Interview Summary
The participant chose to talk about an oil canvas by artist Severin Roesen: Still life with grapes. This artwork is hanging at the Penn State’s Palmer Museum of Art, and they chose it because of how compelled they felt due to the colors, the details, the fruit, and how it all comes along together. They first saw the piece by attending a community outreach day at the museum and immediately felt curious and drawn in by it, as if the artwork created a feeling of community tied with family. Their family and the coordinator of the museum were alongside them when seeing it for the first time. From their interaction they learned that they are attracted to food works, especially fresh food. They believe that the feeling of sharing fresh food with others is what a community is about. Without mentioning any specific intention to impact others from the artist, the participant mentioned that in the context they had the interaction in, they could see the artwork playing a role in bringing people together.
Additionally, they believe the artwork aligned with their authentic self, their belief that spirituality is when people connect with each other, and raised questions on why that specific artwork keeps coming up in their life as if someone from another realm was trying to send them a message that the right thing will happen.
Interview Transcript
Introduction
Interviewer: Okay. So, in this interview we are interested in asking you to tell us about interacting with an artwork created by another artist and we'd like to focus on your interaction with the particular artwork that someone else created. It could be a famous artwork or a work that's not well known, it can be an artwork created by anyone other than you. Have you already chosen an artwork?
Participant: Yes.
Interviewer: So, it doesn't have to be the most important to you but should be meaningful and emotionally salient. It helps if your memories are vivid, but you don't have to remember everything.
Description
Interviewer: So, what is the artwork that you chose?
Participant: Of course, I’m trying to remember the name of it, but it's a piece by an artist called Severin Roesen and I’m just trying to pull up here if I can find the name. Still life with grapes, oil on canvas.
Interviewer: Okay. Great and if you have that like a screenshot or anything with you, would you mind sharing that on screen?
Participant: Do you just want me to share screen?
Interviewer: Or, yeah, actually, I may have to set that up so that you can share. Yeah, I think it should be set up so that you can share now.
Participant: Are you able to see that?
Interviewer: Yes, yes, I see that, that's great. Thank you. Okay. So, could you describe it for me? What are the important details?
Participant: As far as important to me or just more general, if I was explaining the piece. Okay, sure. So, this piece is currently hanging at Penn State's Palmer Museum of Art, and it is, I believe, I'm trying to remember where the artist is from, but I don't have off top of my head. But what's important to me is the colors as well as the depiction of fruit, and how it's laid out. I don't know why I feel compelled to this piece, but I always have, and it has been in the museum here for quite some time, and I believe I, the first time I saw it I had come with my family. The museum was doing more of a community day where they would share a story, and then, based on the story, we would go and look at different pieces of art within the museum, and this was one that kind of aligned with what the story was, and my daughter, who is 9, and I just, we're mesmerized again by the color and the detail. Specifically, the watermelon, you know. You could see the pits in the watermelon or the seeds and the watermelon, and it’s kind of be a little more rigid as well as how it's intertwined with some of the vines in the piece. And later, many years later, I discovered this piece again through my work. I'm a fundraiser for the College of Arts and Architecture. And I'm currently working with a donor who has another piece by the same artist, and it turns out this piece was donated by my donor's parents and then he has another piece. It is not fruit, but it is flowers, so life with flowers. And then his brother has a third piece, and so I've become mesmerized by the fact that all 3 of these pieces hopefully will live at the museum in the future and tells the story of how a family has come together to offer this to the community. So those are the things while it may not all have to do with the actual art, those are the things that I'm always thinking about when I think about this piece.
Why did you choose this one? (Specialness)
Interviewer: Sure, and we might touch on those themes a little bit more later on. Why did you choose to talk about this one for this study, you already talked about that, but I wondered if you wanted to say anything more about that?
