Not Alone: Museums as Self-Care - By Alyssa Garrison
August 28, 2020
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Many of our arts and culture organizations in the community have suffered greatly due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In certain cities, some humanities organizations may even close their doors for good.
To help showcase the necessity of these establishments, we present this blog series, which features different perspectives of how museums, zoos, and science centers (to name a few) can act as self-care spaces for inspiration, peace, and maybe even a little healing.
The following reflection was written by one of our Visitor Services Representatives, Alyssa Garrison.
(Photo, left: Taken by Alyssa Garrison, the photo displays an intricate ceiling display in the Louvre Museum in Paris, France.)
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People are not easy creatures.
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They are contradictory, hypocritical, strange in their habits and demands. We know this already, because we live with the consequences of being alive every day. Above all, however, I believe people to be undoubtedly and undeniably worthy of study, worthy of record, worthy of our sped-up attentions. Faces are messy up close, the minds behind them infinitely messier.
Museums are unique in that they give you an opportunity to study the world from a distance, be it physically or through the linear, straight-laced barrier of time. I enjoy being acquainted with strangers from a distance, watching the tension slowly ease from their faces like paper crumpling in reverse. I enjoy the quizzical looks when one comes across a word they’ve never seen before, or the keening laugh of a child caught in the shadow of a dinosaur.
(Photo, left: Alyssa's research days at the Museum of World Treasures entailed exploring histories of Egyptian artifacts, including this burial mask of a young girl, and translating ancient hieroglyphs.)
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The observer is not quite separate from the object observed.
People were meant to build castles in their heads out of stone and wood and knowledge. Give them but a single tool to work with and they will block out the sun with their creations. In museums, I find myself wondering what is occurring behind an arched brow, or an upturned lip, or a scrunched nose. Yes, faces are messy, but they are also revealing. Reflective. Infinite loops and patterns of emotion that may otherwise go unnoticed in the hustle and bustle of the modern world. Maybe this is why I am drawn to the field I am. I’m lucky enough to know others who certainly feel the same way.
(Photo, right: Alyssa shares the view from atop a historic site in Wales in the United Kingdom.)
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This desire to provide tools of learning, to provide a mirror into the past, is universal. I think that this fascination with time is more than something that can be found buried deep within ourselves; it is a symptom of a thriving society, as sure as curiosity and kindness and love. That is how I know the world will be alright. Whenever I find myself overwhelmed by the state of things, or whenever I am discouraged by the hiccups that invariably come with humanity, I simply take a walk through a museum and muse that I am not the first to feel such a way. It is almost impossible to be lonesome in an environment that fosters history.
I cannot encourage you enough to discover your own doorway into another time, be it through books or school or museums, such as ours. There is no better way to connect with yourself, or others. In this strange and volatile time, I believe it is more important than ever to study the events of the past- if only to provide a brief refuge from the historical events occurring before our eyes. In conclusion, I ask you not to be afraid of this particular type of self-care. The mind needs to be nurtured along with the body, after all. It is my greatest hope that you, too, will find peace within our ageless walls- or wherever it is that you choose to spend these memorable days.
(Photo, left: A portrait-style photo captured at the Louvre Museum in Paris, France.)
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We want to hear what these places mean to you. From "way-back-when" class field trips to out-of-town adventures, how have places like museums, zoos, acquariums, and science centers shaped the way you view the world? Enter your own "Museums as Self-Care" blog submission to make your voice heard!
