Art Heals Us

SKYLARK'S ARTICLE OF THE WEEK - ART HEALS US

Art heals us. When 9/11 happened, I was in a state of shock for a few days. The only thing that helped me was looking at art. I didn't realize how many art books I had. I have a lot. I owe my life to the masters.

When I was growing up, my mother exposed us to art, fashion, design, engineering, and just about any innovation you could think of. She emphasized in her own delicate way how important the arts are. They are life. My sisters and I would spend hours at the kitchen table thumbing through design magazines. Mom would take turns coming to meet us in the city to go to an art exhibit, a ballet, or a fashion exhibit, and then we'd have lunch at some decedent restaurant. I miss those days. 

Art takes us into our imagination and away from ourselves. When we look at a piece of art, we are immersed in the world before us on canvas. We sometimes imagine ourselves in that world. What part do we play? Who do we want to be? It's another world. Art captures a moment in time. That imprint is our entry point into another realm of our reality.

Art enriches our lives by inspiring creativity, reducing stress, and improving mental well-being. It's like a magic pill. It also serves as a powerful tool for communication, empathy, and social change by helping us understand different cultures, histories, and perspectives, connecting us to our inner selves and the world around us, and challenging our perceptions. It fosters self-expression, builds community, and offers a way to process complex emotions and trauma, making us more tolerant and present. That's what art did to me on 9/11 and throughout the aftermath. I'm so grateful for that.

The Impressionist movement was a 19th-century French art revolution focused on capturing fleeting moments, light, and the essence of modern life through visible brushstrokes, pure color, and open compositions, rejecting traditional art by painting en plein air (outdoors) to convey sensory "impressions" rather than precise realism with key figures like Monet, Renoir, Degas, and Pissarro defining this spontaneous style. 

My personal favorite from this time period is Edouard Manet. He was not technically part of the Impressionist group because he never exhibited with them, preferring the official Salon, but he was a vital precursor, mentor, and influence, acting as an "elder statesman" who inspired younger artists like Monet and Renoir to adopt modern subjects and techniques, bridging Realism and Impressionism. He adopted Impressionist styles later in his career but maintained his own path, bridging the gap between Realism and the emerging movement. The Salon was France's prestigious, official annual art exhibition controlled by the conservative Academie Royale that rejected innovative art, forcing avant-garde artists like the Impressionists to form independent shows to gain recognition and challenge the Salon's dominance in defining acceptable art, which favored traditional, historical, and mythological subjects.

From Monet to Manet and every great impressionist artist in between, art can transform us. It can inspire a sense of awe and wonder that lifts our spirits and heals us.

Peace and Love,

Skylark

At 60 and Beyond, art exhibits are a great way to spend an afternoon with a good friend.

My favorite painting by Manet, Masked Ball at The Opera.

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