Jr. Docents to host Slow Art Day Saturday

The Old Jail Art Center’s Teen Docent Corps will host SlowArt Day this Saturday, April 20, with student workers on hand from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. to discuss artwork with museum visitors.

“Slow Art Day is an international event where museums ask visitors to slow down and explore the art around them,” explained OJAC Education Director Erin Whitmore. “Our Teen Docents, inspired by their favorite pieces, have created activities throughout the museum to encourage you to get up close and personal with our galleries.”

The junior docents will present specific information about pieces from around the museum, as well as have fun activities they have planned and researched.

Light refreshments will also be provided.

“Visitors will find the Teen Docents stationed at different works of art thoughout the galleries,” said Whitmore. “We’re hoping that a lot of you will join us to support the museum and the Junior Docent Corps.”

When people spend a little more time looking at a piece of art, they make discoveries, according to Whitmore.

“The typical museum visitor spends only a few seconds glancing at a work of art,” Whitmore said. “When people look slowly at a piece of art, they make discoveries. They see and think about things they wouldn’t notice if they only glance at a work of art for a few seconds.”

Slow Art Day was founded in 2009 by Phil Terry with a simple mission: help more people discover the joy of looking at and loving art.

“This one day in April each year, people all over the world visit local museums and galleries to look at art slowly,” said Whitmore. “Participants are asked to look at works of art for at least five minutes!”

The goal is to focus on the art and the art of seeing.

The event is free and open to the public.