MONA Part I - Getting there and Before Lunch

We had heard a lot about MONA, the Museum of Modern Art in Hobart, but I didn't know quite what to expect. I had heard all sorts of stories about what we would see, and some of it sounded a bit out there, so the three of us just approached it with an open mind. We boarded the ferry at 10:15, and upon getting upstairs we noticed the seating was a bit different - some stylized seats along with seat that looked like sheep - we didn't sit in them, as they were rather hard, but the kids loved them.

That was our first clue that this was going to be a different kind of exhibit. Once we arrived and walked up the 99 steps to the entrance (yes, 99 steps, and we were all to climb them unless we absolutely could not - and yes, we made it esily), we noticed many interesting sculptures outside. The truck is welded ornamental iron sheet plates - Don thinks they must have used a plasma cutter to make them so ornamental. Its size and intricacy impressed us. The trampoline rings bells if one jumps on it hard enough - I haven't been on a trampoline for at least 50 years, but I had to try and I was able to make the little bells rings - a little bit!

After milling around a bit, we went up to a restaurant called The Source to eat. Before we could get into the restaurant, we explored the kids' play area, and what to our wondering eyes should appear but a sculpture designed by a Wichitan so dear! Tom Otterness, who graduated from Southeast High in 1970 (he is Don's age) moved to New York after graduation, and his play structure, named Girls Rule, stands quite large in the middle of the playground. The slides a very long, and it gets very hot in the summer, but how cool to find something from Wichita at MONA.

The outdoors area was quite expansive with many areas for children to play and for anyone to sit. They had a provided sunscreen and water station, some really cool benches that had places for the sun to shine through, and live music.

Since it was the perfect day, we remained outside as long as we could before we went to lunch.