Today was one of those days that “the forgetting of the camera” was an epic mistake…EPIC I say!  Luckily my friend Camille gave me hers’ at the end of the day, and I snapped this shot of Cousin Avery and Sara enjoying a beautiful day.

The Indianapolis Museum of Art opened a new Art & Nature Park last week aptly titled, “100 Acres”.  It’s hard to look out over the beautiful meadows, forests and lake and see it as a former gravel pit.  The museum allowed nature to reclaim it, and now it is fairly untamed, downright beautiful, and full of commissioned pieces of art designed to show the public how contemporary art interacts with the natural world.

100 Acres is an amazing park full of shady spots for picnics (ours’ lasted with friends for 4 hours), sunny meadows for running, and fascinatingly enough, the most engaging art I’ve ever seen.  It begs to be touched, considered, and flat out climbed upon.  And the good news: that’s the DEAL.  It is meant to be physically engaging.  So not only do the kids have endless paths and unpaved areas through woods full of sticks MEANT to be picked up and carried about, but they also are surrounded by art they are SUPPOSED to climb.  And wrap themselves around, and create games upon for hours and hours.  Can you imagine a better scenario?  See this fun stuff you’ve been sliding on guys?  It’s ART.  Art is FUN.  Art is NEAT.  And let’s talk about how it makes you FEEL.  COOL, COOL, don’t you wish you lived in Indy…COOL?!

We stopped by the main museum on our way out for some fresh fruit and lemonade at the cafe, and sat by a large fountain that the kids turned into a giant Candyland City with their conversation and imaginations.  The museum grounds are so well maintained, that even at the main building  you would never know you are in the middle of the city.  Only in Indy could there be 100 quiet acres with a lake and river running through it, just waiting for something fresh to happen.

Bravo IMA!  Bravo.  Next trip: we’re getting on that boat to explore the couple living sustainably in the pod in the center of the lake.  And the “Free Basket” exhibit.  And….just meet us in the shady spot by the Funky Bones.  We’ll put out a picnic blanket for you.