Participant: Yeah, I mean I this study, at least my takeaway was like all art form and typically I've I kind of lean towards theater as art. I grew up in theater, and that's what I enjoy, especially musical theater. But when I think about the piece that I’m always like on my mind for some reason this is the piece that stands out to me.
Process of Interacting
What led up to the interaction? What motivated you to explore this piece?
Interviewer: Great now please tell me about the experience and process of interacting with this artwork by answering some of the following questions: so, what led up to? And you may have also talked about this a little bit. What led up to the interaction and what motivated you to explore this piece?
Participant: Yeah. So, as I said before, it was a community outreach day at the Museum here locally, and this piece, along with others aligned with a story that was read. It was for children, and so my daughter was with me. But this piece is relatively large compared to other pieces that are in the museum, and so that the side, the sheer size of it, plus the coloring. And the subject matter really kind of just drew me in, and so I became very curious about the artist and the piece itself. And then as I said before, just coming kind of full circle years later, in my work where it popped up again as far as donors go. I thought. Wow! That's a pretty big coincidence that the one piece that I had loved years ago was coming back into my life. And so, it just continues to be important to me.
When and where did the experience happen? Who was involved besides you (if anyone)?
Interviewer: and I think you've already answered when and where the experience had been. And who else was involved besides you? Is that right?
Participant: Yeah. So, I guess the first time the Palmer Museum of our at Penn State and it was actually I don't know what her actual title was at the time, but almost like an outreach coordinator for the Museum and our educator. She was sharing about the story and talked about this piece at the Museum, and then, like I said, my family was with me. I specifically associate it with my daughter, who's 9 but my son, who so? At the time she was not 9 she was probably I would let's see I've been working here 3 years, and this is before that. So, she might have been 5, 4, 5, and my son is 5 years older than her, so he might have been 9 or 10 at the time, and my husband would have been with me as well.
Interviewer: great.
What were you thinking and feeling at different times throughout the process of interacting with the artwork?
Interviewer: And then what were you thinking and feeling at different times throughout the process of interacting with this artwork?
Participant: So, the first time was kind of just like in it in awe type reaction of how large this piece is, and the with colors, you know they're not bright, but they're very rich, and so I found that to be a little different than some of the other works of art at the Museum and so I was feeling that this piece was different now that I work with it in my line of work. As I said earlier, I feel that sense of a bonding between a family that had these pieces from this particular artist and their goal of keeping the artwork together for the community, or the greater good to see.
And so that feeling of community and family ties kind of resonate a lot with me.
Interviewer: Great.
Can you describe any high points, low points or challenges, or turning points along the way?
Interviewer: And then can you describe any high points, low points, or challenges, or turning points in your interaction with this artwork.
Participant: I would say, always kind of a challenge, or maybe a low point is Sometimes I look at artwork, and the fact that it's so subjective. Different people can react different ways and take away from it different things. I always feel like, am I even looking at it correctly? You know, if someone else feels something different towards a piece of art specifically this one you start questioning. Why do I think this way? And in fact, as I’m starting to remember, there are other times that I've interacted with this piece and felt exactly that. So, I would say, about a year ago my sister and her son, who's would have been 14. They came, and they actually went to the museum without me, and took a picture of. She took a picture of her son in front of this painting looking at it, and she had said that he pondered it for quite some time, and she puts it on Facebook, and I was like that's my painting like I love that painting so. So, the challenge, I think, is the fact that all art is subjective, and it's hard to know really what the artist’s intent was if it's not clearly stated. But high points are just again with this piece. How it just keeps coming back into my life and influencing others whether family community, other students, things like that.
Let’s talk about the impact of the artwork on you and your life.
What did you learn from the process of interacting with the artwork? Did you learn anything about yourself?
Interviewer: And then let's talk a little bit about the impact of the artwork on you and your life. what did you learn from the process of interacting with the artwork? Did you learn anything about yourself?
