REVIEW: Des Moines Art Center Family Saturday

New for 2007, the Des Moines Art Center (on Grand Ave.) has designated 10 a.m. to noon on Saturdays as "family hours." My 22-month-old and I thought we'd check it out. While it wasn't at all what we expected, we had two full hours of fun doing something new in the city.

On the second Saturday of every month, which was today, the museum hosts free interactive family activities. According to the Art Center's Web site, today's activity was “Moves in the Museum,” featuring interpretive dance instruction, and it was supposed to take place in the lobby from 10:15 to 11 a.m. Three important details the Web site didn't mention:

1. The dance activity was "best for children ages 5 to 8."
2. It took place only after a guided tour of the main gallery exhibit.
3. It was to be held in the auditorium, not the lobby (so there wasn't an opportunity to just observe -- which is oftentimes enough stimulation for my toddler).

Because the family activity was quite a bit different from how it was represented on the site, I'd recommend calling ahead next month just to get all the details.

After sharing these tidbits with us, the Art Center's greeter pointed us to a row of eight multi-colored family backpacks. While she said they could be fun for my toddler, she quickly corrected herself by saying the activities inside might be too old for him. But since he loves backpacks, we decided to check it out and were happy to find plenty inside that he could have fun with, including two books and a tupperware container full of tinkertoys.

We played with the backpack in the lobby sitting area for probably 20 minutes before he got bored. Fortunately, there was another activity in the lobby -- a mini grocery store with shopping carts and a counting activity -- that kept us busy for another 10 minutes. One word of caution: give a toddler any sort of wheeled device, and he usually wants to push it as far and as fast away from you as possible. Fair warning.

After we put the grocery cart away, my son said he wanted to "see art," as I'd been hyping it up all morning. So we ventured into the main gallery to see the exhibit of art made from household items. His favorite (which we probably spent a combined 20 minutes staring at... really, no exaggeration) was a 10-ft. pile of styrofoam peanuts shoved in the corner with three industrial fans pointed at them. Every 10 minutes, the fans would blow the peanuts around like snow. My son screamed with glee at the top of his lungs every time it started. His outburst brought nothing but smiles from the other parents, kids and even the Art Center employee guards in the gallery. We felt very welcome.

I promised him a snack, as I had read on the Web site that the cafe was also going to be open and would be offering "coffee and baked goods."

I assumed it'd be the self-serve, cafeteria-like environment typical at most museums... not so. It was a sit-down, get-served-by-a-pretty-waitress, $9-for-a-pumpkin-bar-and-Diet-Coke kinda place. And no high chairs. But again, the staff made us feel very welcome and not at all out of place... though we very much were.

As the other adult patrons were drinking coffee and discussing seemingly important matters in hushed tones, we were talking loudly about the naked man (sculputre) and "his butt" out in the courtyard. But it was really beautiful... we were surrounded by big picture windows and were able to watch the first real snowstorm of the year together over pumpkin and kiwi. My son enjoyed every minute of it. Little did he know, it was about to get way better...

... because that's when we discovered the ELEVATOR. Easily bigger than most garages in Beaverdale, my son had never seen such a tremendous sight in all his life. We rode it a few times, but then left it behind for the massive staircase made of glass stairs. This was another highlight.

We went through a few of the galleries and looked at the paintings, sculptures and other crazy art. I had a great time, as did my son. He was pointing out the different colors and shapes (and naked body parts) of everything. He was very concerned about the Polish artist's exhibit of 35 genderless sculptures, each lacking a head. He kept saying, "Mommy, let's find heads." I wasn't able to help him with that request.

A few tips if you decide to try the Art Center's Saturday Family Hours:

1. Come with a fresh diaper, as the only "changing table" is a cabinet in the basement bathroom. To get there, take a right at the welcome desk, go down the stairs and then head to the ladies room down the hall to your right.

2. Get there early for the second Saturday family activities... it's first come first serve and usually caps at 20 people (parents included).

3. If you bring a stroller, be ready to scale five shallow steps at the center's main entrance... can be tricky if you're by yourself.

4. No need to bring cash. Parking and admission are free, and if you want to try the restaurant (remember, no high chairs), they take credit cards.

5. Don't miss the elevator... it's loads of fun.

6. Be ready to hold hands with your toddler, as there is no interactivity in the galleries... and definitely no touching.

7. Get yourself mentaly prepared to be asked "What's that?!?" and have no answer.

Overall, I'd say it was a positive experience, although the Art Center has a bit to learn about what really makes an activity "family friendly."

But my hat's off to them. This is exactly the kind of brave way we need more Des Moines attractions to think!

Thanks, Art Center, for making us feel so welcome... my son and I (both first-time visitors) had a blast!

Comments

[Anonymous]

Great review--funny and wonderfully written. It sounds like the Art Center is worth a try and we'll be better prepared thanks to this review. Thanks for sharing!