month, my studio is open to the public during Friday Night Live - a street-wide event on Main Street in Woodstock, GA. I've had the chance to witness the same scene dozens of times: a family will walk into the studio, the parents and children will walk up to the wall of paintings, the parents will see a nude in one of the paintings, then immediately steer their child away from the wall and exit as quickly as possible.
My kids have grown up with nudes in art all over the house and in my studio. I have never felt odd about them seeing my work. My nudes are not sexual in any way. Ari can even be a pretty good critic when she looks at my work!
Back in March I hosted ten of Ari's closest friends for an Art Party at my studio. There were flowers hanging from the ceiling, fun pink table covers, lots of art projects. And in the corner was my friend Matt Lewis' amazing nude sculpture that he was close to finishing.
One of the kids went right up to the sculpture of the nude woman, looked at it up and down, squinted and peered with great interest, and said
"Is that play doh?"
Now I totally agree that some nudes are NOT appropriate for children (even for many adults!) But there are some beautiful studies, paintings, drawings and sculptures that can teach children the beauty of the figure, with a great deal of respect that Artists bring to the subject.
When your child goes to a museum, gallery, or flips through an Art book, how do YOU explain nudity in Art?
My kids have grown up with nudes in art all over the house and in my studio. I have never felt odd about them seeing my work. My nudes are not sexual in any way. Ari can even be a pretty good critic when she looks at my work!
Back in March I hosted ten of Ari's closest friends for an Art Party at my studio. There were flowers hanging from the ceiling, fun pink table covers, lots of art projects. And in the corner was my friend Matt Lewis' amazing nude sculpture that he was close to finishing.
One of the kids went right up to the sculpture of the nude woman, looked at it up and down, squinted and peered with great interest, and said
"Is that play doh?"
(My Jack leading a round of Simon Says at the party)
Now I totally agree that some nudes are NOT appropriate for children (even for many adults!) But there are some beautiful studies, paintings, drawings and sculptures that can teach children the beauty of the figure, with a great deal of respect that Artists bring to the subject.
When your child goes to a museum, gallery, or flips through an Art book, how do YOU explain nudity in Art?
