To See or Not To See - That is the Question

The NY Times had a little article discussing the way people rush through art galleries, snapping pictures but often not lingering or actually enjoying or even seeing the art. It wasn't a scientific study but rather an observation by a museum goer at the Louvre.  He compared today's museum goer to the tourist of the 18th century who prepared for their trip by studying languages and reading books before going off to really explore art.  Now people, according to the writer, use their digital cameras or cell phone cameras to take pictures of paintings instead of actually looking at the originals.  Perhaps this also reflects a deeper absence of the discussion in society about art not just as beauty to behold, but as a refection of history, religion, social or political concerns.  If you don't stop to look at any of it how would you know?

I have been fortunate enough to be at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston  a few times over this past year, a luxury for me, I am serious it is.  Part of the reason we moved to this area from the beautiful mountainous West where we had been for 9 years, was to expose our family to more diversity and "culture." Since moving here we have tried to go with our family to the MFA and create a sense that observing art is a natural and fun experience to be had by all. The fact is it can be expensive for many and you have to be vigilant if you want to take advantage of free admissions etc.  and the actually getting there can be heard up and down our streets as a child or two yells out, "Not the art gallery! How about the children's museum?" Often with our children I create improvised scavenger hunts, for example; How many pictures have animals in them in this gallery? At least I get the feeling they are actually looking at the art and they seem to enjoy it.  I was really pleased the last time we went to see the kids actually pointing out Greek Gods and the Egyptian looking statue in Sargent's wall murals, that made me feel like some of the previous not so joyful visits and pushing them to even go to the MFA were finally paying off.  They were getting the looking, really looking can reap an enjoyable experience, or at least a stimulating one. 

But to be honest, those were my younger kids.  My sweet adolescent son has told me that he hates art galleries, a very broad statement that can only be appreciated when sitting across a table from the speaker.  We looked through an exhibit one Sunday comparing 3 Italian Renaissance artists, and I found him with his cell phone (texting, not even taking pictures!) on a bench near the exit of the exhibit.  When I asked him how he felt about the art, he said he found it kind of scary! The truth is some of the pictures on second glance did have some mighty fierce depictions from biblical stories.  How to transform this lack of seeing the historical, social, religious, political or just plan asthetic  wonder into meaning for him, or for anyone, involves making it applicable to something they can connect it with I think.  My son couldn't connect the biblical dots so to speak.  

 I think interaction with people and art has taken on a new dimension in our technological world.  Kids text more then they talk at times, viewers click more then look. I guess I wonder; Do you go to a gallery to say you've been, or to be changed on some level?  I myself have found great joy and have felt profoundly touched when, for example I was at the Van Gogh museum, without kids, in Amsterdam.   Looking at some of his paintings, knowing from reading that a specific one was done while he was hospitalized for mental illness gives one an insight into not only the source of his art but his soul.  I hope My own kids can experience this and not find themselves clicking instead of seeing art.