Category Archives: Art

Safely distanced immersive art experiences

04 Sunday Sep 2022

Posted by in Art, community, Health, therapy

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A friend and I attended the Imagine Monet immersive art exhibit in Ottawa this week.

You can too, in a city near you.

Ottawa information

We figured the $46 ticket price and “exit through the gift shop” expenses were well worth the 40 minutes we spent wandering around slowly or sitting on ornate benches while absorbing the colourful images that morphed to the accompanying soundtrack.

One of the ornate benches welcomes art lovers to sit a while
A colourful display of an old favourite painting

The late morning crowd was small, focused and polite. People respected distancing protocols. Some even kept their face masks on. There were no small children racing about or sprawled on the floor due to boredom. I would say it was more enjoyable than last year’s Van Gogh exhibit.

Art appreciation during a pandemic
The Immersive Van Gogh art experience of August 2021

I love the impressionist art style, appreciating the beautiful works created during “en plein air” outings. I had to put aside my opinions of Claude Monet after reading reports that he was an abusive husband and father. I still enjoy his work so much that I chose not to “cancel” the show.

You would have to work hard to convince me to visit an immersive exhibit for Pablo Picasso or Jackson Pollack. Forget Salvador Dali!

I leave you with a water colour rendition of the Water Lilies and Japanese bridge, something I did in late 2020 while on staycation during the first year of COVID-19. It looks okay from a distance 😀

My crude watercolour rendition of Water Lilies and Japanese bridge, December 2020 TJ

Thank you for dropping by. I hope you will find some beauty in your day.

T

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Oh! those summer nights

14 Sunday Aug 2022

Posted by in Art, education, Health, photography, therapy

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This post contains scenes of nature therapy, art therapy and memories of teenage love.

First, let’s pay tribute to a talented actress and songbird, Olivia Newton-John who recently passed away at the age of 73 after a long battle with cancer.

The summer of 1978 was one of adventure and romance for me and my best friend. We met cute boys whose families owned cottages on Georgian Bay. The days and nights were full of giggles, kisses and hopes. I remember exchanging letters and pining for my American boyfriend months after his family returned home and everyone fell back into weekly routines. I held onto the sweet memories for months until they were buried and cooled by the winter’s snow. We saw each other the following summer, only in passing, exchanging polite greetings.

Olivia Newton-John sings Hopelessly Devoted from that cult classic, Grease

Fast forward to summer nights occupied with glamorous household chores, mellowing out with TV sitcoms, and adjusting fans to cool off my sweaty, menopausal body. Some of the perspiration is caused by frustrations with a geriatric Cat.

Closing off a well-appreciated vacation week, I recently joined members of my Rotary club and a dear friend for a forest therapy guided tour of nearby woods. It was refreshing to get outdoors plus meet people whose faces I had only seen on the screen during Zoom meetings.

One tree endured ten minutes of my sensory attention during a forest therapy exercise
The author appreciates the sights, sounds, and aromas during a forest therapy guided tour

I admit to hugging a tree during this event. I struggled to quiet my busy mind that constantly needs to identify and classify my surroundings.

You can learn more about this forest therapy practice at https://www.foresttherapyottawa.ca/.

One daily activity this past week was to evolve a piece of art as homage to one of my favourite, underappreciated artists. It also provided me with mindless dotting of colours while watching TV or listening to music with a really good beat.

Night forest – a study in pointillism, markers, August 2022 TAJ

I think one can appreciate the final result after viewing the progress. Let me know what you think: https://photos.app.goo.gl/5ZQ2dW3kx5P7FhX99 .

Now it is Sunday, a day of reflection, household chores and preparing for the return to the downtown workplace. Let us pray that the Busing Gods will be kind.

Thank you for dropping by, especially if you are a real person and not the creator of a made-up blog.

T

Studies in Pointillism while Meditating on Peace

16 Monday May 2022

Posted by in Art, Health, therapy

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It could be seen as a tedious task but the repetition of colourful dots eventually provides the visual reward.

Unfinished work in Pointillism; Leaves, Ladybugs and Refuge from the torrents, Magic Marker, May 2022

The method recently reminded me of the Dot Matrix printer days in my long IT career.

Inspired by last month’s visit to the National Gallery of Canada with a friend, I have been using Pointillism as one of my art therapy activities for the past couple of weeks. You can follow the creative process here.

Pointillism : Refuge; magic marker, May 2022
Pointillism : Flowers, magic markers May 2022

That pack of gift boutique magic markers and the pile of repurposed charity donation plea snail mail paper have provided me with a creative distraction from the news, all while we are still navigating through a pandemic. Some of us are still practicing safe distance and protection measures.

While watching the Juno Awards on TV Sunday evening, I spent time and energy reflecting on the weekend news out of Buffalo, New York and feeling sickened by yet another crime of hate. I said a prayer for those affected directly and indirectly by the actions of one angry white man. In addition to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the plight of refugees everywhere, world events are weighing on me.

Fear breeds hate. With every little dot I pray for kindness and understanding, starting with myself. I hope it can spread onto the canvas of humanity.

Appreciating and creating art provides me with comfort and relief, especially while listening to music from my pile of favourite CDs.

This will be another summer of staying close to home, avoiding the stifling heat and only exploring sights within reach by foot, public transit or a friend’s car.

If you too are feeling overwhelmed, what methods are you using to cope?

Thank you for stopping by.

T