The Art of the Ensemble 2/14/22

Recently I had a discussion with an artist friend who is one of my favorite deep thinkers. She was commenting about her desire for an "ensemble" - not just in the literal musical sense (though she is also a talented musician), but in a more abstract sense: a small group of people who can share ideas and influence each other on a level that actually creates a shift in one's thinking and perspective. She realized that she has often felt a lack of those sorts of connections, and we wondered whether musical ensembles work because the people in them come together because they too are seeking those deeper connections and are thus made up of people who already 'think differently' so that 1) they are more motivated to connect to the other players, and 2) they have more unexpected perspectives to share than people who are better integrated into society at large.

So what does all this have to do with art? No matter how introverted we are, art is always a conversation with the people who see it. But unlike performance arts, visual artists rarely receive the immediate feedback of a grateful (or sorely disappointed) crowd. In order to extend that conversation, we too must seek out our ensemble, disparate or otherwise, - people who can help us see our work in a way that challenges or shifts our current path.

That said, I wanted to share a personal experience of this variety. After enquiring about paintings to purchase from my 'celebrity crush' painter, Fran O'Neill, I presented the choices to my husband. I had already chosen my favorites and narrowed them down to ~4. My husband, on the other hand, picked 2 that weren't even in my final set, and he didn't really even like my first choice. Thus a lengthy discussion began. Much to my surprise, I came to love the 2 my husband liked. I realized how much I appreciated that discussion, which shifted my views on an already favorite painter. In a time of great isolation, I find myself savoring these interactions all the more. Hopefully, by sharing this perspective, someone else can savor a similar interaction they've recently had and have a small perspective shift of their own.

“breezy sunday” by Fran O’Neil (2’x2’, oil on canvas. 2017)