An Art Adventure

On Saturday I joined Keiko-san and her 3 adorable children on a trip to the Matsue Art Museum on Shinji Lake. I attempt to teach her children English every other Monday, and am paid in delicious food. I feel I may spend more time playing with the kids, but she gets them out of her hair for a while. It's a win-win.

The art museum has a bunch of set pieces, as well as a rotating show. They're currently showing a bunch of artwork by young children from Matsue (you can see it for free) as well as artwork by Shinsui Ito (buy a ticket.)

The artwork was very beautiful, but I think I spent more time chasing small children around the museum that looking at it. It was very entertaining though. Reiji, who's 6, enjoyed looking at the artwork with me. Hanai, who's 3, got bored quickly and decided to kick of her shoes and lay on the bench in the middle of the gallery, and Miki, who's 1, was never interested at all. She was interested in running all over the place however.

After viewing the artwork, we went out the side door to the lake. The museum is built right next to Lake Shinji, and has a little patio/grassy area with sculptures you can go see. The kids had fun running around and sitting on the sculptures. When they grew bored of that, they found throwing twigs into the lake great fun.

This was peachy keen until Reiji was leaning over the side of the walkway looking into the lake and Miki, being the little sasspants she is, decided to push him. I tried to grab him before he went over, but only managed to catch his coat. Luckily he landed standing up, so he was only wet up to his ankles. Still, not pleasant. He seemed to take it in stride though. I helped pull him out and he just took of his socks and rolled up his wet pants, and continues to do whatever while I tried to wring his socks out. He seemed to get a kick out of telling the museum workers how Miki pushed him in. What an adventure indeed!

My ticket to the Shinsui Ito gallery.

 Miki, Hanai, and Reiji

 Miki-chan! She's so adorable. She likes me now. She says all sorts of things I can't even begin to understand.

 Reiji and Hanai. They don't seem to believe in seatbelts for anyone other than the people in the front 2 seats in this country.

 Reiji poking at Lake Shinji. This is probably right before Miki pushed him in.

 Miki throwing sticks into Lake Shinji.

 Finding more things to throw.

 The art museum from next to the lake. The tiny statues on the lawn are rabbits. It's a hopping rabbit in motion. Animation sculpture. :)

 Hanai and her postcard she got from the museum store. She was very excited about it.

 Reiji about to run up the slope.

Lake Shinji (Hanai and Reiji)