“Take a long look at this piece of art. Look at all four corners, the sides, and the middle. Take an uncomfortably long look.” This is how the monthly Look Club at the State of the Art Gallery starts. Without mention of the artist or the title we just look and let our eyes roam where they will. The “uncomfortably long look” is actually only one to two minutes, but seems much longer; we don’t usually take the time to look deeply at art when on our own.

Then, we consider, “What’s going on in this picture (or sculpture)? What do you observe? What colors, shapes, textures, or figures do you see? What does this art mean to you, personally?”  We look, share, listen, and discuss. We muse and ponder. 

Look Club encourages long looking and honors all opinions about what is seen. A shape may bring up a childhood memory for someone and for someone else a color may elicit a strong emotion. And, those initial feelings may change as we listen to others and see more to the art. “That looks like a cave that goes into a secret area” or “that reminds me of a soup pot with steam swirling above.” “That blue area looks so calm next to the red-orange.” “That looks like the river where I’ve fished.” “I can relate to the contemplative mood in that face.”

Based loosely on the Visual Thinking Strategies (http://vtshome.org/) method of viewing, one or two gallery members facilitate looking and discussing. Participants don’t need any art training or background. Look Club is attended by both novice art appreciators and active art makers. 

Listening to participants’ comments teaches us to look with the intention of seeing deeper meaning and appreciation for the art made. As Pablo Picasso said, “It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see. Art is unquestionably one of the purest and highest elements in human happiness. It trains the mind through the eye, and the eye through the mind.”

After looking at one piece of art during Look Club and discussing its many interpretations, we reveal the artist and title of the piece. Sometimes the artist is present and can talk about their intention and process of making the art, adding yet another layer of meaning to the art and discussion.

Through this sharing of what we see, we can individually feel more comfortable knowing that our own personal opinions and observations about a piece of art are valid and that they are also just one point of view. 

Look Club trains both our eyes and minds, as Picasso stated. It encourages us to start thinking of why we have an opinion about an artwork, and know that if we look again, we may see even more.

Look Club is held the second Sunday of each month from 2-3pm at the State of the Art Gallery, 120 W. State St. Ithaca, NY. All are welcome!