I don't seek, I find

Last Saturday I spent the weekend in Salisbury, NC, where I grew up.

I attended an exhibition at Waterworks Visual Arts Center.

It was called Modern Masterpieces, the collection of Julian and Josie Robertson. Julian was born and raised in Salisbury.

This collection was diverse in various styles.

It had some lovely abstract works by Kandinsky, Chagall, Picasso and other more realistic and impressionist paintings by Renoir and Monet.

There were two Kandinsky paintings, one very modern in the abstract style he helped to create, yet the other one was a scene of boats at a dock in very bold yellows, oranges and blues, in an impressionistic style.

It was not a painting I would have attributed to him, knowing his more famous works of geometric shapes.

Of the four Picassos there was a one in a portrait style, with realistic features not rearranged as would become his signature style known as Cubism.

The early works of Kandinsky and Picasso were beautiful. These artists were on their path go pioneering their later famous styles.

This concept of discovery is similar to the treasure hunt approach that is at the heart of Chapter 7 in Why Greatness Cannot be Planned.

I think art is a wonderful example of this.

Picasso didn't set out to create Cubism.

He tried many things and followed his interest and passions, collecting technique and stylistic treasures along the way that led him to his great achievement.

This quote caught my attention in this chapter:

“If discovery without explicit objectives is the guiding light of natural evolution and of human innovation, then we might harness it for our own purposes."

Perhaps Picasso said it best himself, “I don't seek, I find.”

For me, the exhibit was itself a way of finding.

There were several paintings that I loved by artists that I did not know.

This one by Ludwig Meidner, Landscape with Birch Trees, held my attention.

It is reminiscent of Van Gogh’s work in the blues and yellows.

I found it fascinating to study and imagine both peaceful and stormy scenarios.

I regularly take myself on artist dates.

Usually they don't involve such famous artists in my hometown, but they do expose my brain to inspiration.

These dates allow me to see what is possible and help me dream big.

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Cyndi