Art Comes to Life
Imagine looking at a painting and seeing the beauty of a landscape, a city scene or ripples of water and being transported, just for a moment, to another place and time. Research has confirmed that art, for both the viewer and creator, can have positive effects on the brain, making one feel good and promoting quality of life. At any age, the language of art speaks to us in ways that words cannot, taking us away from our day to day life and letting our imaginations soar. Learning about different artists allows us to reflect on the times in which an artist lived.
Camille Pissarro, the Father of Impressionism
One especially inspiring and influential artist was Camille Pissarro, an artist of Jewish descent who was recognized as a father figure to the Impressionist as well as Post-Impressionist painters of the late 19th century. Pissarro depicted life in the city of Paris in the mid to late 1800s, with its wide boulevards, gaslights and cafes. As train travel became possible with the industrial revolution, artists ventured from their studios into the world with paint and easels. Through the artist’s eyes, we learn what life was like during different periods in history.
The Positive Effects of Art
By viewing art or even delving into a creative pursuit yourself, you can experience the power of art which can be an outlet for personal growth, wellness and stress reduction. Its healing powers can:
- Keep the mind engaged
- Enhance pleasurable feelings
- Provide a positive outlook
- Change your mood
Bring Art Into Your Life
The Oscar and Ella Wilf Campus for Senior Living periodically offers educational programs as part of the 2016 Wilf Campus Educational Series, to explore the life and works of various artists.
The next program, “The Art of Camille Pissarro,” will take place on Thursday, August 11, 2016 from 9:30 am – 11:00 am with speaker Maurice Mahler, an artist, historian and adjunct faculty member at Rutgers University. Professor Mahler is an expert on the life and works of Camille Pissarro and a frequent lecturer throughout New Jersey and New York on artists and art history.
The program, “The Art of Camille Pissarro,” is open to the public. It will be held at Jewish Family Services of Middlesex County, located at 52 Concordia Shopping Center, Monroe Township, NJ. There is a requested donation of $5 to attend and pre-registration is required. To register please call 732-568-1155.