Contemplating Emily Mason
Lignite, 1968, Oil on canvas, 50 x 41 in., photo by Dan Bradica, New York, NY, courtesy of Miles McEnery Gallery, New York, NY © 2024 Emily Mason | Alice Trumbull Mason Foundation/ARS. Thank you for giving me permission to feature Emily’s work.
Welcome! This blog features a contemplative art meditation audio (below).
Contemplating Emily Mason
Contemplative art practices encourage deep reflection, mindfulness and inner awareness. Importantly, they emphasise authentic engagement and a conscious connection between the artwork and our inner landscape. The focus is on the artwork's essence, rather than adherence to historical norms, or sensibilities.
This approach provides an opportunity to experience art intuitively; it invites an exploration of interpretations, connections, and responses through the senses, rather than just the intellect.
I invite you to participate in a brief contemplative art experience… Please take a moment to find a comfortable seat, and click on the audio below to explore the essence of "Lignite, 1968" (see above), by Emily Mason, followed by my own experience of her painting in the narrative below.
Contemplating ‘Lignite’
“As Emily's ‘Lignite’ slowly seeps into my consciousness, it gently stirs a full-bodied reaction that engages multiple senses. The symbolism of coal, so beautifully captured through rich tones and earthy colours, evoke a sense of deep-time. I am taken on a journey through multiple layers of emotion, followed by expansive textured landscapes.
As I rest for a while within Emily’s painting, the earth’s rock formations evoke a distant memory of forgotten places. I reflect upon a feeling of enduring loss, as I consider the transient nature of belonging.
I am drawn to contemplate my own relationship with time, and I feel the impermanent, fleeting nature of the delicate present moment…
As I continue to gaze upon "Lignite," a sense of spaciousness begins to unfold; a feeling of being (re)connected to something unexplainable flows through my body, and sensations of elusive light guide my attention even deeper into the painting.
As I become immersed in ‘Lignite’, time and space seems to fade; replaced by an overwhelming sense of peace–emanating from within.” Anna
Emily Mason
Emily Mason, born in New York (1932-2019), is associated with the American abstract expressionist movement. My initial fascination with Mason's work stemmed from encountering the exhibition "The Thunder Hurried Slow" at the Miles McEnery Gallery in New York (December 14th to January 3rd, 2024). The title of the exhibition intrigued me, as I have a deep appreciation for Emily Dickinson's poetry.
Emily Mason captivates our attention
"Pleasure Garden," 1970, oil on canvas, 52 x 44 in., photo by Dan Bradica, New York, NY, courtesy of Miles McEnery Gallery, New York, NY © 2024 Emily Mason | Alice Trumbull Mason Foundation/ARS. Permission has been obtained to feature this work.
Emily’s ‘Pleasure Garden’ possesses:
A Presence that disturbs me with joy
Of elevated thoughts; a sense sublime…
(ref.1) Quote: William Wordsworth.
Humans naturally feel uncomfortable with uncertainty. Abstract art, unless explained, can sometimes leave viewers feeling uneasy, leading to avoidance. Mason’s vibrant colours, cadence, and sense of harmony are an invitation that draws the viewer into her world, and yet, at times, her work also instills uncertainty, due to its lack of definition or explanation.
Feeling uncomfortable with the unknown tends to evoke a visceral response in our nervous system that is hard to ignore. Instead of resisting these sensations, contemplative practices encourage us to meet these emotions, but without judgement or attachment, just awareness.
When we draw upon mindfulness techniques, such as softening our gaze, slowing the breath, and letting go of expectation - difficult emotions begin to move and flow through us - and gradually - a sense of space emerges, which can elicit a new perspective, or a series of unique artful experiences.
In my view, Emily Mason uses colour and composition to invite us to contemplate the liminal space between what is known, and what is continually unfolding in the realm of infinite possibility.
Her compositions evoke a sense of depth and stillness, grounding us in the present moment. Simultaneously, the vibrant interplay of colour with shape in ‘Pleasure Garden’ suggests movement and fluidity, inviting us to transition into a state of flow. Instead of prompting a reaction that leads to a retreat from experience, conversely - Mason's work encourages us to delve into the myriad layers of mystery behind every layered colour, tone, and line. The interplay of light and dark shades provide bridges—allowing us to traverse safely between different spaces; offering moments for rest and contemplation.
The Thunder Hurried Slow
The Thunder Hurried Slow, 1978, Oil on canvas, 54 x 54 inches., photo by Dan Bradica, New York, NY, courtesy of Miles McEnery Gallery, New York, NY © 2024 Emily Mason | Alice Trumbull Mason Foundation/ARS. Permission has been obtained to feature this work.
Mason’s vibrant bursts of red in ‘The Thunder Hurried Slow’ act as anchor points – moments of respite amidst the thunder’s impending chaos. It is as if Emily Mason has crafted an experience – rather than an object, as she invites us to hover between reaction and immersion.
Mason’s work possesses an energy that compels repeated investigation!
Certain works of art can be transformative, reaching deep into our psyche and altering who we are. Sometimes, we can't articulate what has changed, but nevertheless - we know we've been moved to feel something profound.
This is how I feel when I engage with Emily Mason’s work.
My next blog considers why nature is a key theme in contemplative art. You can keep an eye on my instagram feed for updates.
Thank you to Miles McEnery Gallery, New York, NY and Emily Mason | Alice Trumbull Mason Foundation/ARS for agreeing to let me feature Emily’s work - it has been an absolute honour!
References:
Ref.1: “Tintern Abbey” by William Wordsworth (1798) Lines Composed a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey, On Revisiting the Banks of the Wye during a Tour. July 13, 1798.
Meditation Music Credit: Adrift, by Christopher Lloyd Clarke. Licensed by Enlightened Audio