BLOG: Art Breathing

I’ve often said that the arts are, for me, like breathing. One of my earliest childhood memories was attending a children’s play of Rapunzel. There were no props or costumes. Just the actors on a black stage. They formed Rapunzel’s hair by holding hands to create a human chain representing her long tresses. It was pure imagination. At age five, it was spectacular.

My young arts experiences included piano lessons, singing and coloring page after page of blank white paper in my little girl’s retreat. In adulthood, I stand in awe in an art museum and ponder the artist’s creative process. I close my eyes and remember the images of the exquisite blown glass sculpture by Dale Chihuly at the Milwaukee Art Museum or the larger than life Roy Lichtenstein work at the Chazen Museum at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. The Art Institute of Chicago and the Modern Museum of Art in Chicago hold dear places in my art heart.  And I can hardly wait to see the Rembrandt in American exhibit at the Minneapolis Museum of Arts this summer. I fondly remember experiencing performances of Yo Yo Ma, the Three Tenors, Joshua Bell and Wynton Marsalis. 

But, for me, art breathing is not reserved for the halls of museums or concert halls. It is listening to my sons jam with their guitars and piano. It is the explosion of color in my flower garden. It is the rare morning rainbow in the west as I drove in to work and the eagle perched in the Art House maple tree. Last week, at the , young children, teens and adults began their summer journey of creativity. I watched and breathed. I took a breath in as the teens painted a collaborative mural, Picasso style. It was a quiet, meditative process that took my breath away. I sighed out loud when I saw the young children create amazing clay creations full of color and texture. A gasp, a sigh, and I was breathing. Joyful!

This weekend, I will breathe art through the entire weekend at the Eagan Art Festival. Nearly 100 artists will encircle the Eagan Festival grounds with glorious artwork in photography, jewelry, pottery, fiber, metal and more. The world art celebration theme will be reflected in the music and the artist demonstrations.  The kids will make world masks in the art activity tent. Everyone can help create a community weaving in the Art Experience tent and watch artist demonstrations all day long. It’s not to be missed. Saturday, June 23 from 9:00 a.ms to 5:00 p.md and Sunday, June 24 from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Eagan Festival grounds. You can get more information about the event at eaganartfestival.org.   

So, whether it's at the Art Festival or in your own living room, take a minute to look around you an breathe in art.