Open Arts Sundays

by Nida Nawaz

Initially, I came to Open Art Sunday at the Open Space Arts gallery because I had an extremely impactful and positive experience during the Emerging Artists showcase. However, my brain was on chop- chop mode as it was an impulsive decision. I wanted to go to Open Art Sunday knowing a little more about what I was getting myself into, to give it the proper appreciation.

After doing some research, I was intrigued as “Open Studio” is a practice that’s been studied empirically and has been implemented for a while. Initially, ‘Open Studios’ were considered gatherings that intellectuals and artists would host but as time went on, the concept incorporated all forms of art. Now it is a multimodal community experience that flourishes in public engagement.

The idea of painting with others was quite jarring to me. Viewing art releases a rush of dopamine that a lot of us desperately need, and creating it allows the brain to destress consistently and is considered the equivalent of meditation. I found myself worried about my techniques not being advanced enough. Or if my inspiration would be perceived as ‘stupid’. When I create art, I like to open my heart and put my feelings onto the canvas. It takes bravery to come out of one’s comfort zone as making art can be a vulnerable feeling for some.

After saying my “hellos” to familiar faces and settling in I took the place in for what is. There was soft music playing and a couple of artists painting, people collaboratively painting, and a couple of small groups of people mingling. What surprised me most was others pulling out their instruments and laptops to play and make music together. It felt like art cosmopolitans were painting the atmosphere.

I painted an intricate beetle that day composed of contrasting blues, yellows, greens, and oranges to illustrate the contrast of emotion I had felt when I anticipated coming to Open Art Sundays versus what I had actually experienced. The blues represented my anxiety, worried about how I’d be socially perceived. The green represented change. Finally, the oranges and yellows highlighted my bravery to come out of my comfort zone making me feel more secure.

Sharing the experience of making art with others is liberating and indulging in that organic connection and nurturing it is very rewarding. I learned some new techniques from peers that would help me blend in acrylics more seamlessly. The bountiful space at the Open Space Arts gallery also gave me a chance to step away from socialization and return in the event I had become overstimulated. Additionally, I had inspiration all around me to explore. The ‘beetle’ imagery I had painted was derived from the theme of spring from the paintings displayed.

The leap I had taken towards Open Art Sundays was enriching as a person, artist, and member of the Prince William County community. As a person, it stretched my socially anxious perception to become more flexible and experience new things in a setting of vulnerability. As an artist, I was able to learn new techniques and become comfortable with using more opposing colors. Lastly, as a member of this copious community, I was able to experience where the inspiration for local artwork comes from and the bottomless culture surrounding us.