Participant: Good Question. I mean. I've always known that. I think I'm just attracted to food works, you know, like, and so food plays a huge part of my life. I enjoy especially fresh foods, and in this case, like grapes and fruits. If I’m really like getting down into the detail, I think I'm attracted to this because of my goals of eating healthier eating fresh how food brings families together brings community together. I look at food as more social, and so to me when I see this piece, and I see the wine, and how it's displayed, to me this signifies more of a social gathering. Or at least I can relate to it as oh, a parties happening. That's why there's this much food. And then I start thinking about how important being social is to me. I will say, during I guess over the last 3 years when I started interacting with this piece through my work has been during Covid and working with the donor a portion of that was not being able to visit. So, my donor again is a person who's doing another piece of work. But we talk about this piece when we're together, but I couldn't visit with him because of Covid, and then it starts. I started thinking about kind of grieving this loss of social interaction and a loss of party and social gathering that this piece kind of represents to me. And so, I've learned a lot about myself through that that I yearn to be with people and in and why, you know, it seems so far like as I’m saying it like, this is ridiculous. But to me, it's very, signifies being with people sharing food, sharing pieces from the earth, you know. Food grown freshly and I think that's what our community is about.
Do you think that the artists intended the work to affect others or the world in any particular ways?
Interviewer: great. and then do you think that the artist intended for this work to affect others or the world in any particular ways?
Participant: I mean kind of thinking about what I said before. Like I always sometimes second guess how I think this piece should impact others based on not really knowing what the artist had intended it could be. Oh, I have a lot of fruit. I'm gonna paint it, you know, like I don't know if the artist. I've never really looked into it deeply to know if there was a reason that they painted still life certainly this one to depicts grapes and fruit the other pieces I've seen from this artist are flowers. I don't know why. I can speculate, but I really, you know I, without really researching. I don't know
Did your experience with the artwork affect your understanding of others or “the world?”
Interviewer: Did your experience with the artwork affect your understanding of others or “the
world?”
Participant: Well, I think, in the context of the times that I've experienced this piece the one where we heard the story, and our educator was sharing about the piece. And then also, in my relation to donors who want to give pieces to the museum. And even when my sister kind of took a picture of her son pondering the piece, I would say that in all those cases it brings people together. And I like to think that our ultimate goal as humans. And in this world is to be social and to understand each other, and to be brought together. Whether you have your differences or not. Pieces can pull you together in any context.
When some people think about themselves, they see parts of themselves as deeply true, real, or authentic. If this idea resonates with you, did you learn anything about your true nature during the process of interacting with the artwork? Did you have any insights about your own authentic (or inauthentic) self?
Interviewer: great and then, when some people think about themselves, they see some parts of themselves as deeply true, real, or authentic. If this idea resonates with you, did you learn anything about your true nature during the process of interacting with the artwork? Did you have any insights about your own authentic or inauthentic self?
Participant: Hmm. I like to think I'm authentic in all I do so. I try to have that perspective when I'm experiencing art and so I guess my opinion of this piece of painting kind of aligns with my authentic self in that I try to be social and wanting to be around others. And, as I said before, I enjoy and believe it's important to have pieces of the earth, you know food-wise and other to be part of those experiences as well.
Interviewer: Great. Thank you.
Some people believe in ultimate meaning. This defined as deep, underlying meaning that
transcends subjective personal meaning. It is about the nature of existence and identity, and it may include ideas about the significance of suffering as well as spirituality.
If this idea resonates with you, did you learn anything about ultimate meaning during the
process of interacting with the artwork?
Interviewer: And then some people believe in ultimate meaning. So, this is defined as deep underlying meaning that transcends subjective personal meaning. It is about the nature of existence and identity, and it may include ideas about the significance of suffering as well as spirituality. This idea resonates with you. Did you learn anything about ultimate meaning during the process of interacting with this artwork?
