Taking the paintings off the wall brings children closer to art

When artist Anne-Marie Jean was given the keys to Monet’s garden, just outside of Paris, for five days in 2014 she thought of what she could get out of spending a year there, simply watching the seasons change.

Three years on but far removed from the French utopia, that’s exactly what she did - at Lanyon Homestead gardens in Canberra’s south.

For the past 12 months, Ms Jean and her daughter Camille, 3, have been the artists-in-residence at the historic homestead.

The residency culminates in an interactive exhibition at the Tuggeranong Arts Centre to celebrate how children interact with their environment, and encourage interaction with art.

The exhibition was inspired by three-year-old Camille's uninhibited exploration of the Lanyon Homestead gardens.

"Camille taught me so much about getting down on the ground, looking at the detail," Ms Jean said.

"One of the visions I've had as an art practitioner for a long time is to make it three dimensional, textural, make it smell or move. To take the paintings off the wall."

Ms Jean said the idea started to flourish when she would take Camille to art galleries, and the little girl wasn't allowed to touch anything and everything was mounted high up on the walls.

"I wanted this exhibition to be things that you are allowed to touch and move. A fresh look at galleries."

"These little kids are going to grow up and be artists and art lovers, they need to have good experiences in galleries so they find them to be exciting, enriching places."

It has taken a year to develop the concept. Ms Jean's hope is that the children will explore the area like they do the outdoors. But she also wants parents and carers to take away the notion that art doesn't have to be boring or perfect.

"I hope the impact will be on the people that bring the children, to show them what you can do to be creative. Hopefully it will show adults the sorts of things you can make and have fun with."

Ms Jean said her year spent in the gardens at Lanyon Homestead, unfunded but accommodated by the ACT government, reminded her of the importance of getting outside to play.

"Lanyon is such an amazing resource in Canberra for kids," she said.

Tuggeranong Arts Centre chief executive Rauny Worm said the exhibition provided a space for infants and toddlers to make their own art, which was always an enriching experience.

"Being able to facilitate a project that encourages parents to spend time creating with their
children away from the intrusions of technology is a wonderful opportunity," Ms Worm said.

The exhibition runs until Saturday, October 27.

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