While walking through the art gallery I took the time to read each description of the art pieces and go beyond the obvious figures message. I was able to take my time to …show more content…
For some of his figures, he personally interviewed and learned about Native American's history. In Sparks of Genius it is stated that "empathizing means being able to see the world through other people's eyes" (Root-Bernstein, 2001, p. 187). Smith was able to empathize with these people and make creations that resemble their stories. By using empathy, he was able to find a common ground and inspiration to create his wooden figures. Having empathy shows through the work which allows the viewers to understand what is being portrayed more easily. His wooden figures were able to come to life with their individual personalities showing through the colors and clothing designed for them.
The Retrospective exhibit allowed me to apply the thinking tools of observing, recognizing patterns, and empathy to a real life event and project. I learned more about the art pieces more than I would have if I was just glancing and walking through the exhibit carelessly. It is different to apply these tools to another person's work instead of my personal life experiences. Being mindful and concentrated had me be more observant in what I was viewing. I enjoyed this experience of taking the time to view and appreciate an Artist's personal artwork at the Minnesota Marine Art