Week 5 Creative Process 3

I believe the process of exploring creativity is best perceived by using all five senses. For this post I have taken the day off and will be focusing on my eyes, ears, smell, touch and taste as I advance on this creative experience outside of my studio. A new art museum has opened in Daytona Beach, it is called the CiCi and Hyatt Brown Museum of Art.Thinking this would be a great field trip, others were invited to come along with me but declined. So I made the 45 minute drive alone allowing reflective time and thinking about some photo opportunities I might encounter.

This is a photo of the exterior of the building, a bit disappointed in the curb appeal at first, then later learned the structural design was to resemble a Florida Cracker House. The outside did not prepare me for what was waiting on the inside.

The Browns Collection started in the late 1990’s covering a 200 year span dating back to 1700 ‘s. The majority of the pieces are representations of Old Florida. 

 Preparing myself to be open to how
my senses where engaging me, I enter the museum. Hearing the muffled tones of chatter as I perched in the center of a large room on a bench with Palm Trees all around me. Some of them look quiet primitive while others are quiet majestic showing great skill in the master of artisanship. The time period does not seem to be an indicator of talent, however, the richness of color varies from artist to artist as the landscapes remain Old Florida. The smell in the room is like a very clean old library, it makes me feel like I'm in academia as I straighten my glasses. I can still taste the coffee purchased from the little Cafe’ at the entrance of the museum. Charged with extra caffeinated alertness I was ready for my visit.

Here are some of my favorites .

The flatness and hardness of the bench I’m sitting on is giving me cause to explore another room. My experience in being present in the moment has been swayed by feeling low back pain.The newness of experiencing something so very old gives me pause in understanding plein aire artist then and now. I have been on several plein aire artist excursions and witnessed other artist painting perhaps in some of the same places that are represented today. Looking at these colors and textures inspires me to learn more. Glancing  at my watch realizing I have been here 3 hours. Maybe I experienced transcendence or the "flow state" as described by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyil. Feels as though I have been here only 30 minutes. At the beginning of my visit I felt the eyes of security following me around to the point of annoyance, then soon became completely unaware of him. Yes, that sounds like transcendence to me. 

Saving  BIG AL  for my friends at Gator Nation. 

Leaving the Art Museum feeling like I had drank form the well of creativity and was inspired also by the beautiful natural grounds around the building.  On my way home thinking about the visit and self care I realized there was just one more thing I needed to do, so I pulled in Valusia Mall for a manicure and pedicure.