OBSERVE the blinking sequence carefully. Does the eye embedded in the mask you selected blink or not? If it does, note the timing and rhythm of the blinks. Pay attention to how your perception of the mask changes with each blink.
CLOSE YOUR EYES and listen to the sounds produced by these pieces. Consider how sound impacts your perception of this work.
SHIFT YOUR FOCUS to all of the masks and observe them as one complete piece. Reflect on how your attention to the individual elements affects your understanding of the installation as a whole.
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RETURN to your selected mask and its details if your mind wanders. Re-establish your focus by engaging deeply with each part of the mask again.
ONCE AROUND VIOLET (SHALLOW SPACE)
James Turrell | Building 6, floor 1
ENTER the gallery and take in the work as a whole. Then position yourself comfortably in front of the work, either standing or seated on one of the benches.
FOCUS on the work for at least 3 minutes without distractions. If your mind starts to wander, take note of it, and gently lead yourself back to your awareness of the installation.
SHARPEN YOUR FOCUS and try to better understand what you are seeing.
ASK YOURSELF, what exactly are you seeing? What illusion has the artist created in this piece? How large, do you think, is the room you are in?
CONSIDER how this piece, and the element of light, affects your perception of space and depth.
For more resources, please visit slowartday.com
SLOW LOOKING ITINERARY
Slow down on a contemplative walk through our expansive galleries
Did you know that the average time spent viewing a work of art is less than 30 seconds? What can you see, let alone comprehend, in that amount of time? How can we learn to slow down so we can enjoy fuller, more vivid experiences of art and life? Using this slow looking itinerary, challenge yourself to take an unhurried look at MASS MoCA’s exhibitions, to be more alert to the messages contained in the art, and to notice your own perspective.
Start your slow looking experience by putting your phone away. Plan on going back through the museum after this tour to take photos. If you are visiting with friends or family, we encourage you to do this tour in silence and then meet afterwards to discuss.
BELLY OF A GLACIER
Ohan Breiding | Building 4, floor 3
Begin your slow looking exploration in Building 4, Floor 3 and find the gallery where Ohan Breiding’s photographic montage is located. Once you enter the gallery, settle into the museum experience by taking a few deep breaths. As you do so, observe any tensions in your body and release them.
STAND in front of the large photographic montage and position yourself so you have a clear view of the entire artwork.
SLOWLY SCAN the work from left to right, paying close attention to each detail—textures, colors, and connections between the elements.
MOVE YOUR GAZE vertically. Slowly scan the work from top to bottom, focusing on each section and noting any changes or connections that emerge as you move downward.
STEP BACK and take in the piece as a whole. Reflect on how the overall image feels after having studied it in pieces. What has changed in your perception after this careful viewing?
PAUSE AND REFLECT. Spend a moment thinking about the details and the whole work. Notice how you now understand the artwork differently after this slow and intentional scan.
IF TIME ALLOWS, visit the gallery next to this one to view a video by the same artist. What new ideas and connections does the video inspire?
POWER FULL BECAUSE WE’RE DIFFERENT
Jeffrey Gibson | Building 5
STAND on the top stair and look across the gallery. What do you initially notice about the space and the artworks? (For those using the elevator, start your journey at the bottom of the stairs.)
CLOSE YOUR EYES and listen to the surrounding sounds. Focus on the details of the auditory landscape—the different pitches, bass, tempo, or language.
NOTICE your body’s response. Pay attention to any subtle shifts in posture, breath, or muscle tension. How does your body react to the sounds you hear? Are you dancing without knowing it?
OPEN YOUR EYES then slowly walk down the steps into the gallery and begin to observe the artworks. Take in the elements with full attention, noticing colors, shapes, textures, and movement.
SCAN the space carefully. As you look, think about how the visual components connect with or respond to the sounds you just focused on. What shifts in perception occur when you experience them together?
CONTINUE your journey through the portal on the right to the other side of the gallery. How does your perception of the show and artworks change as you move from the dark side to the light side?
AUDIENCE
Amy Podmore | Building 6, floor 2
POSITION YOURSELF COMFORTABLY in front of the mask that intrigues you. Take time to adjust your stance or seated posture for full engagement.
FOCUS on the mask’s individual details—textures, colors, shapes, and markings. Spend time studying the mask’s surface.
