As I was taking my methodology of art history exam this morning (in a chapel!) I realized that art was most definitely ingrained in me at a young age. I was writing an essay about how psychoanalysis has affected the assumption that artists are the people who best know the meaning of their on work, but my mind kept drifting off to a series of books I used to love when I was a kid.
Malin might remember this moment - but when we were in Venice, in the Peggy Guggenheim Collection's gift shop, I happened to find a copy of one of the "Katie's Picture Show..." books. Now, for some reason, the memory of these had been completely erased from the forefront of my mind but when I saw this book I immediately remembered reading them (and having them read to me!) For those of you who don't know, these books are amazing. They recount the stories of Katie, a little girl whose grandmother always takes her to museums (usually it's too hot outside) and then falls asleep on a bench while Katie wonders around the galleries. She's able (magically!) to jump inside paintings and talk with their inhabitants, and invariably causes a bit of trouble (like flooding a gallery or losing a hoop) but in the end everyone is restored to their paintings and Katie and her grandmother go off and get a slice of cake, or some ice cream. At the end of the book there's always a list of the paintings that Katie explores with a little bit of information about all of them - fun and educational at the same time!
When I was little I remember imagining that I was Katie (it didn't hurt that we had the same name!) and that I could go inside paintings and explore them. I still wish I could, but I guess studying art history is about as close as I'll get ;)
Katherine
Unfortunately, as I've just realized from reading his blog, James Mayhew, the author, was in Edinburgh in April and somehow I missed his talk!! I would've loved to meet him :( More fortunately, the next Katie book will be about adventures in Scotland!