Participant: Some the way I experience spirituality is that we're all connected. which probably comes across, and a lot of my previous answers, and so again, when I think about how we are all connected by a spiritual power and how that relates back to our time here on earth, and experiencing all we can of the world around us including what can be grown from the earth. I guess I feel very connected to that spiritual thought when I experience this piece.
Interviewer: Great, thank you.
Some people believe or perceive a reality beyond the physical or material world. This may include religious beliefs/experiences (such as perceived interactions with God) but also may include mystical or transcendent experiences, or interaction with spirits.
Did you have any kind of these experiences during the interaction with the artwork?
Interviewer: And then so some people believe or perceive a reality beyond the physical or material world. This may include religious beliefs and experiences such as perceived interactions with God that may also include mystical or transcendent experiences or interaction with spirits. Did you have any of these kinds of experiences during the interaction with this artwork?
Participant: I want to initially say, no, not necessarily. But when I think about, why does this piece keep coming up into my life? Is it just? I'm more cognizant of it is, you know, I mean it was just 4 days ago that the Palmer posted this piece for nothing to do with the piece, and so it just came up again. And so, I sometimes think that's spiritual experience that someone from another realm is trying to tell me something about this work of art. I'm not sure what it is, but it to me it's like up too often that it can't be a coincidence at this point.
Even if you did not have an experience like this, you may have felt some sort of inspiration, guidance, or encouragement from the nonphysical or supernatural. Or you may have felt some sense of presence or connection.
Did you have any kind of these experiences during the creation of the artwork?
What was the experience like, and how did it affect you as a person, and your religious/spiritual beliefs, if at all?
Interviewer: Right, so you may have felt some sort of inspiration or guidance, or encouragement from the spiritual or like a sense of presence or connection. What is that experience like? And how do you think it might affect you as a person? in your beliefs?
Participant: I mean, I always again my experience and my belief in general is that there are a spiritual world and in our everyday there's messages from beyond. We just have to be open enough to see them and experience them. And in addition, we have our higher selves that help guide us. And so, without really knowing and exploring what that message is in this particular piece. I I'd like to think there, there's a reason it keeps coming up. I'd like to think someone is trying to tell me something. I you know I have no idea that has to do anything with this particular donor that I'm working with. His parents, I believe, have passed away. So, the people who donated this work are passed over, and I noticed when I looked at his record. I'm collaborating with another gift officer on a much larger gift than just the one work of art that this person is considering, and I noticed that about a couple of weeks ago there was some movement towards closing that gift. So is this a message trying to tell me that that will come to closure, and the right thing will be happening. I don't know but I think that any message we get from a spiritual guide or the other side, so to speak we just have to keep our eyes peeled until we get the sense of like. Yes, that is the end answer. Sometimes it's a multi- experience situation.
Interviewer: Great, Thank you. so, I just have a few follow-up questions.
How old were you?
Interviewer: How old were you when you interacted with this artwork?
Participant: The first time, probably what I say 4 or 5 years ago is the first time I've seen it and then continually. And then 4 days ago was the last time it popped up.
Interviewer: Okay. Okay.
How do you perceive the quality of the work?
Interviewer: Great. And then how do you perceive the quality of the work?
Participant: I think it's amazing to be able to get that rich of color along with detail, I think, is a very high-quality piece.
What was going on in your life around the time that you interacted with the artwork?
Interviewer: And then did you want to say anything more about anything that was going on in your life around the time that you interacted with the artwork?
Participant: Yeah, I think the first time for 5 years ago I was in a different career, and really was not surrounded by art all the time. As I am now working in the College of Arts and Architecture. So, it was something that I was just exploring and trying to find ways to incorporate that in with family learning, you know for my young children that don't seem so young anymore. And so it was in addition, the art educator that was doing this community outreach day was of is a friend of mine. She's no longer here. She's moved actually out to Ohio. And so, I think at the time I was looking to support her in the project she was working on as well as incorporate art into my life and share it with my children. But I don't know that there was anything really special or monumental happening at that moment.
