While standing in front of this sculpture at the De Young Museum, I overheard a conversation between this little girl and her father. It was a spectacular learning moment, and I felt privileged to overhear it.
DAD: So, what does this one look like to you?
DAUGHTER: They look like they're falling.
DAD: What are they?
DAUGHTER: Black alligator scales, falling from the sky.
DAD: Are they falling? Maybe they're floating.
DAUGHTER: If they are floating, they are floating like fish! Alligator scales, floating on an invisible river!.......Can I run through them?
DAD: No, but I want to run through them too.
This is the type of conversation that makes me love museum education.
