How Art Changes Consciousness

Art can heal us, inspire us, and alter our brain chemistry

By Jacob Devaney

With so much talk about the evidence of the positive effects of yoga and meditation, you might be surprised at what scientific research also says about how art affects the brain. Long before modern neuroscience, artists were creating works to inspire people, and today complex brain imaging scans can show us just how art changes the physiology of our brains. Contemplation, observing, and taking in the beauty all stimulate pleasure centers within the brain while increasing blood flow by up to 10% in the medial orbitofrontal cortex. This can lead to an elevated state of consciousness, well-being, and better emotional health.

“The blood flow increased for a beautiful painting just as it increases when you look at somebody you love. It tells us art induces a feel-good sensation direct to the brain.”
– Professor Semir Zeki, chair in neuroaesthetics at University College London

Observing Art

Mirror Neurons are neurons that fire both when a person acts and when the person observes the same action performed by another. This brings us back to a very basic concept in human evolution which involves modeling. When you observe a profound piece of art you are potentially firing the same neurons as the artist did when they created it thus making new neural pathways and stimulating a state of inspiration. This sense of being drawn into a painting is called “embodied cognition”.

“Art accesses some of the most advanced processes of human intuitive analysis and expressivity and a key form of aesthetic appreciation is through embodied cognition, the ability to project oneself as an agent in the depicted scene,”
– Christopher Tyler, director of the Smith-Kettlewell Brain Imaging Center

This explains why we might feel like we are dreaming when we look at impressionists like Claude Monet or having an ecstatic vision while looking at a painting by Alex Grey. The ability of art, combined with our own imagination, to transport us to other realms is astounding. Artists have the ability to show us new worlds but we shouldn’t put them on a pedestal because each of us is an artist.

“Making art activates the whole brain and can foster integration of emotional, cognitive, and sensory processes.” – Joan French MA NCC LCPC

Creating Art

The act of creating art is also therapeutic which has been the impetus for the art therapy movement. Every one of us lived like artists as children and we have the ability to bring back this powerful form of expression and self-healing if we allow ourselves to. You don’t need to be an expert to enjoy smearing paint on a canvas and letting your pleasure centers light up like a child!

“Art therapy, sometimes called expressive art or art psychology, encourages self-discovery and emotional growth. It is a two-part process, involving both the creation of art and the discovery of its meaning.”
– Paula Ford-Martin

Modern Visionary Artists are applying the idea that art inspires community, is educational, and has the capacity to elicit spiritual revelations. Painting together in groups and painting live at musical events, these artists are allowing participants in on their creative process. Seeing and understanding that even the finest pieces of art have many moments when the artist isn’t satisfied or needs to paint over something is revealing for each of us on our spiritual journey.

Celebrating how Art changes Consciousness

Artist Alex Grey has opened Cosm in New York which is being called a Chapel of Sacred Mirrors. Within the Visionary Art Movement is the idea that creativity itself is a path to the divine. This includes creating art, gathering around/celebrating art, and creating communities that foster creative expression in all of its forms. Creativity may be one of the greatest things about being human and art can be a great teacher for us on this evolutionary journey.

“To awaken and catalyze the spiritual path of each person by providing access to the highest mystic truth through art and creative action”. – Cosm Core Value

We are surrounded by billboards and advertisements which utilize art to persuade us to purchase things that we usually don’t need. There is currently a large movement towards beautifying public places with murals that contain cultural and community relevance. Imagine how we might create a more peaceful, vibrant world by surrounding ourselves with beautiful art…

I’d like to see a world where scientists, politicians, and spiritual practitioners gathered around art to learn and share with each other towards creating a better world. Visual art can heal us, inspire us, and alter our brain chemistry leaving us filled with inspiration and love. We don’t need science to prove this to us but now that it has what are some ways that you will invoke art and creativity for your own spiritual journey?

From setting the right tone for your brand to improving relationships with your employees, potential clients, and the community, a corporate art collection can do wonders for you and your work environment.

