THE CANVAS.

Written by Tyler Rosemond

The Healing Canvas

10 Exercises for Mindful and Emotional Engagement with Art

Art has the unique ability to evoke emotion, provoke thought, inspire creativity, and foster connection. By integrating wellness practices into our art-viewing experiences, we can deepen our appreciation and reap its transformative benefits. In this guide, we’ll explore ten techniques for mindful and emotional engagement with art!

1.    Emotional Mindfulness

Emotional Mindfulness invites you to immerse yourself in the present moment as you engage with artwork. Notice your initial emotional response and give yourself the space to explore these feelings deeply. Reflect on what aspects of this piece provoke such emotions. This practice is instrumental in cultivating emotional awareness and nurturing deeper self-awareness.

 2.    Conscious Color Awareness

Focus on the colors used in the artwork. Refer to your knowledge of color psychology—colors can evoke specific emotions and feelings. For instance, blue often signifies calmness, while red can evoke passion or anger. Notice how the colors in the piece impact your mood and reflect on why that might be. This practice helps in understanding how color influences our emotional state.

 3.    Perspective Shifting

Examine the artwork from multiple angles. Stand close, move far away, view it from the sides. This physical movement can offer new insights and highlight details you might have missed. This practice emphasizes that perspective can change perception, fostering flexibility in thinking.

4.    Narrative Formation

Create a story around the artwork. Imagine the scene, the characters, or the events leading up to the moment captured in the piece. This storytelling can deepen your connection to the art, making it more personal and meaningful. It’s a way to engage your imagination and interpret the artwork beyond its visual elements.

5.    Experiential Reflection

Reflect on your own life experiences and how they influence your perception of the artwork. Identify any personal memories or feelings that resonate with what you see. This exercise encourages introspection and helps in understanding how personal history shapes our interaction with art.

 6.    Four-part Focus

Divide the artwork into four quadrants and focus on each section separately. Form a narrative for each part and then combine them to see how they contribute to the whole piece. This method helps in breaking down complex pieces and noticing finer details, enhancing overall appreciation.

 7.    Material Sensitivity

Pay close attention to the materials used in the artwork. Are they traditional or unconventional? How do they contribute to the overall feel of the piece? Consider how these materials make you feel—do they evoke comfort, curiosity, or discomfort? This practice highlights the importance of medium and texture in art.

 8.    Empathetic Viewing

Try to understand the artwork from the artist's perspective. Imagine their emotional state during the creation process. Read the artist's biography for more context and consider how their experiences may have influenced their work. This exercise fosters empathy and a deeper connection to the art and artist.

9.    Opinion Formation

Allow yourself to form and express an opinion about the artwork. It's okay to dislike a piece or disagree with the artist's expression. This exercise is about recognizing and respecting your own taste and perspective, fostering confidence in your unique point of view.

 10. Find Inspiration

Think about how the colors, themes, or emotions from the artwork can inspire your own life. How can you incorporate these elements into your daily routine, home decor, or personal projects? This exercise bridges the gap between art and life, making art appreciation a more active and practical endeavor.

 

BONUS: Gamified Exploration

Before learning about the artist, create your own narrative about who you think they might be based on their artwork. Afterwards, read the artist’s bio and compare your assumptions with reality. This playful approach helps in confronting biases and encourages an open mind.

 By engaging with these exercises, you can enhance your art-viewing experience, integrating wellness practices that promote mindfulness, emotional intelligence, empathy, and creativity.

SACRED SYNCOPATIONS: SPIRITUAL JAZZ

Written by Tyler Rosemond

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 Many of us have experienced the spiritual resonance of music—whether through thoughtfully crafted lyrics that seem to hit us right when we need them, or an instrumental that takes us to another dimension. This sentiment is especially evident in spiritual jazz, a genre that emerged in the 1960s and 1970s. It's characterized by a focus on transcendence, spirituality, and a deeper connection with the human experience. This exploration often draws from Eastern philosophies such as Hinduism, Buddhism, and Sufism, embracing concepts of meditation, enlightenment, and the pursuit of inner peace.

 The music itself is expansive, guiding listeners through immersive and contemplative spaces. It navigates through intricate rhythms and time signatures, echoing the rhythms of nature and sacred rituals. Vocals, whether in the form of chants, spoken word, or singing, add yet another layer of depth and texture to the music's complexity.

 Emotionally, spiritual jazz covers a wide range, from peaceful and reflective to intense and ecstatic. It mirrors the ups and downs of the spiritual path, drawing on influences from around the world to create a diverse and vibrant sound. Central to this genre is improvisation, granting musicians the freedom to express themselves and their spiritual insights. It’s no surprise that the use of non-traditional jazz instruments such as the sitar and tabla are often incorporated in its compositions.  

When discussing spiritual jazz, we must acknowledge some of its leading pioneers: Alice Coltrane, John Coltrane, Sun Ra, Pharoah Sanders, and Albert Ayler. Each were deeply intertwined with the movement's philosophical and spiritual essence. John Coltrane's later years were marked by a profound exploration of Hinduism and Buddhism, reflected in compositions like "A Love Supreme," influenced by Indian spiritual leader Sri Aurobindo.

After her husband's passing, Alice Coltrane continued her spiritual journey, embracing yoga and Indian philosophy, greatly impacting her music. She blended jazz with Indian classical music and devotional chanting. She eventually became a devotee of Swami Satchidananda and found the Sai Anantam Ashram in California, where she taught yoga, meditation, and Vedantic philosophy.

Sun Ra, a visionary composer and bandleader, crafted avant-garde jazz that reflected his cosmic philosophy, exploring themes of space, time, transcendence, and afro-futurism. His compositions often feature extended improvisational passages, where he delves into the depths of his soul, seeking to express the ineffable through music.

Albert Ayler's  compositions were characterized by repetitive, chant-like motifs reminiscent of sacred hymns, evoking a sense of ritualistic devotion. Through call-and-response dynamics, Ayler creates a sense of communal connection and spiritual communion. His emotive and experimental sonic palette epitomized his profound spiritual journey.

Pharoah Sanders played saxophone with a spiritual intensity, drawing from meditation and inner exploration. His music incorporated themes such as unity, consciousness, and spiritual enlightenment. His commitment to spirituality extends beyond music, integrating meditation and mindfulness into his daily life for inner harmony and peace.

Spiritual jazz speaks to the soul, serving as a gateway to profound introspection and universal connection. Through the visionary contributions of artists like Alice Coltrane, John Coltrane, Sun Ra, Pharoah Sanders, and Albert Ayler, this genre has evolved into a transformative medium beyond musical expression alone. It weaves together diverse influences and improvisational freedom, reminding us that Spiritual jazz is not just a genre—it's a spiritual journey, guiding listeners through the depths of human experience and offering a glimpse into the ineffable realms of the divine.