Slow Art Day

 Picture stopping at a piece of art – what do you notice? The shape? The color? The size?

Eight seconds later, your attention is gone and so are you, on to the next piece where you will spend another eight seconds on its aesthetics. If this is you, you are the average citizen and you spend much less than one minute appreciating a piece of art that could potentially move your soul… if you let it.

This Saturday, April 16, 2011, the third annual Slow Art Day takes place in Grand Rapids as well as more than 80 other sites across the globe. The event is designed to encourage adults to take the time to appreciate art the way the experts do and let it into their lives.

Slow Art Day is celebrated on every continent (yes, including Antarctica!). Participants of all ages are invited to visit the Grand Rapids Art Museum (GRAM), 101 Monroe Center, this Saturday at 11:00 a.m. where they will spend 5-10 minutes on 5 or 10 total pieces of art. Attendees will then meet at 1 p.m. at the Ottawa Tavern (151 Ottawa Ave. NW) to discuss their experience.

Participants of Slow Art Day will need to pay the GRAM entrance fee of $8 (seniors/students with ID $7) as well as pay for their lunch at the café. Tickets may be purchased at the door or online at the GRAM Web site.

The Reading Odyssey, Inc., is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that exists to encourage lifelong learning and curiosity. Phil Terry, chairman of the Reading Odyssey, Inc., started Slow Art Day in 2009 in an effort to change the “eight second rule” that says on average, a person spends eight seconds looking at a piece of art before moving away, uninspired and tired. For information on how you can become inspired and not tired, visit the Reading Odyssey Web site.