Viewing Art is Therapy
It's no secret that I LOVE art. I love making it, I love thinking about it. And I love looking at it. It’s truly therapeutic for me. Like listening to a song that you feel in your soul.
Two particular moments come to mind that really portray how experiencing art has had an affect on me:
Smithsonian American Art Museum
During my too-short stint of living in Alexandria VA, I was wandering through the one of the museums in DC, the Smithsonian American Art Museum. On this particular day I was child-free and so I was taking my time. I had perused the artwork in several galleries, finding a good many paintings that I enjoyed and a handful that I really liked.
Then I rounded the corner into the next room. And there she was. “Tanager (The Builders, New York)” by Childe Hassam (pictured above.) It was as if my heart skipped a beat. I LOOOVED this particular painting and I had no idea it was housed at this museum AND on display! I was transfixed. I had stumbled upon an image of the work in small art book several years prior. Seeing it in person was a like a gift from the universe. Familiar yet new. Unexpected and Serendipitous all at once.
I have no doubt that I would have fallen in love with the painting had it been my first encounter. But at the same time, I believe that I had a deeper appreciation and sense of gratitude due to my prior exposure. Like experiencing a long lost food from your childhood or hearing a song that takes you to a favorite memory. Nostalgia at its best.
The Art Institute of Chicago
The other moment that comes to mind happened a good 5+ years prior, while living in Chicago. This particular experience set in motion a trajectory for my art making for the years that followed.
I was visiting the Art Institute and exploring the impressionist artwork on display. In one room were several paintings by Monet. I actually can’t even tell you which specific works I saw that day. Just that they were landscapes. And that they changed my entire view on landscape artwork up until that point in my life. You will need a little backstory to understand the revelation.
As I mentioned, I was living in Chicago, likely for a year or two at that point. And it was no secret, that I was, and still am, NOT a city girl. I’m very grateful for my years living there. I loved the access to culture, the diversity and the interesting people and friends I met along the way. But, I missed the peace and quiet of rural life. As strange as it might sound, I missed being able to go outside and NOT see another human.
So viewing those paintings had an affect on me. Taking them in, felt like home. Like a breath of fresh air. Like peace and quiet. It was truly therapeutic. But up until that point, my personal opinion on landscape art was: If it doesn’t have a human in it, it’s boring or lacks a focal point. Now I’m not saying that I held that belief as a “fact.” But for me, landscapes simply didn’t hold my attention.
Now, if you have followed my art making journey, you will know that landscapes are a HUGE part of it. And I owe that at least in part, to my experience of new found appreciation at the Chicago Institute of art.
All this to say: I love art. And I want to share that with anyone who feels the same or wants to develop an appreciation for it. Whether that’s with the art decks or not, you are welcome and appreciated.
And PS. If you have a similar enlightening art experience, I’d love to hear about it. Truly. Please send in a message and share your story.