Little Sis and I had our first day out together with two rather wonderful events to attend. Our first stop was the Rainforest Café for a lovely chat with the people at Vosene over a delicious breakfast. Whilst I heard about the latest news and product development, Little Sis was entertained by a magician making balloon animals, juggling and a puppet show. She also experienced her first face painting, although she was only brave enough to get a small flower painted on her arm.
Then it was on to Tate Britain to see Lowry and the Painting of Modern Life and tick another thing from our Summer Bucket List. We walked, which is something I love to do in London, and passed my favourite landmarks. The Lowry exhibition was amazing and it was surprisingly easy to navigate with a buggy which is something I always worry about. The afternoon was lovely and sunny and we enjoyed sitting outside Tate Britain where Little Sis chased the pigeons, a skill clearly picked up from her naughty brother.
The range of paintings was much wider than I expected. According to the mini guide I picked up he painted for 40 years in Salford and Manchester. His job as a rent collector gave him access to the slums but he saw more than poverty, and spent years trying to show the beauty that he saw a form through his art. As well as paintings of crowds and streets which Lowry is famous for, I also saw paintings of the landscapes he saw, social life, the dreaded fever van, the annual fair and more. I really enjoyed being back in a gallery and Tate Britain felt child-friendly with baby-changing, lifts and ramps for access.
A handy family guide has been created to help you get the most from your visit. Look closely at his works and see what you can find; his pictures are full of stories, big stories and little stories, stories he’s telling us and stories you can make up yourself. With loads of specially designed ideas and colourful characters, Tate’s family guide will help families interact with Lowry’s work in a fun and imaginative way. Children under 12 can visit Lowry and the Painting of Modern Life for free when accompanied by an adult. Adult tickets cost £16.50 and the exhibition runs until October 20th.
