I found myself in an unusual position yesterday. I am a mum of young children and I found myself at a loose end. It's not often 'mum' and 'loose end' find themselves juxtaposed in the same sentence. This liberating situation came about as my husband is away with work and my children were away at their grown-up cousins for the weekend.
So I went solo. Off to The Hepworth Wakefield I made my way. It's a new art gallery dedicated to the sculptor Barbara Hepworth who was born in the city. Got my priorities prioritised and straight into the café I wandered. Up to the counter and made my mind up in lightning fashion. No children of my own so I didn't have to clarify to them what was on the menu nor wait 10 minutes for them to decide what they wanted to drink nor spend some time in debate as to where to sit nor point out where the loos were nor have to keep them amused while we waited for the food to arrive. In, ordered, observed, received, ate, observed, out. Fabulous.
I loved some of the sculptures, didn't like a few; didn't understand quite a lot but enjoyed making my way around at my own pace. It's shame you aren't able to touch any of these sculptures. So many seem very tactile but I guess it would destroy them if thousands of grubby hands started caressing or nudging them. It would be good to have just one which you could touch.
The Hepworth stuff was interesting especially the explanation of the process behind the creation of the sculptures. The guest exhibition by Lynda Benglis was really very good - bright, colourful, textural, covetable. And all of these works of art in a rather lovely building which seems to sit naturally on the banks of the Calder River. Every so often as you wend your way around the galleries you come across a huge picture window which invites you to look out onto the river. A heron stood there on the weir in the sunshine. I wonder how much it gets paid to just be there?
Anyway I would recommend going solo every now and then. My 8 and soon to be 10 year old are due back any minute. I am very much looking forward to having them back......I think. Perhaps another few hours to get out into the garden without being asked to play rounders. Oh there we go a thump on the front door - they're back.