Slow Art Day is a worldwide annual museum event dedicated to slowing down, reflecting, and finding the joy in art.

According to the event’s website: “Why slow? When people look slowly at a piece of art they make discoveries. The most important discovery they make is that they can see and experience art without an expert (or expertise). And that’s an exciting discovery. It unlocks passion and creativity and helps to create more art lovers.” 

This year, the event was scheduled to take place on Saturday, April 4, but due to the museum’s closure in an effort to stop the spread of coronavirus, we wanted to bring the event to you! In this blog, we’ve shared tips and activities designed to keep you focused on art, no matter what age you are. 

Keep reading to find scavenger hunts, coloring book pages, close-looking prompts to artworks in the museum’s collection, and meditative guides for art sculptures out on the trails (which are open!).

Go on a virtual scavenger hunt using eMuseum

Did you know you can view the entire Crystal Bridges collection digitally on eMuseum? Below, we have created two scavenger hunt cards for two of our eMuseum collections. Using eMuseum, can you find the titles and authors of each painting in the puzzle? 

Artist Self-Portraits collection (Level: Beginner)

 

Drawings and Watercolors: 18th and 19th Century collection (Level: Intermediate)

 

Create your own masterpiece with these coloring pages

Color in two artworks from the Crystal Bridges collection: Kindred Spirits by Asher B. Durand and Untitled by Joan Mitchell. Populate color into these scenes and when you’re done, share them with us on social media by tagging @crystalbridgesmuseum! 

Click on the picture below to grab downloadable PDFs of the coloring pages.

 

Practice close looking with these artworks from the collection

We’re all slowing down in quarantine, and we encourage you to use that time to explore new things, especially art! Take some time to look at the artworks posted below and participate in the activities and questions that come with them. These questions are designed to get you thinking deeply about each artwork and engage with them in a whole new way, thanks to the museum’s Education team.

Winter Scene in Brooklyn by Francis Guy

Francis Guy found artistic inspiration in the daily activity of his Brooklyn neighborhood. Here, he depicted specific buildings, people, and even animals as seen from the window of his second-floor residence. What scenes can you find in this painting? Write a short story about the residents of this neighborhood going about their day.

 

Enassamishhinjijweian by Tom Uttech

Tom Uttech imbues his grand-scale landscape paintings with a sense of mystery and awe. Take some time to look deeply at this painting. What kind of birds do you see? How many can you identify? How many can you count? 

Drawing Activity! Use this activity sheet to draw your own frame around Enassamishhinjijweian.

 

Untitled by Joan Mitchell

Joan Mitchell painted from her own experience, using remembered feelings as inspiration. What feelings does this painting evoke for you? Write down all the emotions you feel while looking deeply at this painting.

 

Ghosts of Consumption by Pam Longobardi

Sourcing her materials from the plastic trash that litters the ocean, Pam Longobardi’s artwork transforms recognizable materials into something to be admired on the wall. Take some time to look at the objects that make up this piece. How many can you identify? Do any of the objects evoke emotions or memories? 

 

Au Café (Synchromy) by Stanton MacDonald Wright

Take a few moments to look at the vivid colors in this scene. Do they make you hear music? Pick a song that you think sounds like this painting, then play that song while you look at the artwork.

Get out on the Crystal Bridges trails and meditate with art sculptures

Although the museum is closed, the trails and grounds around Crystal Bridges remain open! Stretch your legs and spend some time strolling the grounds and interacting with the art sculptures you find along the way. 

If you do choose to take a walk, please remember to practice good social distancing and wash your hands before and after going outside. 

Use these meditative guides below to engage your body and mind with specific artworks found on the Crystal Bridges trails, thanks to yoga instructor Anna Peterson. 

 

Scattering Screen by Alyson Shotz
(found in the North Forest)

1. Visual/Topography: As you spend time with this piece, what do you notice? What do you observe about the shapes and reflections of this piece? 
2. Spatial Relationship: What do you observe about the interaction between this work and the nature around it? Take time to notice with curiosity. 

Learn more about this artist/artwork here:

 

Monochrome II by Nancy Rubins
(found in the North Forest)

1. Self: As you come upon this piece, what do you observe about your reaction to this work? What are your initial thoughts and impressions?
2. Shape: Take some time to trace the shape(s) of this work. What stands out to you? 

Learn more about this artist/artwork here:

 

Fly’s Eye Dome by R. Buckminster Fuller
(found on the North Lawn)

1. Self: As you come upon this work, what are your initial thoughts and reactions? How do these change as you spend more time observing and being with this piece?
2. Visual/Focus: What do you notice about the shapes in this piece? As you focus on just one aspect or area, what do you notice? And what do you notice as you spread your focus wider?

 

Enjoy slowing down with art!

 

Youth and family programming is supported in part by: AMP Sign & Banner, Arthur J. Gallagher Risk Management Services, Juan, Marcy and Joaquin Camacho, The Coca-Cola Company, iHeart Media, JTH Productions, Northwest Arkansas Naturals, Pinnacle Car Services, Procter & Gamble, Gordon and Carole Segal, The Simmons Family Fund, and ViacomCBS Consumer Products.