All posts tagged: kids

Liberté d’expression – a sad day for Paris.

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Freedom of speech. Liberté d’expression. I have taken this for granted. In the aftermath of the shooting at Charlie Hebdo in the 11th arrondissement in Paris yesterday morning it has left every person I speak to in shock. The turn out in support last night at Place de la Republic was amazing and I’m very proud to call Paris my adopted home. As a South African I am sensitive to how the freedom of our fellow patriots can be taken away, we have a long, sad and well documented history that we have overcome where freedom of speech is respected and each person has a right to their opinion and to be heard. ‘The pen is mightier than the sword’ and as I write this blog I am able to have opinions and express myself freely – this can never be taken away from us or our children. My thoughts are with the families of Charlie Hebdo – this could have happened in any media room I have worked in and to any journalist I know. A sad day …

Superheros, cartoons and giant balloon dogs. What kid wouldn’t want to see that?

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Taking kids to any museum is a little stressful, there’s always the chance that you turn your head for a second and they’re touching the 17-century painting that changed the course of history! However, there is one artist that seems pretty safe and fun to take the Small People to, and that is American artist Jeff Koons. Not because his works haven’t changed the face of modern art (he is after all the artist who tops the list of the most expensive work by a living artist sold at auction – just a cool US$58.4 million) but because his works even appealed to my 4-yr-old. He is widely regarded as one of the most prominent, popular and provocative artists of the postwar era and kids get it. His famed giant inflatables (Balloon Dog Magenta, 1994-2000), cartoons and Super Heros (Hulk Friends and Hulks Bell both 2004-2012), Play Doh works and stainless steel cast trains (Jim Beam – Baggage Car 1986) will keep even the smallest of people’s attention while you can enjoy the exhibit too. Bonus! Jeff Koons retrospective showing at the …