Steve Seidel at the Harvard Graduate School of Education talks about how arts education trains us in “bifocalism:” the ability to see in different dimensions – alternately focusing on the smallest detail while still appreciating the larger picture.
Contemplate a single flower – at first glance it seems to be perfectly formed, uniformly colored – but on longer contemplation one finds that things are not as uniform as they seem – is this intentional? Are these flaws? Imperfections? Or the variations that make each flower unique?
At a time of social instability, when looking ahead and looking around makes us anxious it becomes even more important for us to stop and seek out the small moments, images, and opportunities for beauty around us, if only for a moment.
Photos by Lisa Wong
Lisa Wong is a Boston-based physician, violinist, and arts education advocate with a passion for bringing the worlds of art and health ever closer together. She has been a pediatrician at Milton Pediatric Associates for over 30 years – and appreciates the hard-won milestone reached by a child with special needs, the opportunity to laugh and the privilege of finding something beautiful in the dynamics of every family.