04 Sep Art Passport #6: Read, Roam, Reflect
By Barbara K. Stump, MA
Are you a book club reader? Or, like me, did you read an interesting book on your own over the summer? If you did, I hope you found a good read and thoroughly enjoyed it. If not, why would reading a book be beneficial to you? Did you know that reading can be therapeutic? This type of therapy is called bibliotherapy. Psychology Today explains that bibliotherapy, “can be applied to patients suffering from anxiety, depression, or other mood disorders: those struggling with trauma or addiction; or those going through grief, a divorce, or other relationship-related challenges.”
Newberry Award recipient, Richard Peck once said, “When I read a good book, it’s like traveling the world without ever leaving my chair.” A good book can teleport us to places we have never seen before, because reading expands our horizons. It allows us to figuratively leave our everyday lives and temporarily escape into another world. Mason Cooley also expanded on this by saying, “Reading gives us someplace to go when we have to stay where we are.”
Speaking of having to stay put, I was recently asked by a new mother, and a former colleague, what advice do I have for how to balance being with your own children and working full time? One of the most important pieces of advice, from my own experience I could give to her, was to not skip the nightly story time. There were a few other key elements I weaved into my response, but for me, this was one I felt should be a priority. For my family, it was such a peaceful way to end the day. It also provided some precious one-on-one time for me with both of my kids when they were younger. They both grew into independent readers, and this was beneficial for them in school as well. Although, becoming an independent reader does not just happen overnight. You have to foster it daily, by reading to your children, and being excited about reading to them. Take your kids to your local library, help them get a library card…yes, these still exist! Assist them in checking out books while you are there. Also, by modeling reading yourself, your children will see this is something they can do for the rest of their lives!
So, if you’re going to model being a reader to your young family, do yourself a favor and choose books which allow you to“travel.” Why not mentally escape to some heavenly destination you would love to go? Paris? Santorini? Oahu? Southern California? Or, perhaps Savannah?
In this blog, I’m going to advocate for reading to travel to various places until you have the opportunity to visit them in person. If one of your books inspires you to visit the location, and are able to do so some day, then go for it! Afterwards take the time to reflect on the entire experience, both the book and your travels, through an art journal.
On a recent trip to visit some dear friends, who moved to Charleston, South Carolina, they planned a few days for us to see Savannah, Georgia. While we were in Savannah, our friends suggested I read the book Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, by John Berendt. There was a part of me that wished I had read this book before our visit. However, having our gracious, tour guide friends point out different landmarks mentioned in the book, I was able to file these images away until I could read it this summer. It was engaging to be able to visualize different settings as they were described throughout the novel. I can’t complain about the setting I was reading the novel from either. Summer reads at the lake, or at a beach setting are the best!
Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, is a captivating book, especially if you like whodunits. The plot circles around the murder that actually occurred at the Mercer-William House, in Savannah, Georgia. This home is best known as the residence of Jim Williams, and the scene of the death of Danny Hansford. This red brick, Italianate Villa-style, mansion is located in Monterey Square. Below are pictures I took of the Mercer-William House and Monterey Square.
The Mercer Williams House has a tie to a famous musician, Johnny Mercer, known for many songs including, “Moon River” which your parents or grandparents are probably more familiar with than you. It is a beautiful lyrical song. I have heard it before, back when my parents had a record player! The book explains that even though Johnny Mercer did not live in the house, during his lifetime, the Mercer Mansion was originally built for General Hugh Mercer, the great-grandfather of Johnny Mercer. In 1969, Jim Williams purchased the home, and put an enormous amount of effort into restoring it to be an elegant mansion. Below is a statue of Johnny Mercer we saw while on our walking tour of the city.
Reading can help us to visualize places when we are unable to see them in person, or until we can travel there ourselves. This was my first visit to Savannah, and the way it is described in the book is authentic to the history, the ambience, and the overall charm. One of the highlights included seeing the various squares with statues and fountains. In 1733, James Oglethorpe, the founder of the colony of Georgia, first designed four squares in Savannah, and two more in 1736. The plan allowed for expansion, and today there are 22 squares remaining of the once expanded 24. There are also large live oak trees throughout the city covered in Spanish moss. This is both haunting and beautiful.
While we were in Savannah we did get to roam other areas mentioned in the book, including Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). Having been an art teacher for over 30 years, it was cool to see the college campus where some of my high school students had attended. The expansion of this art school from something very small to what it is today was mentioned several times in Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. The city is filled with art students as well as alumni artists. While we were strolling the city, I was able to purchase some new swag at the SCAD store.
Also written about in the book was the “Southern Hospitality.” This included delicious food and parties galore. Seeing the beautiful homes and gardens, eating various sweet treats, and sampling cocktails along the way; it was easy to see why people love the city of Savannah. I have never been to a city quite as charming as sweet Savannah!
I’m so glad we had the opportunity to visit Savannah and read Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. As part of my year in postcards, which I shared in an earlier blog, I created one for the month of April, titled Southern Charms. Visiting Savannah, and reading about the city in a fictional novel, influenced what I chose to illustrate. Below is my work in progress and my final postcard. Taking the time to reflect on the experience through artwork allowed me to reminisce about how unique Savannah truly is, and to appreciate the sights our friends shared with us during our visit. Roaming this city with them was an adventure I will remember with great fondness.
If you need to “stay put” and are unable to travel right now, finding a good book to read is a great source of bibliotherapy for you! Creating artwork to reflect can be done at any time. My postcard is just a mini-painting, but you could make something much larger! Maybe you’ll want to frame it, for inspiration, of where you would like to visit someday. This artwork could go in your office, bedroom, or any other space it might brighten up in your home. Dr. Rudine Sims Bishop, professor of education at Ohio State University, and also known as the “mother of” multicultural children’s literature for her research in American children’s literature, is quoted as saying books are like windows. “These windows are also sliding glass doors, and readers have only to walk through in imagination to become part of whatever world has been created or recreated by the author.” The benefits of reading are numerous, and it is also good for your mental well-being. So, take that trip, if only in your mind right now. Visit your dream destination through reading a book that captures this setting. Hopefully the plot will be as intriguing as the location. Who knows? You just might find out, being a reader is worth the journey!