End of Art Interaction Story
The participant chose to talk about an oil canvas by artist Severin Roesen: Still life with grapes. This artwork is hanging at the Penn State’s Palmer Museum of Art, and they chose it because of how compelled they felt due to the colors, the details, the fruit, and how it all comes along together. They first saw the piece by attending a community outreach day at the museum and immediately felt curious and drawn in by it, as if the artwork created a feeling of community tied with family. Their family and the coordinator of the museum were alongside them when seeing it for the first time. From their interaction they learned that they are attracted to food works, especially fresh food. They believe that the feeling of sharing fresh food with others is what a community is about. Without mentioning any specific intention to impact others from the artist, the participant mentioned that in the context they had the interaction in, they could see the artwork playing a role in bringing people together.
Additionally, they believe the artwork aligned with their authentic self, their belief that spirituality is when people connect with each other, and raised questions on why that specific artwork keeps coming up in their life as if someone from another realm was trying to send them a message that the right thing will happen.
Interview Transcript
Introduction
Interviewer: Okay. So, in this interview we are interested in asking you to tell us about interacting with an artwork created by another artist and we'd like to focus on your interaction with the particular artwork that someone else created. It could be a famous artwork or a work that's not well known, it can be an artwork created by anyone other than you. Have you already chosen an artwork?
Participant: Yes.
Interviewer: So, it doesn't have to be the most important to you but should be meaningful and emotionally salient. It helps if your memories are vivid, but you don't have to remember everything.
Description
Interviewer: So, what is the artwork that you chose?
Participant: Of course, I’m trying to remember the name of it, but it's a piece by an artist called Severin Roesen and I’m just trying to pull up here if I can find the name. Still life with grapes, oil on canvas.
Interviewer: Okay. Great and if you have that like a screenshot or anything with you, would you mind sharing that on screen?
Participant: Do you just want me to share screen?
Interviewer: Or, yeah, actually, I may have to set that up so that you can share. Yeah, I think it should be set up so that you can share now.
Participant: Are you able to see that?
Interviewer: Yes, yes, I see that, that's great. Thank you. Okay. So, could you describe it for me? What are the important details?
Participant: As far as important to me or just more general, if I was explaining the piece. Okay, sure. So, this piece is currently hanging at Penn State's Palmer Museum of Art, and it is, I believe, I'm trying to remember where the artist is from, but I don't have off top of my head. But what's important to me is the colors as well as the depiction of fruit, and how it's laid out. I don't know why I feel compelled to this piece, but I always have, and it has been in the museum here for quite some time, and I believe I, the first time I saw it I had come with my family. The museum was doing more of a community day where they would share a story, and then, based on the story, we would go and look at different pieces of art within the museum, and this was one that kind of aligned with what the story was, and my daughter, who is 9, and I just, we're mesmerized again by the color and the detail. Specifically, the watermelon, you know. You could see the pits in the watermelon or the seeds and the watermelon, and it’s kind of be a little more rigid as well as how it's intertwined with some of the vines in the piece. And later, many years later, I discovered this piece again through my work. I'm a fundraiser for the College of Arts and Architecture. And I'm currently working with a donor who has another piece by the same artist, and it turns out this piece was donated by my donor's parents and then he has another piece. It is not fruit, but it is flowers, so life with flowers. And then his brother has a third piece, and so I've become mesmerized by the fact that all 3 of these pieces hopefully will live at the museum in the future and tells the story of how a family has come together to offer this to the community. So those are the things while it may not all have to do with the actual art, those are the things that I'm always thinking about when I think about this piece.
Why did you choose this one? (Specialness)
Interviewer: Sure, and we might touch on those themes a little bit more later on. Why did you choose to talk about this one for this study, you already talked about that, but I wondered if you wanted to say anything more about that?
Participant: Yeah, I mean I this study, at least my takeaway was like all art form and typically I've I kind of lean towards theater as art. I grew up in theater, and that's what I enjoy, especially musical theater. But when I think about the piece that I’m always like on my mind for some reason this is the piece that stands out to me.
