Hello Dear Readers,
Life-giving practices help me feel rooted during unsteady times. Viewing and experiencing visual art is one of my favorites. I value how art inspires wonder, curiosity, and empathy, and connects us across culture and time. Here are highlights from my exploration.
IN MY OWN WORDS
books for my curator dreams: I love a book that transports me to another place. Lately, those places have been art-related — museums, galleries, the Vatican. This post features some favorites. (If you have artsy book recs, PLEASE share in the comments!)
our Chagall story: In 2023, I reconnected with my friend, Sarah, over our visit to the Marc Chagall Museum in France. She is an artist herself, and I’m excited to collaborate with her on a project that will bring together her beautiful artistry and my words.
INSPIRATION
Loving Vincent | Not only was the making of this movie an amazing feat as the world’s first fully painted feature film(!), but the acting and story digging into the mystery surrounding Van Gogh’s last days are captivating as well.
Image Journal | I discovered this publication while looking to submit my writing. Its tagline of Art · Faith · Mystery intrigued me. I’ve enjoyed reading essays and poetry across faith traditions, as well as seeing contemporary visual art.
Exhibiting Forgiveness | This film, written and directed by real-life artist Titus Kaphar, tells the story of an artist wrestling with the past and the creative process. Audra Day, who plays his singer wife, adds a beautiful artistic layer with her music.
ENCOURAGEMENT
Though I prefer seeing art IRL, traveling to every museum isn’t feasible. The good news is it’s possible to experience art in your own space. This T&L article highlights 15 museums worldwide that have virtual collections, including the Sistine Chapel. Google Arts & Culture also partnered with over 1,200 museums to create a searchable storehouse of virtual collections.
CONNECTION
I’ve had the opportunity to visit museums and galleries at home and on my travels. Connect with me on IG @_sarafichtner to follow my adventures, like this visit to “Radical Stitch” at the Eiteljorg Museum.
My hometown of Indy is home to Butter, America’s Equitable Fine Art Fair, annually on Labor Day weekend. Organized by GANGGANG, the fair features Black artists from across the country. (My IG take on the Butter 2022.)
Not in Indy? According to this 2014 WP article, there are more museums than Starbucks and McDonald’s. I couldn’t find a comprehensive list, but here are a few resources: IMLS Museum Data and Association of Art Museum Directors (Google works too:) If you can travel, 20 Best Museums and Galleries in the World.
How have you experienced ART + CULTURE? Share a story in the comments!
Love the trips to museum in every city I visit. They tell so much about history, cultures and evolutions