loving art, science and creative kids

 Floating Free

        29” by 23”  acrylic on canvas, $ 425

Advice Needed

"What's in a name? That which we call a rose

by any other name would smell as sweet.” said Shakespeare's Juliet.

A recent trip to England made me conscious of how words are used cross culturally. For instance, if you are in a restaurant and need the toilet what do you ask for? . . .  a restroom, the facilities, a bathroom, men’s or lady’s room?  In the UK the signs point to the WC, or water closet, familiarly known as the Winston Churchill. British people ride a lift instead of an elevator, let (rent) apartments, smoke fags, take the Tube underground, wear wellies in the rain, and put suitcases in the boot of their cars. The bonnet is opened if there is a need to look at the motor.  In the morning they put on their trousers, take water from the tap to put in a jug (pitcher) or a pot on the cooker (stove) before running off to get in queue for the bus.

Words can be helpful and straightforward in support of our message or mysterious and questionable.  I take NIA classes for exercise which sounds very exotic when I mention it to my friends, until I explain that NIA stands for non-impact aerobics.  It is a combination of dance and marshall arts done in a fluid manner.   I noticed when explained there is a different kind of interest with a response such as, “low impact is just the kind of class I am looking for.” 

There is also an offering called “Floor Play.”  What image does that provoke in you?  You bet. . . it does in many others who smile knowingly.  When I tell them that it has stretching, yoga type exercises that are  practiced in slow movement on the floor again, I elicit curiosity in trying the class. Names are important in carrying a message.

Now I need help.  Since retirement I have been writing  a book about the growth of the science museum movement that expanded in the late 1960’s and 70’s.  The pages are filled with behind the scenes stories about my own experiences as well as that of eleven other men and women who influenced the field. Basically, it is historical gossip and lots of fun to read for anyone interested in the hands-on education movement or the intricacies (both good and bad) of running a museum. 

When I first started writing my thought was to call the book “Musings of a Museum Junkie.”  There were those who did not like the title so I came up with “Brain’s Night Out.”  My concern is that it does not speak to the subject though it could have a subtitle such as “behind museum walls.”

A. Will you take a moment to share your thoughts by emailing me at [email protected] and saying which title you favor?  

1.  Musings of a Museum Junkie
2.  Brain’s Night Out
3.  Brain’s Night Out behind museum walls
4.  Brain’s Night Out: musings of a museum junkie
5.  None of the above 

B. Does the subject sound interesting enough to read?

Please respond to this post with your opinion. 

Art work is always for sale. Contact me at [email protected]