At Corporate Artworks, our staff of experienced, creative art consultants will guide you in selecting an artwork program that reflects your company’s brand and culture, enhances your environment and projects your success.

Source: https://www.naturalblaze.com/2019/09/how-art-changes-consciousness.html

Design & Information

As professional Art Consultants, we’re experts at creating unique, sensational, and productive corporate environments.

Whether you want to project an image or enhance your work environment, we will help you every step of the way.

If professional Art Consulting services, framing, and installation are something that you are wanting more information about, please feel free to contact us today or visit our services page

Show your support for neighborhood businesses by shopping local!

Are you ready to #ShopSmallSuperior? After scoring some Black Friday shopping deals, remember to save a bit of your holiday shopping for Small Business Saturday on Saturday, November 30th! Multiple Superior Businesses will be participating in this national shopping holiday by offering deals, discounts, samples, customer appreciation activities, and more!

#WBENC (Women’s Business Enterprise National Council )

#Shopsmall

#art

Boring offices dampen creativity claims report

Recent research has confirmed the suspicions of many frustrated workers by finding boring offices can have a negative effect on creativity.

A survey of 2,000 office workers, carried out by Overbury, discovered one in three employees felt their workplace was ‘demotivating’. Around a quarter of respondents described their working environment as “sedate and silent”.

One in ten even described their office as “a creative and cultural desert”. Many respondents (35%) said they liked to work from home ‘whenever possible’; citing an uninspiring office as their main reason for doing so.

When employees were asked how their offices could be improved, the most common response was found to be creating a ‘more social space’. Many said this was because inspiration often comes from chatting with colleagues.

A band of chilly workers said they would most like better heating in their office, which was the second most popular answer. Other frequently-mentioned improvements were better furniture, more access to refreshments and better coffee.

Anthony Brown, a director at Overbury, said: “At a time when organizations in the UK are looking to their staff to drive innovation and competitive advantage, it is worrying to hear that so many employees are lacking the tools they need to be creative.

“Organisations are missing a golden opportunity to foster greater ideas generation by putting creative collaboration and social interaction at the heart of their office design.”

Just because your job tasks may be a bit boring doesn’t mean your work environment has to match. Corporate Artworks will help you discover a wonderfully creative and enriching environment for you and your staff to focus, work and grow together.

Schedule an appointment to speak with a customer service representative for more information regarding our services or to answer any questions you may have. This is a 5-10 minute assessment to find out more about your needs and how our Art Consultants can help you with your project. If you would like immediate assistance, please feel free to call our office at (847) 843-3636 or contact us via email on our Contact Us page.

Source:

Ames, Peter. Boring offices dampen creativity claims report. https://www.officegenie.co.uk/blog/20130301-boring-offices-dampen-creativity-claims-report. Date Accessed 11-5-19

These Six Art Students Dressed Up As Iconic Works Of Art And Won

It’s one thing to be a huge appreciator of the arts, and then it’s a whole other thing to become the arts

Well, that’s exactly what a group of art students in Kawasaki did, where they host one of the biggest and grandest Halloween festivities every year.

SFX makeup artist Amazing Jiro took the grand prize after having his six students march in the 22nd annual Halloween parade transformed into the world’s most famous pieces of art.

The women dressed up as Leonardo da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa,” lías García Martínez’s “Behold the Man,” and Pablo Picasso’s “The Weeping Woman.”

There was also Johannes Vermeer’s “Girl With a Pearl Earring,” and Vincent Van Gogh’s self-portrait.

And look at Edvard Munch’s “The Scream!”

Have a safe, creative, and Happy Halloween from the staff at Corporate Artworks

Credit: https://www.buzzfeed.com/aliciabarron/these-art-students-dressed-up-as-famous-paintings-and-their

Video:  https://www.instagram.com/p/BpnLLIxgS57/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet 

Article from Buzzfeed