Process of Interacting
What led up to the interaction? What motivated you to explore this piece?
Interviewer: Great now please tell me about the experience and process of interacting with this artwork by answering some of the following questions: so, what led up to? And you may have also talked about this a little bit. What led up to the interaction and what motivated you to explore this piece?
Participant: Yeah. So, as I said before, it was a community outreach day at the Museum here locally, and this piece, along with others aligned with a story that was read. It was for children, and so my daughter was with me. But this piece is relatively large compared to other pieces that are in the museum, and so that the side, the sheer size of it, plus the coloring. And the subject matter really kind of just drew me in, and so I became very curious about the artist and the piece itself. And then as I said before, just coming kind of full circle years later, in my work where it popped up again as far as donors go. I thought. Wow! That's a pretty big coincidence that the one piece that I had loved years ago was coming back into my life. And so, it just continues to be important to me.
When and where did the experience happen? Who was involved besides you (if anyone)?
Interviewer: and I think you've already answered when and where the experience had been. And who else was involved besides you? Is that right?
Participant: Yeah. So, I guess the first time the Palmer Museum of our at Penn State and it was actually I don't know what her actual title was at the time, but almost like an outreach coordinator for the Museum and our educator. She was sharing about the story and talked about this piece at the Museum, and then, like I said, my family was with me. I specifically associate it with my daughter, who's 9 but my son, who so? At the time she was not 9 she was probably I would let's see I've been working here 3 years, and this is before that. So, she might have been 5, 4, 5, and my son is 5 years older than her, so he might have been 9 or 10 at the time, and my husband would have been with me as well.
Interviewer: great.
What were you thinking and feeling at different times throughout the process of interacting with the artwork?
Interviewer: And then what were you thinking and feeling at different times throughout the process of interacting with this artwork?
Participant: So, the first time was kind of just like in it in awe type reaction of how large this piece is, and the with colors, you know they're not bright, but they're very rich, and so I found that to be a little different than some of the other works of art at the Museum and so I was feeling that this piece was different now that I work with it in my line of work. As I said earlier, I feel that sense of a bonding between a family that had these pieces from this particular artist and their goal of keeping the artwork together for the community, or the greater good to see.
And so that feeling of community and family ties kind of resonate a lot with me.
Interviewer: Great.
Can you describe any high points, low points or challenges, or turning points along the way?
Interviewer: And then can you describe any high points, low points, or challenges, or turning points in your interaction with this artwork.
Participant: I would say, always kind of a challenge, or maybe a low point is Sometimes I look at artwork, and the fact that it's so subjective. Different people can react different ways and take away from it different things. I always feel like, am I even looking at it correctly? You know, if someone else feels something different towards a piece of art specifically this one you start questioning. Why do I think this way? And in fact, as I’m starting to remember, there are other times that I've interacted with this piece and felt exactly that. So, I would say, about a year ago my sister and her son, who's would have been 14. They came, and they actually went to the museum without me, and took a picture of. She took a picture of her son in front of this painting looking at it, and she had said that he pondered it for quite some time, and she puts it on Facebook, and I was like that's my painting like I love that painting so. So, the challenge, I think, is the fact that all art is subjective, and it's hard to know really what the artist’s intent was if it's not clearly stated. But high points are just again with this piece. How it just keeps coming back into my life and influencing others whether family community, other students, things like that.
Let’s talk about the impact of the artwork on you and your life.
What did you learn from the process of interacting with the artwork? Did you learn anything about yourself?
Interviewer: And then let's talk a little bit about the impact of the artwork on you and your life. what did you learn from the process of interacting with the artwork? Did you learn anything about yourself?
