The Rothko Chapel

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rothko_Chapel#mediaviewer/File:Rothko_Chapel_1.jpg

(unfortunately, not everyone is generous with their images)

The Rothko Chapel

I need to learn more about the incredible artist, Mark Rothko. What I do know about this artist is that he tried to take his art to the highest spiritual level possible. I also know the more famous his work became, the more depressed he was. His intense color-field studies lead him to search for altered states of consciousness. Who knows what he might have discovered if his cancer and alcoholism didn't get in the way. People try to dramatize artists' suicide but in the case of Rothko, this was not a tragic end where the artist gave up on life. He was simply hurting from all the ailments and decided to end his suffering when the doctors said there was nothing more they could do for him.

When I stand in front of a Rothko painting, the art feels alive, like a living, breathing entity. I've experienced a "life" feeling from many ancient artifacts in the past from visiting different museums  and working on digs but never like the paintings at the Rothko Chapel in Houston, Texas. It's as if these paintings have become living, breathing creatures.

"I realize that historically the function of painting large pictures is painting something very grandiose and pompous. The reason I paint them, however . . . is precisely because I want to be very intimate and human. To paint a small picture is to place yourself outside your experience, to look upon an experience as a stereopticon view or with a reducing glass. However you paint the larger picture, you are in it. It isn’t something you command!" - rothko

The Rothko Chapel in Houston was built to house the last 14 of Rothko's "black - color paintings". The building is both a non-denominational chapel and museum. It's a very quiet place. They hold ceremonies and other activities but most of the time the place is somewhat empty. Most people go there to view the paintings after leaving the Menil collection which is in the next building. I always visit this chapel because I love the vibes in the room. They rearrange the chairs all the time for different events but when there's nothing eventful happening, they place a Zafu cushion in the center of the room for anyone who cares to sit and meditate.

On one particular weekday visit to the Rothko, I noticed the cushion was out and no one was in the building. Opportunity!!! This was a perfect time for me to really experience these mysterious paintings. I had just lost my job. I was teaching art history at a technical school in 2002 when my employer cut the arts out of the curriculum. I was feeling very poor and unemployed. I was depressed for months and found myself going over to the museum every week and lecturing to the security guards. (Some of them appreciated this...others ran!) I had always stopped by the Rothko chapel to say 'hi' to the paintings, but this time I sat down. The paintings in this small chapel are arranged around the room so when I sat in the center of the room there was Rothko's color field in every part of my vision. There was a strange hum from the AC units in the back and the huge paintings towered over me like giant, silent creatures.    I shut my eyes.

When I came out of the meditation, there was a staff worker standing over me with a concerned look on his face. As soon as he saw me open my eyes, he turned and walked away without saying a word. I had trouble standing up so I took my time. I felt drunk! I didn't realize that maybe I was keeping the staff later than they planned to stay. When I sat down on the cushion, it was early afternoon. When I left the chapel, it was twilight. I had no idea that I had been on that cushion for so long. I sat on a bench outside the chapel and watched the staff lock the building for the night. I decided I needed to wait a little while before driving home. I have no recollection of where my mind went for those five hours but I do know those paintings are even more important to me after this experience. It's like I know them now and we're friends. I know Mark Rothko said his intention for the Rothko Chapel would be the highest achievement of his career. This is how seriously he took this project and for that, I'm very grateful.