another father of breast fed babes, and head preparator at a museum, i would
much rather risk a splash of breast milk than have the gallery disrupted by
an angry screaming babe, or a scene by a rightfully outraged mom who is
asked to leave. why not supply seating for moms that is not in direct line
of fire to any art in a gallery and if carpet needs to be occasionally
swabbed than so be it. this way a guard can simply ask that the mom move
over to the designated seating in the gallery. you accomodate the sensitive
need for a very basic human activity, while still protecting the art. as
humans we have the distinct ability to understand fine lines between food in
galleries and milk laden breasts in galleries. and bottles can and do leak
or spill. the danger there is greater than the danger of breast milk
leaking. make the fine line for the sake of humanity. how many documented
instances of breast milk landing on paintings are there anyway...? i am
inspired to find out what our museums policy is on this matter.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Steven Allison-Bunnell" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, June 27, 2003 11:06 AM
Subject: Re: Visitor conduct, sensitive issues...
> I can't help but add my support for allowing breastfeeding in the
galleries.
> As the father of a breastfed child, I can say that the breast has been the
> only thing that could calm our son down on many occasions. In terms of
> disruption to other gallery visitors, a fussing baby is far more
bothersome
> than a woman discretely breastfeeding. In our family, a breastfeeding ban
> would certainly not engender good will toward the museum. If you want to
be
> a family-friendly place, you will not ban breastfeeding in the galleries.
>
> There is no rational public health, hygienic, preservation, conservation,
> etc. reason for banning breastfeeding in the galleries.
>
>
> On 6/27/03 8:05 AM, "Gibson, Cecelia" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
> > I have two questions for the list. One is a rather sensitive issue for
all
> > of you to ponder. We are currently developing guidelines for visitor
> > conduct in exhibition galleries. The guidelines would be posted in each
> > gallery and would be used by our Gallery Representatives as a means of
> > enabling them to act when they see behaviors that are inappropriate in
the
> > gallery. One of the first items listed would, of course, be no food or
> > drinks allowed. We would like to include breast-feeding in this
category as
> > it is technically a food source.
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
--
> Steven Allison-Bunnell, PhD
> Senior Producer & Writer ~ Educational Web Adventures
> [log in to unmask] ~ http://www.eduweb.com
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
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