"I'll never have enough time to paint all the pictures I'd like to." -Norman Rockwell
We found out by chance that there was a Norman Rockwell exhibit going on at BYU. Oh man, Norman Rockwell, it's unamerican not to love the guy's work. He's essentially the Mark Twain of the Oil On Canvas world. I texted Jess and asked if she and Taylor might want tickets. I got back the proverbial,"Do you even need to ask?!" text. She fell in love with Rockwell in her 7th grade art class.
There was one soul who was not excited about the exhibit. I told Jonah what our exciting plans were Sunday evening on our way home from Mormor's, to which his reply was very clear.
"All we ever do is go to dumb concerts or plays or museums! I hate them! They're so boring! I'm not going!"
Poor Jonah. To be born a doer into a family of couch potatoes is a rather heavy cross to bear. He's that sporty kid that somehow got stuck in the artsy family. Bless his little heart. Thank heavens his dad is a doer and a sporty guy. I'll have to get Jonah some Real tickets this year or something to make up for the constant art he is forced to swallow. As for this day, we dragged him along against his will. The whole time he kept insisting that he just wanted to go swimming. Ugh. That is so not what I wanted to do.
As for the rest of us, we were thrilled as could be. We didn't even need the Rockwell exhibit. We were in awe of the regular galleries. Sabrina was purring the whole time.
We were only slightly perturbed at the college couple who were obviously enjoying a free date at the Museum of Art that afternoon. They had parked themselves right in front of a Renaissance painting that we were all interested in seeing up close. They sat in front of that painting for a good fifteen minutes, giggling and staring into one another's eyes.
We were all about two seconds from approaching the couple and reminding them that there were plenty of blank walls that they could park in front of if the only art they really cared to behold was that of one another's enamored gazes. But at that point they moved onto another portrait.
We did finally make it into the Norman Rockwell exhibit. It was just wonderful. I took no photos. I didn't know if photography was allowed, and there were too many people. The storytelling that Rockwell could pull off in a single painting is just remarkable. He told the story of the every day American in poignant and playful ways. I enjoyed getting up close and noticing the many little details of each painting. I had no idea the work involved in producing just one painting. The hours that Rockwell spent posing and photographing his subjects. Then more hours as he did charcoal sketches of his subjects. Then he would finally pull out his oils and begin painting.
We grabbed the pouting lump of despair that was our youngest son and headed out, but Jess and Taylor felt some magnetic pull that could not be resisted as we passed the Jazz Photography exhibit, so we stopped in there. Jonah found a bench somewhere and cursed the many people who were ruining his life.
I have one question. All of the greats from the Jazz age...how on earth were they able to blow into those instruments all of the time when they were such incessant smokers? It's a mystery to me.
All of this standing around looking at art had us famished. Spencer has to grow out his hair for Beauty and the Beast. I'm not sure about this whole theater world. I just want to sneak into his bedroom at night with a pair of clippers and go to town.
I made an inquiry to all of my Facebook friends about where to eat in Provo. I got some great ideas, but on this day, we needed something substantial and cheap. Nothing too fancy schmancy. There would be no fifteen dollar gluten free sandwiches with this bunch. We ended up at Maria Bonita's in Orem because I could eat Mexican food every day of my life. It was surprisingly delicious. The salsa was so good! I think we asked for ten refills.
On the way home Jonah's friend called and invited him to his birthday party. They were going swimming. And so you can see, the day ended well for everyone.
