Being Present with Art: Welcoming Change

About the Class

As summer shifts into autumn, we invite you to slow down through mindful engagement with art. Seasonal transitions heighten our awareness of change—in the natural world, in our routines, and within ourselves. This workshop, held in the Barnes galleries, offers a space for greater awareness of these changes.

Developed by Roksana Filipowska, Being Present with Art is a method that integrates mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) meditation with works of art and pedagogical exercises such as close looking and writing. Together, these practices have been shown to lower stress and encourage deeper observation, self-reflection, and a renewed sense of belonging.

As always with Being Present with Art workshops, we welcome both new and returning participants seeking to navigate seasonal change with greater presence. No prior experience with meditation or art history is required.

Capacity: 25

Barnes classes will:

• Sharpen your observational and critical-thinking skills.
• Improve your ability to communicate about art.
• Deepen your appreciation for cultures and histories outside your own.

See all classes.

What Students Are Saying

“Joe Tokumasu Field was a wonderful instructor. He’s patient, caring, and skilled at interacting with students’ questions and comments.” —The Japanese American Century with Joseph Tokumasu Field

“This was an exciting course with fascinating and informative lectures and well-chosen pictures. Franits is a brilliant teacher.” —17th-Century Dutch Art’s “Holy Trinity”: Hals, Rembrandt, and Vermeer with Wayne Franits

“The instructor was outstanding in every way—an expert in the subject, enthusiastic about the material, solicitous and supportive of students’ observations, and brilliant in expanding our discussion as warranted. The best Barnes instructor I’ve had, by far.” —The Nabis: Late 19th-Century Prophets of the New with Larissa Bailiff

“I enjoyed the course very much and liked how each week focused on a different topic relevant to the subject. Caterina is an engaging speaker, and you can tell she loves what she is teaching. Her enthusiasm and sense of humor come through.” —Famous Heists: Crimes in the History of Art with Caterina Pierre

“I felt at peace afterward and appreciated the art so much more than before.” —Being Present with Art: Cultivating Balance for Spring with Roksana Filipowska