| Back to the Beginning at the Art Institute |
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It is fitting that my very first blog entry
as a published author should take me--and, for that matter, my
readers--back to the beginning, with a visit with my daughter,
Annalisa, to the Minneapolis Institute of Arts (also called the MIA,
also called the Art Institute). Tomorrow, May 4, is the final day in the museum's 25th annual Art in Bloom celebration, which features really glorious flower arrangements paired with works on display in the museum. And beginning at 2:00, as part of this event, Annalisa and I will be signing copies of THE MYSTERY OF THE THIRD LUCRETIA. One of the most exciting things that's happened in connection with the publication of the book has been the enthusiasm for it among the Art Institute staff and volunteers. As you know if you've read it, or even simply read about it, the story begins with a scene in the Art Institute involving one of the greatest masterpieces in the MIA collection: Rembrandt's depiction of the Roman heroine Lucretia. During the course of the action, Kari and Lucas, the book's two young sleuths, also visit London's National Gallery, the British Museum, and the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. In each one of these places they look at and respond to the art on display. Mostly, THE MYSTERY OF THE THIRD LUCRETIA is meant to be just a fun book for kids--an exciting mystery that young readers can enjoy. But one of the things I was trying to do with the book was to write about ordinary kids who feel at home in museums and who respond very naturally and directly to art, the way my daughter did when she was their age. I really wanted to break down the barrier that somehow divides too many people, especially people in this country, from the beauty and power of art. The people at the Art Institute saw this theme, liked it, and were kind enough to invite me to sign books on the final day of Art in Bloom. And what makes this even better is that Annalisa is going to be there with me! If you've read my bio, you know that my daughter's response to Rembrandt's Lucretia paintings (there's another one that hangs in the National Gallery in Washington, DC) was a huge influence in the creation of this book. So to have her there—to have the two of us together at the signing amidst this popular museum event—is bringing our story full circle. In the morning, before the museum opens to the public, we'll be up in front of the Lucretia painting having some pictures taken by Ann Marsden, the very talented photographer who took the picture of me that's on this site. I can't wait to see how the photos turn out! The best ones will go up on my website, susanrunholt.com. Then, in the hours before the signing begins, Annalisa and I will tour the galleries and enjoy the art on display. And as we do so we'll play our old game: in every room we go into, we'll each decide which work of art we're going to take for ourselves "when we begin our life of crime." And we'll have fun, like we always do when we go to a museum together. |
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