Participant: Good Question. I mean. I've always known that. I think I'm just attracted to food works, you know, like, and so food plays a huge part of my life. I enjoy especially fresh foods, and in this case, like grapes and fruits. If I’m really like getting down into the detail, I think I'm attracted to this because of my goals of eating healthier eating fresh how food brings families together brings community together. I look at food as more social, and so to me when I see this piece, and I see the wine, and how it's displayed, to me this signifies more of a social gathering. Or at least I can relate to it as oh, a parties happening. That's why there's this much food. And then I start thinking about how important being social is to me. I will say, during I guess over the last 3 years when I started interacting with this piece through my work has been during Covid and working with the donor a portion of that was not being able to visit. So, my donor again is a person who's doing another piece of work. But we talk about this piece when we're together, but I couldn't visit with him because of Covid, and then it starts. I started thinking about kind of grieving this loss of social interaction and a loss of party and social gathering that this piece kind of represents to me. And so, I've learned a lot about myself through that that I yearn to be with people and in and why, you know, it seems so far like as I’m saying it like, this is ridiculous. But to me, it's very, signifies being with people sharing food, sharing pieces from the earth, you know. Food grown freshly and I think that's what our community is about.
Do you think that the artists intended the work to affect others or the world in any particular ways?
Interviewer: great. and then do you think that the artist intended for this work to affect others or the world in any particular ways?
Participant: I mean kind of thinking about what I said before. Like I always sometimes second guess how I think this piece should impact others based on not really knowing what the artist had intended it could be. Oh, I have a lot of fruit. I'm gonna paint it, you know, like I don't know if the artist. I've never really looked into it deeply to know if there was a reason that they painted still life certainly this one to depicts grapes and fruit the other pieces I've seen from this artist are flowers. I don't know why. I can speculate, but I really, you know I, without really researching. I don't know
Did your experience with the artwork affect your understanding of others or “the world?”
Interviewer: Did your experience with the artwork affect your understanding of others or “the
world?”
Participant: Well, I think, in the context of the times that I've experienced this piece the one where we heard the story, and our educator was sharing about the piece. And then also, in my relation to donors who want to give pieces to the museum. And even when my sister kind of took a picture of her son pondering the piece, I would say that in all those cases it brings people together. And I like to think that our ultimate goal as humans. And in this world is to be social and to understand each other, and to be brought together. Whether you have your differences or not. Pieces can pull you together in any context.
When some people think about themselves, they see parts of themselves as deeply true, real, or authentic. If this idea resonates with you, did you learn anything about your true nature during the process of interacting with the artwork? Did you have any insights about your own authentic (or inauthentic) self?
Interviewer: great and then, when some people think about themselves, they see some parts of themselves as deeply true, real, or authentic. If this idea resonates with you, did you learn anything about your true nature during the process of interacting with the artwork? Did you have any insights about your own authentic or inauthentic self?
Participant: Hmm. I like to think I'm authentic in all I do so. I try to have that perspective when I'm experiencing art and so I guess my opinion of this piece of painting kind of aligns with my authentic self in that I try to be social and wanting to be around others. And, as I said before, I enjoy and believe it's important to have pieces of the earth, you know food-wise and other to be part of those experiences as well.
Interviewer: Great. Thank you.
Some people believe in ultimate meaning. This defined as deep, underlying meaning that
transcends subjective personal meaning. It is about the nature of existence and identity, and it may include ideas about the significance of suffering as well as spirituality.
If this idea resonates with you, did you learn anything about ultimate meaning during the
process of interacting with the artwork?
Interviewer: And then some people believe in ultimate meaning. So, this is defined as deep underlying meaning that transcends subjective personal meaning. It is about the nature of existence and identity, and it may include ideas about the significance of suffering as well as spirituality. This idea resonates with you. Did you learn anything about ultimate meaning during the process of interacting with this artwork?
