This Christmas, my family and I decided to skip the fuss and frill of the holiday obligations. Instead of worrying about tree decorations, menu planning and fighting over which holiday movie to watch between naps, we agreed on a road trip. I’ve been eyeing the KAWS exhibit showing at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, so a quick trip up Interstate-45 seemed doable.
So you took a trip just to see a museum exhibit? Yes, but it wasn’t just a museum exhibit. I’ve been an admirer of KAWS (Brian Donnelly) for years! I stanned out when Kanye West featured his work on the cover of 808s and Heartbreak and I’ve got “own a KAWS-designed toy” on my “Life Goals” vision board. So yes, a four-hour drive to see his exhibit up close and personal was totally reasonable. Plus, I saw a few friends post some cool pictures from the exhibit and was instantly overcome with FOMO.
Me in front of a nearly two-story KAWS statue in front of the Museum of Modern Art Fort Worth
My mother, baby brother, and I spent the afternoon wandering around the museum marveling at KAWS’s work through the years.
Three KAWS pieces from Where the End Starts Exhibit (2016)
While the museum moderators were never more than three steps away, each of KAWS’s sculptures felt interactive. Posed in various positions, it’s as if the statues whispered, “Hey, come on over here and try it!” How could we not?!
Me and Baby Brother posing with KAWS statue
Baby Brother and I had a blast mimicking the statues while my mother played personal paparazzi. Because most teenagers want to seem cool on social media, I made sure Baby Brother got all the dope pictures that his heart desired.
Baby Brother captioned this one “Put some respect on our name”
Surprisingly, the gallery wasn’t as busy as I expected for a holiday weekend. Which worked out perfectly, because we didn’t have many interruptions while we “did it for the ‘Gram.”
Baby Brother in front of a large KAWS painting.
One of the things I enjoyed most about our museum visit was that Baby Brother only took his phone out to snap pictures of some of his favorite pieces; the art really had his attention and that’s been Mission Impossible since he first got his own cell phone.
Baby Brother in front our favorite KAWS statue.
I’ve got to admit, the kid is a natural.
It was fun to identify the pop culture characters reimagined in KAWS’s universe. From Peanuts and Smurfs characters to a cool rendering of Felix the Cat, it all seemed so modern yet nostalgic. Although hearing, “Who is Fat Albert?” made my heart sink.
KAWS Exhibit featuring character holding a cigar
In my opinion, Where the End Starts isn’t kid-friendly. A lot of the work isn’t roped off, which creates a feeling of semi-interactiveness. It was as if KAWS invited you to cozy up next to each statue (without touching) so you could momentarily become a part of the art. With that said, I couldn’t imagine bringing a young child to view it. Wouldn’t you hate to be that person whose brat angel ripped Pharrell Williams’s commissioned artwork off the wall?
Source www.kanyetothe.com
All in all, this KAWS experience was worth the roadtrip! If you get a chance, head to DFW and see Where the End Starts at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth. It’s showing until January 22, 2017.
My absolute favorite picture from the visit.
Be sure to add museums to all of your Things To Do in ____ list! They’re a great way to spend a couple of hours, especially when your destination’s weather won’t let you be great.
Do you like to visit museums when you travel? Which museum was your favorite? Tell me in the comments!
