How We Respond to Art
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Photographs by Bobby Doherty
The deep emotions inspired by looking at a painting, listening to a symphony or reading a poem expand our sense of who we are and how we might live our lives. We asked the readers of At Home to tell us about transformative experiences they’ve had in the presence of art. Here’s what they said.
I’ll never forget watching my first play, “Death of a Salesman.” I was a 12-year-old who had experienced way too much trauma from growing up with an alcoholic father. Leaning over the rail of the balcony, sitting on that hard seat, I was mesmerized. Something in my emotional DNA was transforming. Watching Willy Loman unveiled, for me, the part of my father that was sad and hurting. That play taught me empathy.