Slow Art Day, Worcester
Slow Art Day events share is a focus on slow looking and its transformative power. For Worcester, this was our sixth Slow Art Day, held on April 16 at The White Room Gallery in Worcester, Massachusetts. The event was hosted by Payal Thiffault and Michelle May of Juniper Rag magazine, who are two of the founding hosts from the very first Slow Art experiment of 2009. An in-person event was organized and the invitation was also extended to artists, whose work was on exhibition in TORRID | Abstract Impressions. Participants arrived for the event and began looking at the artwork, welcomed by coffee and refreshments. With a small group, questions and discussions organically began as everyone looked at the artwork. The gallery was open to the public, so new curious people were welcomed to join our group as we continued viewing. We viewed six pieces of art by New England artists, many of whom were present for the event.
Viewing began with a look at Scott Boilard’s surrealist painting, Nightmares of Time. Viewers were intrigued by the subject matter, the techniques used and the feeling of motion in the piece. Uniquely, the artist had the opportunity to talk about his concept in painting the work and how it related to self-expression and the feelings that come from societal pressure. Discussing his art so intimately was a great kick-off to the day. The response and questions further elevated the conversation. We also viewed work by Howard B. Johnson, Jr. who creates landscapes of symbolic references and double entendres that keep the viewers eye moving all over the art. Humor, visual taunts and esoterica left many viewers with endless questions. It was hard to move on to the next pieces, fine art photographs by Tara Sellios and Curtis Speer. We ended the viewing with paintings by Susan Swinand and John Pagano. Viewers came away with such in-depth inspections and reflections of all of the work. As hosts, the reward is always learning and seeing how perspectives, from art educators, conservators, engineers and doctors can be so different and how listening can open your mind. Art was the catalyst that day to wonderful conversations between strangers.
Viewing Scott Boilard’s work at Slow Art Worcester
Answering questions and offering explanations in technique, the organizers and artists made themselves available to the participants in a very intimate discussion of the artworks. Due to the nature of the busy room participants were at ease and felt very comfortable asking thoughtful questions to the artists about intent and meaning. Discussion in perspective brought interest and openness in candid conversation, rewarding for the artists and the participants. The overall impact of this experience also lead to appointments for studio visits and the exchange of contact information, further confirming the value of learning more about the artwork we view all too quickly in our day to day. Dialogue and viewing created such an exchange that relationships were formed.
The White Room Gallery and event space is an example of an art gallery that has encouraged the introduction and growth of art appreciation to new audiences with very non-judgmental looking practices through a commitment to community engagement. The gallery and event space is one of the most accessible venues in the city and is run by Luis Antonio Fraire and Birgit Straehle, a professional art conservator. The venue has become the center of cultural and social life in Worcester, hosting gatherings like art exhibitions, poetry nights, weddings and family gatherings, to concerts and business events. We chose this venue with an abundance of foot traffic to introduce more of the local community to art itself and to the work of artists in the New England community who had work in the exhibition Torrid, hosted by Juniper Rag.
Slow Art Day is a global viewing day of looking at art slowly that happens around the world. It was founded by Phyl Terry with the official global launch in 2010. Phyl is the founder of the Reading Odyssey and founder and CEO of Collaborative Gain.
We viewed the work of these artists in the TORRID show:
Curtis Speer
Scott Boilard
Howard Johnson
John Pagano
Sue Swinand
Tara Sellios
Guests enjoying Howard B. Johnson, Jr.’s discussion about his work
“Slow Art is passionately retro. We advocate an ancient practice – one at least as old as the paleolithic cave paintings in Lascaux, France – and that is this: slow down and look.
Neuroscience has confirmed what ancient artists always knew: we see only a tiny fraction of what is around us. To widen the lens and allow more in, we must slow down. In that insight, lies another. Slow looking is a radically inclusive act. Humans need nothing special before they begin to see art – only to slow down.
Interestingly, we have found that once people slow down and begin to look, then that triggers a curiosity to learn more – and that is when the books or expert lectures can be valuable; that is when ordinary people are motivated by their own interest to learn more.
In this way, slow looking events are fundamentally non-patronizing and radically inclusive.
Founded in 2010, Slow Art Day is a global event (more than 1,500 museums and galleries have participated) with a simple mission: help more people discover for themselves the joy of looking at and loving art.
Why slow?
When people look slowly at a piece of art they make discoveries. The most important discovery they make is that they can see and experience art without an expert (or expertise).
And that’s an exciting discovery. It unlocks passion and creativity and helps to create more art lovers. -slowartday.com”
Looking at art slowly can have a profound effect on a person's thoughts, emotions, and perceptions. When you take the time to look at art slowly, you are able to notice more details, textures, colors, and forms that may have gone unnoticed if you were rushing through the experience. Slowing down to look at art can help you to appreciate the art on a deeper level and can evoke emotions that you may not have felt if you were only giving the piece a quick glance. You may feel a sense of calm, wonder, or even excitement as you take in the details of the work.
In addition to all of the emotional benefits, looking at art slowly can also have cognitive benefits. It can improve your ability to focus, increase your attention to detail, and enhance your ability to analyze and interpret visual information. These are things that we al are missing in a world of visual stimulation and overload. Taking the time to look at art slowly can help you to develop a deeper understanding and appreciation of art, and can also have a positive impact on your emotional and cognitive well-being.
From the official website: Slow Art Day is a global event with a simple mission: help more people discover for themselves the joy of looking at and loving art. Officially launched in 2010, Slow Art Day has become an official part of the international museum and gallery calendar with more than 1,500 events produced on every continent, including Antarctica, where the McMurdo Station hosted a Slow Art Day.
If you are interested in signing up as a host for the next Slow Art Day, please visit slowartday.com to learn more and to discover the hundreds of events that happen globally.
ABOUT THE HOSTS, Co-Founders of Juniper Rag visual art and lifestyle magazine and Atelier ID Global:
PAYAL THIFFAULT
Originally from India, Payal grew up in Oman and graduated from Clark University in Worcester with a Bachelor’s degree in Studio Art and Economics. She has always been drawn to both - the creative and business side of design. She has co-curated exhibitions in Provincetown, Boston, Worcester and Newton.
MICHELLE MAY A native of Worcester, creativity and community have driven her professional work in design and marketing. As a person who is committed to supporting cultural and technology events as well as curating shows with Payal. Michelle has showcased local artists for over a decade in various capacities and contributes to awareness of the culture of the city.
Meeting Phyl Terry through their company’s relationship with his councils, they were a part of the very first Slow Art Day experiment in 2009 and have hosted many events over the years.
Atelier ID Global, a Massachusetts-based design and marketing agency was co-founded by the pair, after having worked together at one of the top luxury paper companies in the country. Since then, Atelier has grown their portfolio of local and international clients. As a natural progression, after covid isolation impacted the arts, Juniper Rag was founded in 2021 to elevate the work of artists on a global plane, and fulfill the mission both of them feel so strongly about.
ABOUT JUNIPER RAG
Our mission is to elevate visual artists and creative businesses and introduce them to new global markets. We celebrate contemporary visual arts and businesses —including LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC artists. Uniquely, we bring together an audience who make and collect art, with viewers who value a high standard of work, a solid curatorial review, and thrive on discovery of our creative world.
We are hell-bent on creating this community, elevating artists and creative businesses and connecting them with a global network.
Learn more about Juniper Rag, our creative services and our artists from around the world.
