Seeing the Big Picture
The phrases around seeing the bigger picture can often refer to looking beyond the issue to the larger context. I have frequently referred to it as looking from 30,000 feet as opposed to ground level; or being in the balcony instead of on the orchestra floor. That certainly provides a different perspective- and sometime provides an insight that allows for ideas or solutions to emerge.
In this blog today it means something else. It means looking beyond the picture and how it is framed to the deeper essence. I have always loved museums -I grew up outside of the Detroit area and there was (and I hope still is) a magnificent museum known as the Detroit Institute of the Arts. It was a field trip for schools, and a place families could go for an outing- before water parks became popular. I always noticed when a painting had a gaudy frame or a frame that seemed larger and more compelling to the eye than the actual painting.
When I graduated from high school I went to Europe for the first time -and museums of all sorts were on the “must see” list including the Louvre. So many famous paintings and artists and still incased in some enormous frames. Finally it occurred to me that I was paying more attention to the frame than the artist’s message or what I call essence.
I have noticed that it is easy to get caught up in frames of all sorts – in business we called it being stuck in the weeds- my mother use to say you can’t see the forest for the trees, and right now the frames or forms of our experiences both personal and cultural, are capturing more attention than the essence. The feeling tone brings us a wider view – a more hopeful outcome – and actions that come more from “right mindedness” than the knee jerk of reaction.
Form follows essence – in art or in life. When the essence is to be helpful – the result is always a more loving interaction. The action may or may not BE helpful, but it doesn’t matter – because the feeling takes you beyond to something larger. I collect a few things – most notably jewelry – I have no particular style I follow – modern, classic- it doesn’t matter. When I consider a piece, it is always the tone it gives me that completes or enhances the purchase. For that reason I almost always purchase artistic pieces that convey something larger than the silver or the stones. (See Adornment byNicole.com) for my current favorites.
Now when I gaze at the Mona Lisa or Vincent Van Gogh’s starry nights – I see something beyond the frame or the picture to the gift – the talent – the amazing sky of stars and that bigger picture gives me peace and enjoyment and yes Love. It works with people, pets and politics – give it a try and feel into the possibilities. And since I am on a music kick, enjoy this moment of essence in song.
