The Art of Silence
“The world is quiet here.” ― Lemony Snicket
I first visited the Des Moines Art Center in elementary school when my 4th (or maybe it was 5th) grade art teacher felt it was important for kids to know what it was like to experience fine art in person.
In the months leading up to the field trip, we studied a handful of well-known artists—Picasso, van Gogh, Monet and, of course, “Iowa Boy” Grant Wood—and I was looking forward to getting to know them up close and personal.
I vividly remember standing in front of a large canvas — much taller than me —admiring the brushstrokes and colors, imagining what it must have been like to be its painter. I scribbled words in my notebook about its composition and how it made me feel, what I thought it meant and how I thought the artist would hope it was interpreted.
That one field trip had a huge impact on me. I’ve visited the Art Center dozens of times since then, and in all sorts of different seasons of life—as a student when I couldn’t afford other forms of entertainment (the Art Center is always free), as a single person on a first date, and as a mother when my kids were babies in strollers, and later when they were old enough to admire and appreciate the art.
It wasn’t until I had a family that I realized how important it was to support the Art Center, and the arts in general in Des Moines. If I wanted these experiences to be available to my children (and theirs) in the years to come, I would need to put money where my mouth was.
I can’t remember when I finally became a member, but Art Center membership certainly has its privileges. I’ve signed up for classes and camps, both for myself and my kids, taken flashlight tours, watched movie screenings, attended Day of the Dead celebrations, even eaten at the Art Center’s restaurant. I’ve taken full advantage of all the Art Center has to offer and I’m always looking for fun ways to use my membership.
“Art Center members have the opportunity to spend up to three hours in the museum when it is otherwise closed to the public. Have you always wanted to play your guitar inside the Art Center? Recite poetry to your favorite works of art? Read a comic book on the spiral staircase of the I.M. Pei building? Now you can!”
The bit above is about My Museum Monday and when I first read about it in the newsletter, I applied almost immediately. I didn’t want to play guitar or recite poetry or do tai chi in the lobby, I wanted to write and to do it in complete silence.
Thankfully, the folks at the Art Center thought it was a good idea and accepted my proposal. Cassandra Tant, senior manager of membership and development for the Des Moines Art Center, emailed me and we agreed that I’d take my turn in early December.
I figured Tant and her cohorts would think I was crazy, but my life is full of chaos and noise. I’m a mom of three busy teenagers, I have a full-time job, I volunteer with several non-profits, and I write professionally and for fun. Writing in itself is an art form and I have always had to do it amidst lots of noise and activity. Rarely do I ever get the chance to sit quietly and just…write. Three hours in an empty art museum was literally going to be a dream come true.
Tant didn’t bat an eye. She assured me that people take advantage of My Museum Monday for lots of reasons—to read, do yoga, draw, etc. She said the program, offered since 2018, gives folks an opportunity to experience the Art Center in ways they may not be able to during regular business hours.
“It’s hard to explain in just one or two sentences,” she said. “My hope was that people would apply just to take advantage of a unique opportunity. There’s no pressure to do anything unique. We have lots of people who just want to come and look at the art in quiet.”
I’m a morning person so I opted to start my three hours early that day. Cassandra met me at the door and was my escort through the galleries. While I knew she was there, she didn’t hover, giving me ample space to take everything in and really enjoy the stillness of the Art Center.
Initially, I thought I’d just plop down in one of the galleries and write the whole time but I found myself walking around, peeking into darkened galleries and just taking it all in.
The perfect spot ended up being the PEI building, where I sat on the ledge overlooking the Rose Garden. I opened my laptop to start writing when it hit me—I couldn’t hear a thing. No footsteps, no voices, no sound of any kind, save for the intermittent hum of the HVAC system.
When I walked outside after my three hours were up, I felt calm and relaxed, a somewhat foreign feeling to me. I was grateful to have had the opportunity to experience the Art Center in this way and hope my friends and family take advantage of it, too…just not at the same time as me. I like my peace and quiet.
If you would like to take advantage of My Museum Monday at the Des Moines Art Center, you can submit an application here. Remember, you must be a member of the Des Moines Art Center to be considered. If you’d like to become a member, apply here.
What Inspires Me?
Over the last couple weeks, as Iowa legislators debated a host of school choice, book bans and anti-LGBTQ bills in subcommittees, I watched dozens of brave kids stand up and tell folks what these harmful bills would do to them and their quality of life. It takes courage to stand in front of a room of lawmakers who appear all too eager to tell you how to live your life and be your authentic self. Kids these days are the change makers. In a few years, they’re going to do some truly incredible things. Mark my words. They’ll inspire you, too.
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Oh wow, what a wonderful way to experience the Art Center and center yourself as well. As I read I had this vision in my mind of what I'd do. . . so many possibilities.
Thanks, Jody. Classes I took at the Des Moines Art Center live with me still. What a lovely outreach program you told us about today!