AGO Blog Post.
Photo Credit: Sean Driscoll
“You can look at a picture for a week and never think of it again. You can also look at the picture for a second and think of it all your life.”
July 2020 … I was approached for a quote for the Art Gallery of Ontario's blog, AGOinsider. They were looking for thoughts from an art therapist around creativity and wellness and the impact of art engagement on health and stress levels.
I felt so honoured to contribute. I have enjoyed visiting the gallery for years now and fondly remember my excitement growing up whenever there were prospects of an AGO gallery adventure in Toronto.
“Art, health (and wellbeing) are often interwoven, and during these stressful times related to the pandemic, connecting with art can connect us to ourselves in a meaningful way and can mindfully bring us into the present moment . It allows us to immerse ourselves in the process, focus our attention, provide a sense of control, productivity and accomplishment, rekindle energy, redirect potentially negative and ruminating thoughts and/or allow us to just relax, reflect and ‘be’ ... Engaging in art as a maker or witness can also connect us to others and our surrounding community through the sharing of these ideas, creations and stories.”
Please visit the July 22nd, 2020 AGO blog post, “Welcome back, Everyone! We’re Open” that celebrates their reopening to the public, and artfully expands upon the theme of creativity and wellness, emphasizing the beneficial roles of viewer and witness within the contexts of gallery visits and experiential engagement.
