Introducing Art Into the Conversation
As our conversation about overall physical health and wellbeing shifted to stories about family, cultural backgrounds, and remedies, we thought that introducing art and viewing images would be an interesting way to facilitate conversation and storytelling.
During our group session on April 26, 2017, we introduced six different artist images to the group. The conversation started with talking about pain and health care, but soon segued into using the images to describe feelings, emotions, and personal experiences. We’ve included a couple of excerpts from our discussions .
Doug Salati
I do that in the house, when I want to be alone I go to my bed, I close the door, I turn on the Tv, and that's it no body bothers me. (Carmen)
When I was young and used to work, I had 3 kids, I used to take the train and I used to see people like this in the park, all around, homeless all around. Sometimes I thought I should stop working and be a homeless. Don't have to think of nothing, don't have to think what's going around with the kids or nothing. Their mind is not on that, and you can see it. That's something that I would never do, but that's how I sometimes used to feel. That I should be free. You have 3 kids, you have to watch this, do that,... and I was broke! You have a few dollars in your pocket but not as much as you work… (Nellie)
Picasso
This means a lot, it could be a family, and they are sharing the music. They are putting their minds somewhere else with the music. They got to be home, or someplace that they wish they could be there, like that, happy. To me it looks like a family and they are contented, because they have the fruit right in the lap. (Nellie)
They hear a melody. They relax and hear the melody. (Gloria)
El hombre tiene que estar contento, es muy romántico. They relax with a drink. (Nellie)
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But I don't see the bottle! (Gloria)
They all laugh.
No but sometimes you sit and relax and have a drink, I don't drink but I used to drink! (Nellie)
Alfredo Jaar
I guess when you are traveling for pleasure you are happy because you're going somewhere. And the weather is good if you go out of New York City. I do that, I love when I go out with my daughter. (Nellie)
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John Stezaker
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What could that imagination be for the one who did that? They are supposed to be kissing? Because we don't see them kissing? (Nellie)
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My girlfriend she tried to kiss me. Women are more mature than us. They always make the move. (Frank)
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They tried to kiss, but something is in the middle. (Gloria)
THEMES FROM CONVERSATIONS: A simpler life without stress or pain, family, spending quality time together, relaxing, travel, escaping, taking a vacation.