Eirene is away on a Spa weekend this weekend so I’m solo dad of 4. Thankfully, the internet came up trumps again with a suggestion of what to do to entertain the younger two DragonDroplets. The intriguingly titled ‘Art Play‘ workshop, aimed at little people (18 months – 4yr) and co. caught my attention. It’s ‘blank canvas’ of an event title was essentially a gentle, guided introduction to a gallery space followed by a HUGE blank canvas (literally – ish; paper anyway) spread out over half the floor space of one of the buildings many amazing rooms. Paints, string, scrapers, cardboard, brushes, sponges and apples lay scattered with a licence to ‘get messy’ (paint suits provided). We shared some lovely moments with the staff and other attendees. Story-time in a cardboard box, singing, painting, moving and inventing. Creativity boundless. Loose and unstructured yet attentive format kind of stuff. Nice.

A remarkable space – seen through the eyes of a little person and through the eyes of a me. The full flood force of Wakefield’s Calder Weir and Wharf Co area is a spectacle best observed on a day like today from behind the galleries many ceiling to floor windows. Quite juxtaposed, to the serenity of some of the pieces on display behind you.

We were there before most respectable art lovers were even out of bed, it’s open, airy feel belies the footprint and wall space available to house art. Quite rightly the curation is biased in the favour of the galleries name-sake; Dame Barbara Hepworth (one of Wakefield’s very own). Today a large portion of it was blocked off for to be readied for two new shows, one of which REALLY excites me. One of my all time favourite photographers, Martin Parr. His show ‘The Rhubarb Triangles and Other Stories‘ is opening ‘proper’, next weekend. I got a glimpse of some of the work going up. A taste for rhubarb? I should co-co.