This afternoon, for about forty-five minutes, I inhabited the Des Moines Art Center, Pei Gallery.
While propped up against the back wall, I thought: “I am slowing down.”
Later, sitting in the guard’s chair (he offered), I murmured to myself: “I am slowing down.”
Then when Mickey Koch asked me to wait ten minutes while she printed off permission form and emailed me image you see above, I said outloud,* “I am slowing down.”
In the Weekend Confidential section of the WSJ, October 25-26, 2014, there was an article about Marina Abramovic (WSJ spelling). Fascinated by her work,The Flock II, as a docent I chose her work to study and then make a presentation to fellow docents. Terrified beyond belief to speak to such a distinguished group, I don’t remember anything I said.
When I read the article, I felt like I was reading about my cousin. In fact, she is nearly my age! And in addition, she spoke about slowing down!
Next blog post, I will explain the phrase don’t look away, tell you about her shocking performance art and more about the work you see above but for now – I want to slow down and go out for dinner. I’m feeling mellow.
Can you give me an example of a time this past week when you slowed down? What was it like?
Thanks for exploring the mystery – Nicky Mendenhall
Magdalena Abakenowicz (DM Art Center spelling)
The Flock II, 1990
Burlap and resin; dimensions variable
Permission given by Des Moines Art Center Permanent Collections: Purchased with funds from the Edmundson Art Foundation, Inc.m 1992.36.a-ii
Photo Credit – Rich Sanders, Des Moines
*You may remember when my email newsletter title was Living Out Loud.