Two mentees shared a wonderful program created by Phyl Terry to support folks seeking a job. His book Never Search Alone created a community of folks and I am grateful to be part of a job search council JSC #3640 (lucky number 13 - a sign from the universe). The true power of community is humbling.
And this exploration led to discovering April 5th is Slow Art Day - the connections and interlocks blow my mind always. Going to the de Young Museum to experience with a group of folks connected by this thread. Imagine diverse lives connecting at a point in time. Serendipity at best.
Did you know that, on average, people spend only 8 seconds looking at a single piece of art? With so many intriguing works in a museum, it’s easy to rush from one to the next without truly seeing them.
Slow Art Day at the de Young Museum takes a different approach. Together, we’ll spend one hour looking at just five selected pieces—allowing time to observe, reflect, and engage deeply.
This is a chance to slow down, connect with art in a meaningful way, and enjoy a thoughtful conversation with others.
Slow art day experience
Here are some thoughts of reflection for slow art day. Select any artwork or photography and do the following:
Slow art day - nowhere Div
Spend 5 minutes observing a creative expression in art or photography.
Notice your thoughts:
what is the first thing that comes to your mind
what do you see or not see
how do you feel
Imagine being in harmony with this art and mindful creative space
what do you hope or wish for
what is the one thing that you're motivated to do next
Sharing my slow art day moments explore the Golden Gate Parks and Gardens.
Slow art day moment #1 - To just be ❣️
Tulips
Queen Wilhelmina Garden
San Francisco CA
There were a few tulips left and the rest of the tulips in the garden were done for the season. I could hear my inner voice saying - 'You're late again. If only you had come a few weeks before would you have seen the tulips in bloom'.
Then I reminded myself - it doesn't matter. I'm here now and I have a few tulips to admire and appreciate. And to see the phases of life - we tend to focus on the good, but there is beauty in the bloom and the wither of a flower.
Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder. Let's be our true authentic selves.
To new beginnings! Spring is here.
Let's take this moment to live, to smile and to just be. Breathe!
Slow art day moment #2 - Awe ❣️
Wild and free just like the sea
La playa
Ocean Beach, San Francisco
I remember 5 years ago, leaving my tears in the ocean and leaving San Francisco in 2020. Letting go of things I couldn't understand or control.
And this time I'm back home and I smile knowing that I belong here in the now.
The sand dollar shell with the flower imprint feels like a message from the universe. Never saw anything like it before.
Dipping my feet in the chill water is refreshing. I hadn't planned to go into the water but something about the waves always draws me in, an unspoken connection.
The ocean stirs the heart, inspires the imagination and brings joy to the soul.
The ocean creates peace and awe at the same time.
The vastness, freedom and the depth of the unknown. To seek and understand beyond our realm.
Slow art day moment #3b - Love yourself ❣️
Rose 🌹
Rose garden
Golden Gate Park, San Francisco CA
Even though the roses are not fully in bloom, just witnessing a few in bloom is enough to brighten my day. And the birds chirping early in the morning, just made it even more delightful.
It wasn't in the original plan but as I saw that I was getting off the bus stop just after to go to de young museum, I just had to stop by and say hello to the roses.
Rose symbolizes love, friendship, beauty, passion, gratitude, innocence, balance and purity.
A good reminder that sometimes a plan is just a plan and it's okay to do what feels right in the moment.
Slow art day moment #3a - Feel the feelings ❣️
de Young Museum
Golden Gate Park, San Francisco
It has been more than a year since I've been to the de Young Museum. I remember my first time in 2011 as part of a team event.
Walking into a museum and focusing on just five pieces of art was challenging. Being intentional and spending at least 5 minutes even if the art wasn't one that I would have looked at during my stroll at the museum.
And the discussion after with a group of artists, architects and designers made me realize how we can all look at the same piece of art and have a different lens.
There was one piece that drew me in and I loved it and one that was too scary to look at. Noticing the shift in emotions and feelings was interesting.
And a good piece of advice: Do not read the card as it may influence your lens of the artist's work. I'm always trying to make sense of what I see.
The Turrell Skyspace with the oculus and the echo chamber was a pleasant surprise and conversation starter with the group. We didn’t know until someone mentioned to step into the center and speak. And we heard about a monk chanting and we did our own version of a slow hum to feel the vibration with 5 folks in the space.
💭 Have you ever noticed the earthquake cracks as you walk into the Museum?
Slow art day moment #4 - Magnificence ❣️
Trees of Golden Gate Park
San Francisco, CA
Golden Gate Park turned 155 on April 4th!
Enjoy 1000 acres of nature's beauty within San Francisco.
