REGISTER HERE for Slow Art Day or call Joslyn's Weitz Family Fellow at (402) 661-3865. It is important you register so that we know you are coming!
What is Slow Art Day? One day each year people all over the world visit local museums and galleries to look at art slowly. The mission of the turtle-paced, global event is simply to help more people discover the joy of looking at and loving art.
It's not surprising to learn that as we speed through life in the fast lane, the average museum visitor spends 17 seconds or less looking at an individual work of art. Slow Art Day encourages a more contemplative approach to viewing art.
"Slow art is a peace movement. After all, what could be more peaceful than looking and slowly contemplating a work of art?"
~ Tim Slowinski, Slow Art Day Founder
Why Slow? When people experience art slowly and deliberately, they make discoveries, and the most important discovery they make is that they can appreciate art without an expert! Indeed, studies show there is little difference between the oh-so-savvy art expert and the not-so-savvy art viewer in their reactions to art. Observing art slowly unlocks passion and creativity and helps to create more art fans—like you!
How does it work? Participants look at five works of art for at least 10 minutes each and then meet together over coffee or lunch in Joslyn’s atrium to talk about their experience. That’s it! In order to bring to the table some common discussion points, we ask that participants focus on the following select works of art - an eclectic mix of object in various media from Joslyn’s permanent collection and special exhibitions:
North Balcony
North Balcony
Roxanne Swentzell, (Native American, born 1962)
Transformation, 2000
ceramic, paint
Museum Purchase, 2000.26.a-n
South Balcony
Unknown (Chinese)
Eight-Panel Screen, early 18th century
Carved red lacquer, gold inlaid brown lacquer, wood, metal
Partial gift of Mr. Anunt Hengtrakl and Museum Purchase with funds from the Peter Kiewit Foundation, 2005.13 a-h
Memorial Gallery 5
Camille Pissarro, (French, 1830-1903)
Haymakers, Evening, Eragny, 1893
oil on canvas
Museum Purchase, 1946.28
Pavilion Gallery 17
Jennifer Steinkamp, (American, born 1958)
Judy Crook, 2, 2013
single channel digital video projection, duration: 3 minutes 25 seconds
Museum purchase, bequest of Rose Marie Baumgarten, 2013.10
Courtesy the artist and greengrassi, London
Karen and Doug Riley CAP Gallery
iROZEALb, (American, born 1966)
Majesty, 2011
acrylic, pen, ink, marker, and graphite on wood panel
Courtesy the artist and Edward Tyler Nahem Fine Art, New York
Need some tips? To assist with sustained contemplation of individual works of art, the Tate Museums'
“Guide to Looking at Art” may be particularly useful for first time Slow Art Day goers.
Participants may also consider bringing a
notepad or sketch pad with
drawing pencils (no wet media, please). There will be gallery stools available for Slow Art participants at the front desk near the main entrance. They will be clearly labeled with a Slow Art Day sign. Please feel free to take a stool with you, but please remember to be mindful of works of art when moving through the galleries. Please be reminded that food and drink is not allowed in the gallery spaces.