Did you realize that the average viewer spends only 10 seconds in front of a work of art? Visitors are invited to join us for an afternoon of programs as we celebrate International Slow Art Day. Take a beat, cool your jets, and enjoy slow-looking tours, music and meditation in the galleries, and activities for all ages.

SCHEDULE

Pick up a Slow Looking Itinerary in Kidspace.
All events are first come, first served

12pm
Slow Art Tours
Slow down on a contemplative walk through our expansive galleries and go in deep with a tour focused on a single work of art.
Meet in the lobby, maximum of 15 visitors per group

1pm
Guided Meditation with Director of Education and Curator of Kidspace Laura Thompson
Practice slowing down in a restful guided meditation practice before listening to the string quartet The Overlook.
Meet in Building 11.2 Swing Space, maximum of 30 visitors

2pm
Slow Listening and Looking with Performance by The Overlook and Intro by Linda Sormin
The string quartet The Overlook performs Forbes Graham’s Crossing, as well as music by Leila Adu and Shelley Washington, among Linda Sormin’s Stream installation, inviting participants to be drawn into the twin activities of listening and looking. The musicians play their instruments in different locations and levels of the gallery with solo and antiphonal elements. Sormin will introduce her installation and the work’s connections to the music and to the idea of slowness before the musicians play.
Meet in Building 4.1, Ceramics In the Expanded Field

3:30pm
Slow Art Tour and Ekphrastic Writing with Local Poet Colin Harrington
A session with slow looking, a short history of haiku, a quiet moment of mindfulness meditation to enter the mental state conducive to haiku, and time to write.
Meet in the lobby

Make a Plan

• Slow Art Day activities are free with museum admission. Admission is always free for MASS MoCA members. Become a member here.
• Advance, timed tickets are recommended. Purchase your museum admission here.
• By purchasing a ticket to join MASS MoCA’s visitors, staff, and artists on the museum campus, you agree to follow a Courtesy Code, detailed here. Our full COVID FAQ is here.

Perfectly Clear (Ganzfeld), 1991 Gift of Jennifer Turrell
© James Turrell, Photo by Florian Holzherr