I discovered the above public art structure on one of my walks along the waterfront. I didn't see the title nor the artist's name at the site so I looked it up. From what I could find online, I believe it's the work of Alice Aycock, an American sculptor who recently presented some of of her work in an exhibition entitled The Turbulence Series in New York.
This art work made me think of words such as spin, whirl, twist, tornado, white, force, centrifuge, wind, as well as the expression "give it a whirl" as in give something a try for the first time.
When we give something new a whirl, it stirs up our regular routine or our normal environment. It engages our senses and makes us pay attention. It can also be disturbing because we're dealing with the unknowns. However, we usually learn something new from the experience.
I believe it's necessary for us to give it a whirl from time to time. It doesn't have to be something big and scary. It can be as simple as walking a new route, trying a new healthy recipe, or figuring out how to use a new tool.
For example, this month I gave the following a whirl:
- I added a small new exercise to my workout routine. It required me to coordinate my limbs, alternate left side right side, and keep count (while remember to breathe).
- I used a new selfie stick for the first time. It's simple to set up but I'm still practicing getting the pictures the way I like.
- I walked a new route and discovered the above art structure, which led me to learn more about the artist's work, and inspired me to write about it. Could this potentially be a new win circle for me?
- Inject freshness into our routine
- Engage our senses and stretch our mind (ever heard of brain plasticity?)
- Explore and discover something new that may be enjoyable
- Practice how we handle changes and become more resilient
- Appreciate what we have even more
How about you? Have you given something new a whirl recently? Please share.
Great minds! I am planning to try to do this 'give it a whirl' business once a month...baby steps!! Have been reading about how beneficial it can be. Glad to read some of your new whirls.
ReplyDeleteLovely sculpture. As shame it isn't identified where the piece stands.
Baby steps are the way to give it a whirl. Thanks, Leslie, for dropping by.
DeleteI do it a lot. I just get bored easily - so even going to the supermarket, I'll go in different suburbs just to see what's there (if I'm passing)
ReplyDeleteWell done, Lydia! I bet there is always something new going on in the different suburbs that you pass.
DeleteLoved this Natalie. The sculpture is so interesting but I enjoyed how you tied it in to 'giving things a whirl' in life. There is always something new to try or look at and as you say it doesn't have to be more than perhaps walking a different way. Have a fabulous week.
ReplyDeleteSue from Sizzling Towards 60 & Beyond
Glad you enjoyed my post, Sue. Thank you for dropping by.
DeleteHi Natalie, thanks for linking up your post to #MLSTL and I've shared on social media. Have a great week! x
DeleteThank you, Sue, for hosting and sharing. You have a great week, too!
DeleteI love that sculpture, and I've never seen it in person. One look at it here and I felt like it captured everything I've got whirling around me right now. Off to look up the artist, thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThe sculpture is really nice IRL, Melissa. I didn't post here but there is a series of gigantic white aluminum clusters of flowers trailing from the sculpture. Hope everything works out for you. Thank you for dropping by.
DeleteGreat sculpture. Feeling like my Monday brain may actually be that sculpture. Off to write my lists to stop the whirling
ReplyDeleteGood idea to ease your mind, Leanne. Hope your week gets better. Thank you for stopping by.
DeleteHmmm, as soon as I saw your photo, I pictured my five-year-old grandson trying to climb the sculpture! I’m sure that is not the kind of “give it a whirl” that you had in mind.
ReplyDeleteJude
Ah, the children's intuitive way to give it a whirl is something we need to re-surface in our adult life. Thanks, Jude, for dropping by.
DeleteI love your description of what the sculpture made you feel and think of, Natalie. I find that I only really ponder a sculpture fully when I see them on my own walks / runs. I'm always in such a rush to 'see everything' in galleries and museums.
ReplyDeleteSSG xxx
You just pointed out one of the benefits of walking or running is to be able to pause any time we want to. Some art works make an impression on viewers. This is one of them for me. Thanks, SSG, for dropping by.
DeleteI've grown too comfortable in myself lately so you've inspired me to take a chance and give something new a whirl!
ReplyDeleteThat's great, Kirsty! Hope you pick something fun and enjoy. Thanks for dropping by.