Participant: Some the way I experience spirituality is that we're all connected. which probably comes across, and a lot of my previous answers, and so again, when I think about how we are all connected by a spiritual power and how that relates back to our time here on earth, and experiencing all we can of the world around us including what can be grown from the earth. I guess I feel very connected to that spiritual thought when I experience this piece.
Interviewer: Great, thank you.
Some people believe or perceive a reality beyond the physical or material world. This may include religious beliefs/experiences (such as perceived interactions with God) but also may include mystical or transcendent experiences, or interaction with spirits.
Did you have any kind of these experiences during the interaction with the artwork?
Interviewer: And then so some people believe or perceive a reality beyond the physical or material world. This may include religious beliefs and experiences such as perceived interactions with God that may also include mystical or transcendent experiences or interaction with spirits. Did you have any of these kinds of experiences during the interaction with this artwork?
Participant: I want to initially say, no, not necessarily. But when I think about, why does this piece keep coming up into my life? Is it just? I'm more cognizant of it is, you know, I mean it was just 4 days ago that the Palmer posted this piece for nothing to do with the piece, and so it just came up again. And so, I sometimes think that's spiritual experience that someone from another realm is trying to tell me something about this work of art. I'm not sure what it is, but it to me it's like up too often that it can't be a coincidence at this point.
Even if you did not have an experience like this, you may have felt some sort of inspiration, guidance, or encouragement from the nonphysical or supernatural. Or you may have felt some sense of presence or connection.
Did you have any kind of these experiences during the creation of the artwork?
What was the experience like, and how did it affect you as a person, and your religious/spiritual beliefs, if at all?
Interviewer: Right, so you may have felt some sort of inspiration or guidance, or encouragement from the spiritual or like a sense of presence or connection. What is that experience like? And how do you think it might affect you as a person? in your beliefs?
Participant: I mean, I always again my experience and my belief in general is that there are a spiritual world and in our everyday there's messages from beyond. We just have to be open enough to see them and experience them. And in addition, we have our higher selves that help guide us. And so, without really knowing and exploring what that message is in this particular piece. I I'd like to think there, there's a reason it keeps coming up. I'd like to think someone is trying to tell me something. I you know I have no idea that has to do anything with this particular donor that I'm working with. His parents, I believe, have passed away. So, the people who donated this work are passed over, and I noticed when I looked at his record. I'm collaborating with another gift officer on a much larger gift than just the one work of art that this person is considering, and I noticed that about a couple of weeks ago there was some movement towards closing that gift. So is this a message trying to tell me that that will come to closure, and the right thing will be happening. I don't know but I think that any message we get from a spiritual guide or the other side, so to speak we just have to keep our eyes peeled until we get the sense of like. Yes, that is the end answer. Sometimes it's a multi- experience situation.
Interviewer: Great, Thank you. so, I just have a few follow-up questions.
How old were you?
Interviewer: How old were you when you interacted with this artwork?
Participant: The first time, probably what I say 4 or 5 years ago is the first time I've seen it and then continually. And then 4 days ago was the last time it popped up.
Interviewer: Okay. Okay.
How do you perceive the quality of the work?
Interviewer: Great. And then how do you perceive the quality of the work?
Participant: I think it's amazing to be able to get that rich of color along with detail, I think, is a very high-quality piece.
What was going on in your life around the time that you interacted with the artwork?
Interviewer: And then did you want to say anything more about anything that was going on in your life around the time that you interacted with the artwork?
Participant: Yeah, I think the first time for 5 years ago I was in a different career, and really was not surrounded by art all the time. As I am now working in the College of Arts and Architecture. So, it was something that I was just exploring and trying to find ways to incorporate that in with family learning, you know for my young children that don't seem so young anymore. And so it was in addition, the art educator that was doing this community outreach day was of is a friend of mine. She's no longer here. She's moved actually out to Ohio. And so, I think at the time I was looking to support her in the project she was working on as well as incorporate art into my life and share it with my children. But I don't know that there was anything really special or monumental happening at that moment.
End of Art Interaction Story
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