I think we all need to listen to this right now…
three things we love
Mimmo Paladino
Italian painter, printmaker and sculptor Mimmo Paladino (1948- ) is an artist that I admire a lot. Here is a video about a few of his large scale mixed media prints that take my breath away.
Ways to Reduce Anxiety
Cory Muscara, a mindfulness teacher from Long Island, had this nifty little trick on instagram recently as a way to reduce anxiety and stay in the moment. It's called take five and it is a breathing exercise with your hand and it works...
Another method that works to reduce stress is called square or box breathing, a simple and powerful technique that helps to return your breathing pattern to a relaxed rhythm. It can clear and calm your mind, improving your focus right away.
Step 1: Breathe in counting to four slowly. Feel the air enter your lungs.
Step 2: Hold your breath for 4 seconds. Try to avoid inhaling or exhaling for 4 seconds.
Step 3: Slowly exhale through your mouth for 4 seconds.
Step 4: Repeat steps 1 to 3 until you feel re-centered.
Repeat this exercise as many times as you can. 30 seconds of deep breathing will help you feel more relaxed and in control.
Adoptees from China
I watched a very touching movie on Netflix this week called Found which I recommend to you. It is the story of three teenage girls, born in China, who were given up by their birth parents as newborns and eventually adopted into families in the United States. Through DNA testing with the biotech company 23 and Me, they discover they are cousins and meet for the first time on zoom.
Filmmaker Amanda Lipitz has made a very thought-provoking film about the journey of these three young women, raised in very different surroundings, who bond over a common experience and set out on a journey to find where they come from. This is a personal story for Lipitz--her niece Chloe is one of the three. "When you know where you come from, you can find the peace in your heart."
Charity of the Week:
National Coalition for the Homeless
Painting of the Week
Gert Mathiesen Red Vessels 83” x 150”
I’ve decided to embrace the gray…
About The Author
New York City based contemporary artist, Pam Smilow created the creative lifestyle blog “things we love” in an effort to foster a sense of community during times of isolation and reflection. To read more about her and her art, visit her website and check out the essay written by the Hammond Museum's Frank Matheis entitled The Sophisticated Innocence of Pam Smilow.. And by the way, let me know in the comment section what you think of the new haircut...