ARTOPICS:
UNLOCKING THE HEALING POWER OF ART — THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE CONNECTION
Female, Figuratively: Selected works by 7 female artists on the female form.
The exhibit runs until 02.15.24. We look forward to have you come by for a chat, some Malbec maybe and let’s talk about building your legacy art collection.
We also want to announce the first of a series of OMSA ARTOPICS, which will cover the scientific, financial, design and every other positive reason for considering art as an investment in one’s well being.
Our first ARTOPIC is an enlightening look at the healing power of art. We take a look at the scientific proof that art has an affect on our well being and answer many questions as to why we love museums and galleries and why we crave art in our daily lives.
Also we share some moments from our opening events that presaged the crazy-fun Miami Art Week.
Just to whet your appetite for your love of fine cars, fine food, and fine art. Do keep in touch to avoid any residual FOMO.
Read our OMSA ARTOPICS to find out about future gatherings to celebrate art throughout 2024 with our OMSA family.
Unlocking the Healing Power of Art:
The Science Behind the Connection
Veronica Pasman, Steps 2023, acrylic & pencil on watercolor paper
Art has always been a captivating force, shaping societies, creating culture, and leaving an indelible mark on our personal lives, pun intended.
Some of the first tools we used, were to make our mark on the inner walls of our sanctums and from there we have not stopped to seek ourselves through art.
From foundational works like those discovered in the caves of Lascaux, or the Venus of Willendorf to the complex and vast dimension of architecture, fashion that have sprung from this same source, art and its critical role in humanity is undeniable.
At first approach, what was just an aesthetic appeal, is now backed by science, which explains to us, uncovering the profound impact that art can have on the mind and body, and even the soul, or that thing that is the ever effusive and intangible seat of emotions and energy. In sum, science has charted, with brain scans and research, what we have known all along, that art is good for us.
A growing body of research has shed light on the remarkable relationship between art and our well-being. A visit to a museum or gallery, it turns out, is not just an aesthetic experience but also a therapeutic one. A soulful way to enrich our inner workings, our emotional, rational, aesthetic thirst is quenched through the visual field of artistic endeavors.
It follows that, like our Neanderthal ancestors before us, we yearn for art to be at close proximity to our daily lives, to surround us and imbibe us with the energy of creativity. We want it on our walls. Whether we procure it, or create it, it is our primitive need to have art reflect back at us our humanity.
Let’s think about that and peruse the scientific findings that reveal the incredible benefits of engaging with art.
Stress Reduction Through Art Exploration:
One of the foundational studies out is from the University of Westminster. It demonstrated that a mere 35-minute exploration of an art gallery during a break from work led to a significant decrease in stress levels among participants. This was evidenced not only by selfreported stress levels but also by a measurable reduction in cortisol, commonly known as the stress hormone.
Art, it seems, provides a sanctuary for the mind in our fast-paced lives, but even as we are resting. It enhances our brain waves, essentially, altering our state of mind. Let’s unpack that.
Neuroscientist Oshin Vartanian’s analysis of 15 research studies revealed that the brain is inherently wired to process art. Areas associated with emotion and pleasure, as well as those linked to contemplation, are activated when individuals view art.
Even without critical thought, the brain automatically engages with artwork, as shown by fMRI imaging. It appears that the brain’s response to art goes beyond mere visual recognition.
In a March 2022 published paper featured in the MIT Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience, a collaborative team from Breda University of Applied Sciences and TilburgUniversity in the Netherlands, along with the Max Planck Institute for Empirical Aesthetics (MPIEA) in Frankfurt, Germany, present research that corroborates Vartanian’s findings.
Their work focused on measuring brain waves associated with aesthetically appealing experiences. The results offered new insights into the neural processes involved in such encounters.
Using electro-encephalography (EEG) to investigate the neural processes during artistic interactions, participant’s brain waves were monitored while viewing artworks and rating their aesthetic impact.
They exhibited increased rapid gamma waves over a specific brain region when finding an artwork appealing. Interestingly, this gamma wave response had a delayed onset of about one second, suggesting it reflects a process of formation of meaning, rather than an immediate reaction to visual properties.
They highlight that engaging with art involves an active process of interpretation and discovery lasting several seconds as a viewer explores meanings and interpretations.
The study also observed pronounced alpha waves for both highly and poorly rated artworks, indicating tha participants pay more attention to artworks they strongly like or dislike compared to neutral ones.
So, we may not know why we like or do not like a certain piece, but our brain waves can clearly confirm our preferences.
Art, in all mediums, empowers our brain activity, reduces stress, and promotes overall well-being. Next time you stop by OMSA Gallery or the PAMM on your cultural journey take a moment to connect and gauge your response. Discover the profound connection between art and emotional response without the need for an fMRI or
The importance of recognizing art not just as a historical record or a source of inspiration but seeing it as a valuable tool for nurturing the mind, the body, and our spirit.
Stay inspired,
Daniella Sforza
Director or Exhibitions
OPENING EVENTS FOR FEMALE, FIGURATIVELY EXHIBIT
12.02.23
Opening Exhibit to the Public
We welcomed our artists, Friends and families who turned out in a beautiful opening for our new director’s pivotal Female, Figuratively Exhibit.
We appreciate all those who showed up and enjoyed a soulful evening of conversation and mingling with the beautiful female artists who grace OMSA Gallery’s space.
This was a soulful evening to open a soulful exhibit.
11.30.23
Porsche and Art Night.
In an delightful show of enthusiasts OMSA Gallery welcomed a bevy of Porsche collectors and drivers who revved up the energy enjoying some ceviche from the amazing Peruvian fusion, Divino Gastropub, while marveling at their state of the art machines, and also enjoying and even collecting some art as apex of the evening.
We look forward to our next gathering with you!
12.01.23
Chef’s Table with Artist Present
An amazing night of firsts. This memorable evening was the first and successful event to open our new director’s first exhibition with us at OMSA Gallery, for our invite only VIP collectors and future collectors.
This is a tradition we will uphold during 2024.
12.01.23
Chef’s Table with Artist Present (cont.)
Chef Vincent Gourmet (his real true family name that suits him well) gave a truly memorable
Chef’s Table and swept us all away with his menu of unparalleled dishes and pairings.
Our guest artist was on hand to meet and greet and get a chance to chat with her on her life’s work in an intimate setting.
Every exhibit, we will invite our VIP guests to enjoy this delightful evening among art and delicacies in a truly sensorial experience.