A Feeling of Spaciousness

A Creative Landscape

What gives you a feeling of spaciousness? Why does this feeling matter to our creative presence in the world?

These are questions that I ponder. I invite you to join me.

I am imagining that you often feel a sense of needing to hurry because there is so much to do. I certainly do. Our days are often filled with striving and with busyness. Even in retirement, I can experience lack of time, of ability, of energy as well as a need to always do more.

I recently paid for a basic membership in a local art museum. My membership card arrived by mail this week which gave me access during the museum’s scheduled hours until the membership is due again. I wondered what difference my being a member might make when I walked through the doors.

The first thing I noticed is that I was a feeling of greater relaxation. I didn’t feel that I needed to visit each gallery and see as much as possible in the time I was there. I could, and did, sit in front of one painting. I gave myself 20 minutes to look at the artist painted. I looked at the foreground, the background, the mood, the brush strokes, the choice of detail, the time of day and more. I imagine I could have stayed longer, but I felt satisfied. I was ready to move on. I will be doing further research on my own at home in order to learn more about the painter. Since the painting I was drawn to is part of the permanent collection, I can go back to see it again. That is , should I wish to. I know I will.

I visited some of the galleries as some of the works currently exhibited will be gone by the time I return. I will look forward to what may be arriving.

I did notice that there were many school groups of middle-school age students. They were well behaved. However, they brought their own energy with them. They walked with their teachers and/or docents and looked ever so briefly at the paintings that they had come to see. I wondered if they were being trained to see the created works while on the move to the next one. I don’t know what their time constraints were. Students needs, teachers’ schedules, transportation and time requirements are all factors. I don’t know what the class room instruction was prior to their visits. I am very delighted they were there for even a short time. However, I also noticed a mother and daughter going far more slowly and attentively. So, there was some variance. Which is better? For me, the opportunity to be slower and attentive. But that is me.

What I experienced provided me a sense of spaciousness, and of choice. I had the freedom to look more closely, and sometimes less so. I could see what was happening around me such as the students’ field trip. I also could stop when I was feeling visual overload, enjoy a coffee, while knowing that I can return and choose again. What difference this will make creatively? I can’t fully determine at this time. I believe it does. I will keep reflecting on this during subsequent visits to this museum as well as to other places that I choose to explore.

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