Trees symbolize the circle of life and growth. From the redwood and sequoia trees to the bamboo trees, they live in magnificence at all times.
Nature does not rush yet everything is accomplished. - Lao Tzu
Remember the importance of patience and the natural flow of things, and that great things take time and that rushing can be counterproductive.
Slow art day moment #5 - A perspective ❣️
Hibiscus 🌺
Conservatory of Flowers, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco
Growing up with hibiscus in my home garden in Kerala, India, I never thought much of it other than just another flower in abundance. Until I discovered hibiscus tea during my foodie adventures and its benefits.
And seeing these giant hibiscus made me wonder about our assumptions and how much we don't know. This shift in perspective is sometimes what we need.
Slow art day moment #6 - Impermanence ❣️
Cherry blossom 🌸
Japanese Tea Garden, San Francisco
Wabi sabi - finding beauty in imperfection, impermanence, and simplicity, embracing the natural world and its flaws.
Slow art day moment #7 - Cherish the beauty within ❣️
Magnolia
San Francisco Botanical Garden
What a beautiful way to spend a slow art day on April 5th 2025. Hope you enjoyed my seven moments in the day.
The planner in me had the schedule on my mindful calendar - an hour at each place. Even though I forgot my battery powerbank and had to account for breaks to charge my phone, I made the most of the sunny day outside. Some folks were helpful and some not so much - there weren’t many options to charge my phone other than by the restroom, which was odd. At the end, I found an option to charge by the bookstore at the SF Botanical garden to get atleast 15% charge so I can get home.
Loved seeing a glimpse of the sunrise in the bus to start the day by the SF bay :)
… And here a few floral inspirations leading to slow art day… a journey of healing from 2020 - 2023…
Joy
Fly with the wind
Wild Poppy
England, UK
Can a photo take you back to a memory from the past?
Joy is allowing yourself to see and deeply appreciate moments of delight and connection without holding back or second-guessing the experience.
Calm
Lilac Gladiola
Scotland, UK
Gardens and parks are my way to navigate stress and anxiety. April is stress awareness month. Learn what works for you to find calm amidst chaos.
Be kind to yourself. 🤗
Breathe
Dahlia
San Francisco, CA
Let's take this moment to live, to smile and to just be. Breathe 🦋
Every day, we get 24 brand new hours to make it what we want it to be. The energy or aura that we put out there into the universe is what will come back to us.
what is the one thing that you're motivated to do next
Trust
Sunflower
Raleigh, NC
Imagine being in harmony with this creative space following the sun light
what do you hope or wish for
Fearless
Blue Pericallis
Lisboa, Portugal
Can a color make you feel like — you got this? Anything is possible…
what is the first thing that comes to your mind
what do you see or not see
And here was my creative exploration …
Earth is eh without art 🎨
You are invited!
Calling art lovers and creative souls 🦋❣️
The Slow Art Day movement around the world brings folks together to learn, look, appreciate and love art.
Join me on Sunday, April 6th, 3 - 4 pm in Bayview, San Francisco.
RSVP https://lu.ma/yj6q2w7t
As I was mentioning about this discovery to my dear friend, I noticed on the website, they accepted my host application for slow art day at nowhere Div. And I got ready for Sunday instead of Saturday to experience fully vs rushing through the day. I spent a full day at Golden Gate Park, visiting my favorite gardens. The initial plan was to head back home if anyone registers for the event. The thought of inviting folks makes me anxious, not knowing if they will come or will be interested. So, I'm just going to let it be. My way of not disappointing myself maybe.
I created a Google form and Luma for folks to RSVP but I just couldn't get myself to send it to 10 folks that I think may be interested. It's okay perhaps next year, I will be a little bit more brave or not. It's okay either ways. Or I am yet to meet mi gente who are flower lovers like me.
And for the slow art day preparation, I had inertia to reach out to folks, even though I was excited about the idea. The feeling they are all busy and I shouldn’t disturb them at the last minute. All this came together this week. Maybe I am not ready for another rejection or no. Tapped out of my quota of No for the month. But it's okay for folks to say no. It's their choice.
Perhaps I'm afraid they will judge me and my home. Think I am weird or something without much furniture. Probably why I cannot find a roommate. Guess that's why I can't keep friendships either. Living in my own solitude. The few that have visited my home are folks who appreciate mindfulness or flowers or origami. It's more like a gallery than a home.
And even though no one came, I had a beautiful weekend soaking in slow art day and embracing joy in my own way sharing my experience online. That makes it worth it! To just be…
Love this soooo much! Challenge accepted 🌸