Have you ever felt your day improve the moment the barista at your local coffee shop looked you in the eye and said, “What can I get you today?”.
What is it that feels so great about that?
Is it pure excitement, at the promise of the halfcaffgrandenonfatextrahotvanilllalatte on the way? Is it something more; is it something less? Is it possible it feels good simply because, you’re being heard?
Consider this conversation you might have at your favourite coffee shop:
BARISTA – “What would you like?”
YOU -“I’d like [insert drink preference here], please.”
BARISTA -“OK.” [heard you]. “Here it is. Thanks for coming in.”
And there it is. A tiny community of two people, talking, listening, responding, connecting. A fleeting, comforting (sometimes powerful) encounter.
In a coffee shop, we know the rules of behaviour; where to go, how to speak and what procedures to follow:
- Enter the café
- Drink in the delicious coffee scents
- Get in line
- Order
- (smile)
- Have a brief chat with the barista
- Move on down the line
- Wait- and finally
- Enjoy the coffee
Many of us follow this procedure every day. Some do it twice. (!)
But is it just at a coffee shop- or can we have the same kind of comforting, responsive experience with art- which most of us don’t encounter as frequently as we encounter a café?
Think about the following:
Have you ever felt a shift in the way you’re looking at things the moment an artist looks you in the eye and says, “It’s my latest piece, what do you think?”.
What is it that feels so great about that?
Is it the adrenaline of nerves brought on by unexpected social interaction? Is it something more; is it something less?
Could it be simply, that it feels good to be noticed, included and heard?
Consider this conversation you might have at your local art gallery:
ARTIST -What do you think?
YOU -It reminds me of a story my mother told me. Of an old house, broken and worn where she found a key and receipt, with the name of a doctor and the date she was married…
ARTIST -That’s incredible. Any chance that house was in Maine?
YOU -Not Maine. But somewhere in the east. I’d love to go…
ARTIST-Maybe you’ll find that house someday…
…and so on (as the conversation continues).
And with that brief encounter, you’ve become a part of a tiny community of two; talking, listening, responding, connecting.
A fleeting powerful encounter. Art.
And a moment of connection.
