Multi paintings at MOMAThere are four art works in the photo, taken in 2017 at the Museum of Modern Art (re-edited for this essay.)

   If all four were $100 each & you had to buy one, which would it be?

   One was valued in 2019 at 1.2 billion dollars. The others? Not so much.  

   As someone who now spends most of his life on film art, I am endlessly fascinated by how people see. 

   The average museum goer spends 7 seconds before a masterpiece. Consider the nine people in that room. Seven have lost interest. Only two (one barely visible) attend to the masterpiece.

   How rapidly do we scroll cell phone photos? A quarter second per picture?

   When anyone looks at a painting the brain asks first: What or who is it? Next! Scrolling is faster than page turning.

   How many caregivers see patients as people first & diagnosis second?

   Want to see with sacred eyes? Look at this picture, or any, for a full minute. Better yet, try ten. Share what you see & how you feel.

   The billion dollar masterpiece is the Picasso at top right. I made the other three, available for a bargain price. Maybe a donation to the foundation that sponsors this Journal?*

-Erie Chapman

*In the Journal's 16 year history (supported by volunteers) we have never asked for contributions to support Radical Loving Care®. If you wish, go to www.eriechapmanfoundation.net  Click the "Donate" button. $1 is fine. Thank you:-) 

**All photographs by Erie.

One response to “What Do You See? Days 213-217”

  1. Liz Wessel Avatar
    Liz Wessel

    This is an interesting composition, Erie as well as your ask of us to allow our senses to really open to the experience. I do find myself more distractible with the plethora of images that I see om my phone and via technology…but are we really seeing? To your point we need to pause and spend some time to really begin to see through our full presence. Great exercise!
    There is a lot to take in. I find myself noticing the forefront first and all the people milling about. The young couple gazing at the artwork up front. The older man on the bench seems to be drawn in as well. I find myself wondering about the museum goers experiences. How clever that the musueum patrons become part of the exhibit!
    As I gaze at all the artowrk I find I myself drawn to the top left. The colors and shapes are so appealing, the woman’s silhouette captivating, offering a still point, as she dances. My favorite!

    Like

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