"ART" IS WHERE WE FIND IT...BY PAUSING, NOTICING, ENGAGING, REFLECTING...
From a visit to San Antonio’s McNay Museum…
Finding “Art” Outside The Galleries and Museums…
I loved encountering Picasso as I walked through the door of this art museum reading room. The simple quote reminded me of many “Ah Ha” moments, as my life experience and personal relationships helped me to better “see” the world around me…inside or outside of the gallery. One of those uncoincidental coincidences transpired when my friend, outstanding musician, artist and writer Darden Smith, introduced me to his recent literary offering, “The Habit of Noticing.” In it, Darden describes how his life and pursuit of creative expression honed his skills in observation…of “noticing” the world around him, even in the mirror.
My hours of solitude on horseback in West Texas, hiking through the meadows and mountains of Colorado, and tagging along with my world-class curator life partner through far-flung art venues, have sharpened my senses to better appreciate the world around me. And each of us, if we’ll just pause to notice.
Art Is Where We Find It
I’m still taking a brief sabbatical from civic engagement writing. However, some visual encounters made me think that you might enjoy these samples from my “art” discoveries beyond the galleries. I’m thinking these will prompt you to many examples of your own…some safely stored in your heart and mind’s eye, others yet to be discovered. Enjoy!…All photographs are mine, except for the Matt Lankes book cover photo of Darden Smith.
A Unique and Natural Bluebonnet Frame from the Willow City Loop…
A Stunning Men’s Room Lavatory In An Istanbul Restaurant…
A Ceramic Bowl After An Austin Rain Shower…
This Pool Ball Rack Caught My Attention Against This Uniquely Colored Table…
The Other “Art” Outside… Through The Blanton Museum of Art Window…
Through A Doorway In San Miguel de Allende, Mexico…
Stepping Outside My Ten Thousand Waves Casita In Santa Fe, I Was Humbled In Delight and Gratitude…
An Artful Mosey Close
Our State and National politics are dusty and dark at present, but we’ll get a chance to do better this coming election cycle. Picasso’s observation is a great reminder. In the interim, a good spiritual palate cleanser can be realized through personal “art” treks, inside or outside of our galleries and museums. We’re given many opportunities to enrich our lives, if we’ll just open our eyes, ears, minds and hearts and truly appreciate, engage and notice the world around us. Darden and Picasso are right. The rest is up to us. LET’S MOSEY!