36/300: What was the last thing you read, heard, or saw that inspired you?

i visited the Lawren Harris exhibit today at the Art Gallery of Ontario. he is my favourite Group of Seven painter. while there, i learned that a lot of his iconic paintings of Canada’s north were not of real places. they were his own creations — manifestations of his perceptions and ideals of the north, expressions of the spiritual significance he placed on an area of our country that he only briefly visited.

i found this fact to be inspiring. rather than trying to emulate reality and encapsulate its complexity with the stroke of a painter’s brush, Harris simply painted what he thought and felt about the north. each of his pieces is him trying to convey a particular feeling, a particular perspective, a particular belief. mountains, glaciers, and rocks were simply the subject matter he used to convey his own spiritual journey.

i was inspired by the fact that there was still so much for me to get out of his art, a lot of which i had seen (in various recreations) many times before. the exhibit opened up the layers of each painting and made room for the viewer to explore each piece from Harris’ eyes.

my experience today made me feel inspired to go back to other pieces of art that i love. to try to see with fresh eyes. to do my research into their origins, their inspirations, their creators. to find a new layer of enjoyment and appreciation.

there are words and pieces of information begging to escape from every piece of art.

i think it’s our responsibility as viewers to let them out.