If you haven’t heard of or visited Melbourne Now yet, get out from under your rock!
The National Gallery of Victoria’s most ambitious and wide-ranging exhibition which celebrates the latest art, architecture, design, performance and cultural practice of creative Melbourne. While there are lot of interesting exhibits which will capture the attention and imagination of young kids there are some sites which are specifically designed for families to explore.
Trugo-GoGo by Tim Fleming and Phooey Architects
Did you know Trugo is a game that was invented and is only played in Melbourne? In the 1920s a group of workers in the Newport railway yards invented a game using equipment built from bits and pieces lying around the yards. Tim Fleming and Phooey Architects have built a version of Trugo for Melbourne Now which includes foam mallets and ‘doughnut’ wheels which you have to hit along the green. There is an entertaining and funny cartoon that accompanies the display which introduces the history of Trugo and how to play.
You, Me and the Flock by Juan Ford
Every kid loves stickers, right? And stickers that you can stick to a gallery wall to help create the work – even better! Juan Ford’s work is not just interactive, it’s also a very calming space if there’s no one around.
This lit up multicoloured nightclub dance floor has been really popular with patrons young and old. Except Lady AB, who was freaked out by the dark, the loud music and the flashing lights. She leapt into my arms and pleaded that we leave quickly.
Create a musical score using stamps and sheet music, perform your piece and experiment with sound at the super-fun Donkey’s Tail Jnr. Lady AB was very reluctant to leave the ukuleles and kitchen utensils behind!
Co Workers, Hanging Sculpture by Meredith Turnbull
Kids can make their own beaded necklace using leather cord, plastic pieces and wooden beads. You can then take home your creation or leave it on the wall to hang with other colourful adornments to make a wearable sculpture.
Lady AB really enjoyed this activity except that it was placed next to an installation which would emit a terrifying storm of white noise intermittently. This photo is of Lady AB running away in fright! I’m not sure why NGV would place a children’s activity next to a loud artwork like that.
This coming week is a particularly great time to visit Melbourne Now with kids because the inaugural NGV’s Children Festival will be happening from Saturday 18 January to Sunday 26 January. There will be workshops, talks and Roll around the block – a photographic project aimed at children where your kid’s works have the chance to grace the walls of the gallery! Download the Melbourne Now App for detailed guides (including guides for families and children).
