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Don’t be mad but I didn’t think that the actual, real title would get as many reads. This post is called “Glenna, Why Are You Talking About SLOW ART and What the Heck Is it?” Before I get to answering this question, I would be ever so grateful if you would bear with me for a paragraph of background info that will help lead us back to the point. Ahem.

Just in case you find yourself moseying back into my old blog posts (no pressure) I thought I would quickly address the time gap since I previously said I was starting a blog and didn’t get very far. Perhaps you noticed (or not, doesn’t matter) that in January 2020 I wrote a post about slowing life down because of a relatively small snowstorm. I had in fact built two snow people so it was relatively big for our area. We were isolated for 3 whole days! Little did I or anyone know that what was ahead would give a new definition for the terms “isolation” and “slow down”. I’m kinda done with talking about Covid but IT and some other unfortunate life events really did cause me to put the brakes on, re-evaluate big stuff, move back to my home and native land, and e-ven-tu-al-ly dive back into my art making in a more intentional way. I’m now here to say a big YAY for that (the art part)!

Because I have come back to art, I have also come back to the concept of SLOW ART which I discovered several years ago. In a nutshell, Slow Art can be two things: 1. looking at artwork in a slow manner to absorb its many facets, and/or 2. embracing the practice of making things by hand that take time. I instantly loved both definitions and found myself exploring the concept in some detail. My students became guinea pigs as I tried out the theory. Surprisingly, having them look slowly at a painting for even a few minutes gave them something to say about it.

I started to read the research which reported that doctors and police officers were engaging in slow art to boost their powers of observation. I discovered that doctors and psychiatrists in some places write prescriptions for patients to attend museums. This, they claim can improve not only their mental health but also their overall physical health. It makes so much sense to me that with our fast-paced lives, slowing down for a minute to take in some beauty would also take down our heart rate. What a simple and lovely antidote to the distraction that is so prevalent in our culture today.

Interestingly, almost everyone I ask has not heard about slow art or Slow Art Day which has been held annually now for a dozen years. In response to this fresh fascination I found myself wanting to spread the news, however, not being a “salesy” personality, I wasn’t sure how to go about it. I did run my thoughts by some trusted artsy friends and they encouraged my enthusiasm. This gave me the oomph to pursue this philosophy by backing it with my own actual trademark. Huh? You ran out and got a trademark you say? I know it seems like a leap but I really did (and do) think it was an inspired thought so I went ahead and made the application.

Now back to paragraph one. This was where a pandemic hit, life got in the way and I almost forgot about my application as it wended its way through the rubber-stamping powers that be who would decide my fate in the trademark world. Lo and behold, as we were finally coming out of mask wearing, I received notice that my trademark had been approved!

Perhaps you will find it amusing that even though I like to name things I consider myself weak at the art of coming up with a good handle. The moniker for each of my paintings usually requires input from friends. My husband and I managed to name four children rather well but other stuff – not so much.

This information is my lead up to revealing the name that I chose for my trademark in complete isolation. Admittedly the phones were working even though we couldn’t see people but I lacked the courage in this odd venture to share it. Such uncharted territory had me deciding to go it alone and I now have a trademark by the name of SLOW ART FLOW. I admit it’s not super duper catchy but it made practical sense to me. I will also concede that practicality is a mediocre way to name something. Hey, but let’s break it down anyway! SLOW ART is a thing (see above), FLOW is a thing (you’ve done something you enjoy, get into the zone and all the sudden time has flown by unnoticed), and “ART” is right in the middle of taking it SLOW and getting in the FLOW! See, undeniably logical.

Think about some of the big names that have been around for ages. General Motors for example. That’s about as general (boring) as they come but no one thinks about that now. How about the gas station not far from us called “Super Duper Boomtown” although we all call it the very catchy “Super Duper”. I think SLOW ART FLOW will grow on us.

I’m confident that slowly looking at art and/or making things that take some time will not bring in a million bucks. It will, however, bring some other benefits to your life that are worth more than money: a reprieve from stress, a stirring of your imagination, and a little spark of excitement about making something with your own two hands just to name a few.

Ergo, I present why I am talking about Slow Art, and accordingly, you now know a bit more about what it is. In your next free moment, you may decide to google Rembrandt, Van Gogh or O’Keeffe and spend a few minutes just looking.