avatarK. Barrett

Summary

The website content reflects on the transformative power of public murals, emphasizing their ability to inspire awe, foster creativity, and serve as a catalyst for personal and community growth.

Abstract

The article "Awe from Art" delves into the unexpected encounter with inspiring murals that diverted the author's routine path to work. The vivid descriptions and accompanying photographs capture the emotional impact of these murals, which stand in stark contrast to their urban surroundings. The author suggests that art, like these murals, can evoke profound emotions, alter perspectives, and build community bonds. The appreciation of art is likened to developing a taste for food, with the potential for evolving preferences and profound experiences that can induce awe. The piece also touches on the cyclical nature of creativity, where awe-inspiring art fuels further creativity, leading to more awe-inspiring works. The article concludes with an invitation to readers to share their own experiences of awe and to explore other writings about art, as well as a suggestion to join Medium for access to a broader range of stories and insights.

Opinions

  • The author expresses a personal, visceral reaction to the murals, describing the experience as "awemazing" and compelling enough to alter their daily routine.
  • The murals are seen not just as aesthetically pleasing but as conveying important messages that resonate deeply within the community.
  • Art is portrayed as a dynamic force that can shift one's emotional state and challenge existing frames of thought, leading to a sense of vastness and mental expansion.
  • The physical sensations associated with experiencing awe through art are described in a way that suggests a profound emotional response, akin to the reactions one might have to remarkable natural phenomena.
  • The author believes in the reciprocal relationship between awe and creativity, where each fuels the other, creating a "beautiful cycle" that benefits society as a whole.
  • There is an endorsement of the Medium platform as a valuable resource for readers interested in exploring more stories about art and awe, with the added benefit of supporting writers directly through membership.

Awe from Art

Unexpected inspiring murals

Photo, K.Barrett, author

Murals

I caught a glimpse of this mural from a nearby traffic signal. I was planning on going straight to work but instead, I felt compelled to make a right turn. Driving by as slowly, I discovered an awemazing collection. Immediately, I turned around, pulled over, and snapped these photos.

The awe in a moment can be captured, relived, and shared through photos, another form of awe-inspiring art.

Photos, K.Barrett, author
Photos, K.Barrett, author

The artwork in these murals is impressive and the contrast between the murals with the surroundings amplifies the power of these pieces. The messages are desperately needed in this neighborhood, which makes the artist's efforts even more touching.

Art can be a personal lift, a catalyst to shift perspectives, and a community builder. Art can inspire awe.

Awe

Appreciation for art is like a taste for food in some ways. Your preferences may change over time. Even if you weren’t keen on a specific style of art in the past, try it again, give yourself the chance to be awed.

A great piece of art, in any form, can take over your emotions without warning. You may struggle to fit the experience in your current frame of thinking. There is a realization that the piece is like nothing you have ever seen before or could even imagine. This feeling of vastness causes a stretching of the mind to accommodate the awe experience.

Your mouth probably won’t water like experiences with food, but you may feel goosebumps, a moment of breathlessness, and tears may even fill your eyes.

Creativity

Awe induced by something or someone often fosters creativity and then the most awe-inspiring art. In turn, the message portrayed, the beauty of the piece, and the skills of the artist leave others in awe and may even increase their creativity, inducing more awe and more creativity.

What a beautiful cycle.

Thanks for reading! I hope everyone experiences awe-inspiring art and endless creativity.

And, a couple of other writings about art:

Science suggests there are many benefits from writing and sharing experiences of feeling awe. Share your stories:

Sign up for the Medium membership to receive unlimited access to my stories and the stories of many other great writers. (By signing up here you can directly support me, but my small commission does not impact your low cost of membership.)

Awe
Art
Photography
Zulies Writing Challenge
Positive Psychology
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