Taking Refuge in Beauty

A painted landscape is always more beautiful than a real one, because there's more there. Everything is more sensual, and one takes refuge in its beauty. And (one) needs spiritual expression and nourishing. It's why even in the prehistoric era, people would scrawl pictures of bison on the walls of caves. (One) needs music, literature, and painting-all those oases of perfection that make up art-to compensate for the rudeness and materialism of life. ~ Fernando Botero

Tonight I went to an opening night art gallery exhibition. I knew a couple of the local artists. Art can transform a person. I remember being in the Louvre and wanting never to leave as I wandered from one room to another. I felt like I was falling into the canvases as I moved along, and each time it was more difficult to pull myself out of them. Some I still see so clearly in my mind and it has been decades.

I am not convinced though that a painted landscape is more beautiful than a real one but it can certainly nourish the soul. I went with friends of mine to see the Botero exhibit at the Winnipeg Art Gallery over the holidays and that was fun. Botero certainly is not into skinny the way magazines are. It was sort of refreshing to have a look at robust women, plump sunflowers, and well-known figures like Adam and Eve with some meat on them.

Seek out beauty and take refuge in it. I have and it remains deeply embedded in my soul when I need it.

Peace,

Suzanne