DeleteThank you for sharing this intriguing sculpture, Natalie. Thank you also for the very timely reminder! I just signed up for the 'A to Z Blogging Challenge 2018'. That's my bit for giving things 'a whirl'! I like the potential benefits that you list for giving new things a try. Still, trying out unfamilar things can be scary stuff!
ReplyDeleteI'll be following along to support you with your A to Z Blogging Challenge, Donna. Thank you for stopping by.
DeleteOoh, I never would hve thought of "Give it a Whirl" until you said it and it describes the sculpture perfectly! Hmm... I'm about to do my first CPR course so that might be something that I'm "giving a whirl".
ReplyDeleteCPR course is informative and it builds confidence. I hope you enjoy it. Thanks, Katherine, for dropping by.
DeleteI love this post. I do try to vary some things in my daily life to add challenges and this is part of my creative life via photography and art. Thanks for your lovely suggestions! Thank you for linking up for #ltw 12/52. Next week's optional prompt (& marking 1/4 of way through 2018!) is "origin of my name'. Denyse x
ReplyDeleteCreating something new via photography and art is a wonderful way to expand our minds, Denyse. Thank you for stopping by.
DeleteI love giving new things a go! Most of the time it's worth while and gives a good feeling, even though it does feel a little daunting and may be out of my comfort zone.
ReplyDeleteGood for you, Alicia, for giving new things a go. Sometimes we need to push ourselves a little bit. Thank you for dropping by.
DeleteI love this Natalie--both the sculpture and your give-it-a-whirl spin on things. I have been trying a lot of new recipes lately and really enjoying the cooking and the eating. Now that the weather is starting to warm up a bit, I may switch up the route of my usual walk. Maybe I'll see something new and interesting. Thanks for the inspiration.
ReplyDeleteSo great that you've been trying a lot of new recipes, Christie, as you can really tailor them to compliment your exercise program. Enjoy your spring walks and I hope you find a new and interesting route.
DeleteI probably need to up my game in the give-it-a-whirl dept. I can't think of much that's new in my world (besides hospital visits!) Also, once you get the hang of the new selfie stick you'll have to put up a profile pic on your blog :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking up with us at #MLSTL and I've shared this on my SM xx
I hope you get your energy back soon, Leanne. Your taking on the 2018 A to Z Challenge sounds impressive to me. Thank you for hosting MLSTL and sharing.
DeleteI am sure I need to give a few new things a whirl. I do tend to get in a rut especially this time of year when I am waiting for sunny days. I enjoyed your post.
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed my post, Victoria. Small and manageable changes can make a difference and bring new energy which begets energy. Thank you for dropping by.
DeleteGreat sculpture. I am always trying to learn new things and go new places. It is something that I need to do or else, I drive myself crazy. #MLSTL
ReplyDeleteWell done, Patrick, and keep on learning new things and going to new places. Thank you for dropping by.
DeleteThat amazing sculpture did for you exactly what it was created to do: it caused you to reflect, think, imagine, and make changes in your life. Awesome. I love art!
ReplyDeleteArt certainly enriches us. Thanks, Amy, for visiting.
DeleteThere is something very playful about the phrase give it a whirl. I know many of us could use a bit more playfulness in our lives. That is an interesting sculpture and s great reflection about it! MLSTL#
ReplyDeleteYes to more playfulness and fun! Thanks, Michele, for dropping by.
DeleteGiving it a whirl is always a great idea. What a fabulous piece of sculpture. Amazing. I'd love to see some of the selfies you've taken with your new selfie stick. Looking forward to them.
ReplyDeleteShared on my twitter :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Kalpanaa, for visiting and sharing my post on your twitter. I seem to have more pictures to delete after taking my selfies, LOL. Will figure it out one day. At least I gave it a whirl.
DeleteI love the title you came up with for this piece of art. Very clever, creative and perfect! I think about swirl and tornado, seeing the work. As to giving something a whirl, your examples are awesome! I agree we all need to do this once in a while (or in our life this is sometimes a constant). Broaden our horizons and giving in to curiosity... I like that!
ReplyDeleteRecent examples: work on a translation job all weekend (advantage: money), visit a certain desert area for the first time (advantage: awe at the scenery and exercise through hiking), driving the owner of the house’s truck (advantage: gauging the road from a different perspective and learning to drive different vehicles).
Thanks, Liesbet, for sharing your great examples. I liked your desert pictures. Coincidentally, I went to a desert, too. I'll post some pictures next week.
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