The Van Gogh Immersive Experience

 Hello everyone, Winnie Griggs here.

Last weekend one of my daughters and I made the four hour trip to Dallas to see the Van Gogh Immersive Experience museum exhibit.  First of all I really enjoyed the road trip itself. It’s always fun to spend one-on-one time with one of my kids. The drive time flew by as it always does when you’re with good company and having fun.

The exhibit itself was amazing. Of course, being a big fan of Van Gogh's work I was predisposed to like it going in. And scattered throughout, along with copies of his paintings, were quotes credited to him. Some were on the practical, even prosaic side, some were thought provoking. And most could be applied to the writer's life as well as the painter's. So I captured a few of my favorites and was inspired to look up a few others when I got home.

We were allowed to take pictures and both me and my daughter took tons. So today I thought I’d share a few photos with you, interspersed with some of those quotes.  

And as for the applicability to writing, many of the quotes could apply to writers as well as painters. And viewing these images, whether you like them or not, can help refill that well of creativity and help you look at ordinary things in a new way.

Me inside a painting :) 

The Immersion Room

And here are some other great quotes from Van Gogh:

• There is nothing more truly artistic than to love people.
   
• I would rather die of passion than of boredom.
  
  
• If you hear a voice within you say you cannot paint, then by all means paint and that voice will be silenced.
   
• Normality is a paved road: It’s comfortable to walk, but no flowers grow on it.
  
  
•  What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?
   
• The fishermen know that the sea is dangerous and the storm terrible, but they have never found these dangers sufficient reason for remaining ashore.
   
• I am seeking, I am striving, I am in it with all my heart.
   
• Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brought together.
   
• I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it.
   
• I want to touch people with my art. I want them to say 'he feels deeply, he feels tenderly'.
   
• If I am worth anything later, I am worth something now. For wheat is wheat, even if people think it is a grass in the beginning.
   
• Exaggerate the essential, leave the obvious vague.
   
• I am still far from being what I want to be, but with God's help I shall succeed.
   
• So often, a visit to a bookshop has cheered me, and reminded me that there are good things in the world.
   
• Don't lose heart if it's very difficult at times, everything will come out all right and nobody can in the beginning do as he wishes
   
• One must work and dare if one really wants to live
   
• What is done in love is done well.
   
• As we advance in life it becomes more and more difficult, but in fighting the difficulties the inmost strength of the heart is developed.
   
• Seek only light and freedom and do not immerse yourself too deeply in the worldly mire.
   
• Success is sometimes the outcome of a whole string of failures.
   
• Do not quench your inspiration and your imagination; do not become the slave of your model.
   
• I long so much to make beautiful things. But beautiful things require effort and disappointment and perseverance.

And just for fun, here is a link to 'Vincent', one of my favorite songs

I hope you enjoyed this quick look at my little weekend adventure, even if the pictures don't really do the exhibit justice. Are you familiar with Van Gogh's work, beyond Starry Night? Did any of the quotes resonate with you?

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