Shala K. Howell
It's fair to say that this was not the book I expected to write first. But five years of pausing to look public art with my daughter whenever we've stumbled across it has taught me that public art is a fantastic parenting tool. Especially for parents who want to nurture their child's interest in art, but whose kids may not be ready for long hours in an art museum. My daughter is constantly creating art and much of it is clearly inspired by works we've seen walking around our neighborhoods over the years.
Public art is a wonderful way for parents to get their kids outside and interested in their local community. It was invaluable for me in Chicago, for example, where we lived in a condo & I didn't have access to a backyard. Visiting the art in Chicago's parks and along its Riverwalk gave us an excuse to linger outdoors. Public art is also often inspired by local history, so was a great way to peak my daughter's curiosity about and increase her connection to her new hometown.
Using public art to introduce art to your children fits neatly into nearly any parenting schedule. Each encounter with art can be as brief or as extended as your time permits on that particular day. Even better, the only planning really needed is a willingness to stop and take a look. I tried to reflect this fundamental approachability in my book by structuring it as a series of tips that parents can read as needed, rather than as a long-form parenting reference text.
Public art is a wonderful way for parents to get their kids outside and interested in their local community. It was invaluable for me in Chicago, for example, where we lived in a condo & I didn't have access to a backyard. Visiting the art in Chicago's parks and along its Riverwalk gave us an excuse to linger outdoors. Public art is also often inspired by local history, so was a great way to peak my daughter's curiosity about and increase her connection to her new hometown.
Using public art to introduce art to your children fits neatly into nearly any parenting schedule. Each encounter with art can be as brief or as extended as your time permits on that particular day. Even better, the only planning really needed is a willingness to stop and take a look. I tried to reflect this fundamental approachability in my book by structuring it as a series of tips that parents can read as needed, rather than as a long-form parenting reference text.
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