Day 16: Words and Pictures: Art

And now for something completely different… (well, not totally)

One purpose in our 30 Days of Inspiration is to have a moment for thinking about our lives in a different way. Perhaps re-set our focus. Perhaps give us a diversion. Perhaps give us a new direction.

Click here for an activity from National Gallery of Art. Give it a try. While one exercise is designed to look at art with a family member suffering from memory loss, I think the questions and ideas can apply to anyone. You may even want to “poke around” the NGA’s website for other works of art to ponder. Hopefully it will give you some type of reprieve from the monotony of the days. Might even give you a chance to look around you in a different way. I know that art gives me a different perspective.

Day 2: Words and Pictures- SCULPTURE

The gathering of “lace” about the neckline… Amazing- all one piece of marble.

The thought was that the sculpture was the depiction of the “lady” written by Verrocchio’s benefactor- Lorenzo De’Medici.

Notice the fringe on the bottom…

The above sculptures were on display at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC this past fall. My husband, son and I “metroed” in to see the exhibit about Andrea del Verrocchio. I had read about the artist /teacher (his most famous pupil- Leonardo de Vinci) and wanted to see some of his work. What I find so interesting is his talent in making a block of hard, heavy stone appear to be a delicate, translucent piece of fabric. (lace for the lady and the fringe on David’s loincloth) I find that when I know more about the artist, the work, the timeframe in which it was produced, the technique- I enjoy and appreciate the creativity so much more. Usually I am just a Neanderthal when it comes to anything art but I am always willing to learn.

Words and Pictures. What artwork inspires you? What gives you a glimpse into the beautiful and the truth?

What have you learned about creativity during this time of confinement? How have you been creative in the newly thrust upon home-schooling/ keeping my kids occupied mode? While we cannot visit art galleries for now, we can visit them online. Why not take a break from the news and the thoughts about the virus and learn something new?

Click here to escape to an informative video about an Italian artist Verrocchio.

Our truest response to the irrationality of the world is to paint or sing or write, for only in such response do we find truth. Madeleine L'Engle