Weaponry

What do the following have in common?

11 six- to eight-year-olds, Gladiator helmets, double chocolate cupcakes, and clay weapons

They were all part of Zach’s 8th birthday WEAPONRY party today.

We went back to the MFA with our resident cool guy artist.  He showed us blades from Africa, Samurai swords from Japan, Gladiator helmets from Rome, and a riding sword made by a friend of Paul Revere.  Throughout it all, he asked and answered great questions and the kids were totally engaged.  If you don’t think of a fine arts museum as good fit for a second grade party, you haven’t met Jake.  Or maybe you just haven’t been in a museum with a second grader.  The kids were interested and interesting.  They were thoughtful about how different weapons could be used, curious about the materials used to make them, and discriminating about which ones they liked and why.  (They also had lots of giggly things to say about the naked photos, paintings, and sculptures we tried to walk by quickly to no avail.)

The best part was going down into the studio to make our own weapons out of clay and shells and buttons and beads.  They made cannons and guns and swords and arrows.  Ezra made a great big rock.

“So I can take it and slam someone over the head.”

Jake asked the kids why weapons would be in an art museum. They came up with lots of answers.  Mine was simpler than theirs; I simply think they’re beautiful.

Or maybe I was just thinking about the second grade artists who made them.