Because of everything else that’s going on in my life, I haven’t been able to blog as often as I’d like to for a while now. So tonight I was thinking: I wonder if I can Photoshop something in five minutes and then post it? Five minutes went by, then ten and twenty, and I finally got something that seemed okay to me a half an hour later.Whoever my muse is, he/she just hates to be rushed. In fact he/she really just prefers to sit around ruminating and puttering (rather than actually encouraging me to finish things off).
This started me thinking about doing things slowly. I know there’s a whole slow food movement that’s really, really popular all over the world. In fact if you google slow food, you’ll get at least 300,000,000 hits.
But what about slow art? Turns out it’s popular too. There are actually people around who will spend several months working on a postage stamp sized piece of art.
“Slow is used as a term of respect for the way art is made and how it is best viewed,” says artist Deborah Barlow. And here’s another quote I love:
What we need more of is slow art: art that holds time as a vase holds water: art that grows out of modes of perception and making whose skill and doggedness make you think and feel; art that isn’t merely sensational, that doesn’t get its message across in ten seconds, that isn’t falsely iconic, that hooks onto something deep-running in our natures. In a word, art that is the very opposite of mass media. (Art critic Robert Hughes)
Cool, eh? Looks like I’ve finally found my tribe. But I think I’m going to take my time getting to know them.
10 comments:
Slow or fast I love your piece.
You aren't slow...you are right on time!
I am ALL FOR slow art. It takes me days to make anything. When I take classes -- I NEVER finish a project. I might think for hours about placement of one element in a collage. That's why ATCs are too stressful for me!
Ah Susan, slow like a turtle..never..but a creative brilliant person...always!!!
Belated bday friend!
oxox
I love this piece Susan, good things take time ya know!
I'm most certainly a member of the 'slow art' movement. I absolutely hate to be rushed and have deadlines. My own pace in my own time seems to work for me.
Thank you for posting this. Not only am I woefully behind on my blog, but I'm having a major rethink on my design vs art, changing my reason for making something a certain way to appeal to the many (including price). Anyway, this was a timely post for me to add to my thinking. Thanks!
I can so relate to your discovery at this time. A month ago, I decided to not drink coffee for a while. I was using it to activate myself into energy mode when I needed to do things the speed of light. After the first grueling week, I was reading about quantum physics and how everything is energy. When I was in whirlwind mode I was shooting energy outwards and when I slowed down I realized that the energy coming back at me was much easier to receive and ten times as powerful. My interactions with people became more profound because it is not easy to listen to others or ourselves when in a rush. My creativity became more focussed again. The world has its own agendas but I keep pace with my heart, my breath and my gratitude. I love the idea of "slow". Peace.
Love your blog and this post just called for me to be commented!
In my case it can take months from the idea through the realisation process to a finished piece. I love the term slow art, that is me!
Although I am learning at the moment to be more free in creating with a lot less thinking. And this works too, but than I m still a lot slower than others :-)
Sunny regards from Germany - Irma
I think this is a very relevant posting question Susan! is it art if it is done quickly? Does it have more value if it is done slowly? hhhmmmm.....
and btw I am a slow foodie! ; )
I love your "slow art" photo and your post in general. It made me realize that not only do we need slow art and slow food, we need slow life. All this technology is a wonderful thing, but we end up living at the speed of light.
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