A Moment for Reflection: Slow Looking at Art as a Contemplative Practice

If you ever walked through an art museum and felt you barely scratched the surface of what is on display, you are not alone. What if the key to truly enjoying art is slowing down? Slow contemplative looking emphasizes spending an extended period with a single artwork to fully engage with its details, meaning, and emotional resonance. It’s a practice rooted in mindfulness offering a counterbalance to today’s fast-paced, distraction-heavy culture.

Join Katherine Tako-Girard, Danforth’s Learning & Engagement Manager, and Aaron Stockwell Wisman, Senior Minister of First Parish in Framingham, in taking a slow contemplative look at Haley Hasler’s painting, Self-Portrait as a Woman Serving a Meal. Our extended observation will offer moments of calm and presence revealing details in the painting, like the interplay of colors, textures, and the artist’s choices —details that might otherwise go unnoticed.

This event is free with paid admission to the Museum. Space is limited. Please register below.

The Rev. Aaron Stockwell Wisman has served as the senior minister of the First Parish in Framingham since  August 2020. He received his Master of Divinity from Andover Newton Theological School in 2013. In ministry, he enjoys teaching contemplative practices, and crafting meaningful worship experiences. Outside of ministry, Aaron enjoys being an amateur hobbyist in many crafts (letterpress and pottery to name a few), and exploring local conservation land.