This essay was so beautiful, Amy! I realized that we share more than birthdays. I, too, have an internal voice that won’t shut up - and yes, it does sometimes drive me crazy! Diverting books, read and listened to, and movies, too, are ways to shut it off briefly, but you taught me why art is such a comfort, too (and your Dad and I well know the joys of music as distraction!).
I, too, had an encounter with Rothko when I was young - I was living in London on a theater fellowship and I used my days between shows to walk London and visit museums. One day at the original Tate Museum, I stumbled into its Rothko room and found a kind of peace I had rarely known. I also finally understood what it was to feel without words, just as you said. It was an epiphany for me in understanding abstract art - I didn’t need to verbalize it - the feelings were enough. I’ve never forgotten it. Glad to know we are kindred spirits in more ways than one.
This essay was so beautiful, Amy! I realized that we share more than birthdays. I, too, have an internal voice that won’t shut up - and yes, it does sometimes drive me crazy! Diverting books, read and listened to, and movies, too, are ways to shut it off briefly, but you taught me why art is such a comfort, too (and your Dad and I well know the joys of music as distraction!).
I, too, had an encounter with Rothko when I was young - I was living in London on a theater fellowship and I used my days between shows to walk London and visit museums. One day at the original Tate Museum, I stumbled into its Rothko room and found a kind of peace I had rarely known. I also finally understood what it was to feel without words, just as you said. It was an epiphany for me in understanding abstract art - I didn’t need to verbalize it - the feelings were enough. I’ve never forgotten it. Glad to know we are kindred spirits in more ways than one.
And yes, the name of this post is an homage to this absolute banger of a ballad by Extreme: https://youtube.com/watch?v=UrIiLvg58SY&si=EnSIkaIECMiOmarE