Quick seat Chair: Something To Do While Waiting How To Be An Art Detective:
By Khadi Madama Quick-Seat Chair Wellness Coordinator
I always love having a plan for when I have to be out and about. Especially if I know that there may be a
wait. Of course I always bring a few things with me that I can enjoy. A small book to read, a small
notebook for ideas that come into my head and so on. But, there’s another way that I love to spend the
time that I wait, wisely, and that is the fine art of being an Art Detective. At Quick-Seat Chairs we pride
ourselves in helping make any waiting time that you encounter more safe, comfortable and accessible
through the benefits of our temporary seats. Easy to open out from the wall. Ample seating area that is
sturdy and safe. Its clean design conforming to ADA standards for infection control and its hands-free to
open and self closure. But that’s just the physical component. We also like to help making those waiting
times more enjoyable, maybe even refreshing through tried and true methods that have worked over the
years in hospitals, rehab centers, medical care centers and large complexes where wait times can be
trying. One of my favorites is Art Detectives. So much so that I created a small club of like minded
friends for once a month gatherings for just that purpose. Detecting Art. Here’s how you can enjoy this
pastime all on your own when out and about, for almost every environment has art on their walls to be
enjoyed in this special way, even if you don’t like it.
First: See if you can locate who the artist is if it isn’t too high or far away for you to see. That way, you
can go back later and check more information about the painting’s history. Best not to do that first because
you want to look at the paining fresh with no inclinations.
Second: Decide on a painting to “Detect.” It doesn’t matter whether you like the paining or dislike it, in
fact, sometimes the paintings that you dislike the most offer the most hidden and fun secrets. Most
paintings contain what I call, The Hidden Triangle. Here is where the artist has used a particular color in
the painting placing the color in three different sections of the painting. Keep in mind that the triangle
may not be equal on all three sides. Sometimes its longer on one side than the others. That’s OK, the same
principle will apply. There may even be more than one triangle. The main one will be more prominent
than the others even though it may be difficult at first to find it. I believe that they are a secret diversion
that the artist wants you to follow to find aspects of the painting.
Third: Take notice of the colors in the painting. If it’s a medieval painting, the colors may have been
created by mixing various earth elements from shells, stones, and plants and you can look that up later.
Fourth: Trying to delve into the mind of the painter, what do you feel he or she was trying to convey. In
medieval times and into the Renaissance painters, often the artist was commissioned to do paintings by
their benefactors, not what they wanted to personally paint. This caused them to use other factors such as
geometry, symbols, and unusual colors to create a painting using their special techniques, even when they
were painting something for hire. It afforded them a secret way of expressing themselves while making
their benefactors happy.
Lastly: When time permits, ask yourself what you like about the paining, not IF you like the whole
paining. What do you dislike about the painting even if you overall like it.
Art Detectives was a program that I developed years ago for groups at assisted living residences, and it
was always a wonderful time for all and it will work anywhere, especially in waiting rooms and along
hallways where we at Quick-Seat Chair hope there is ample comfortable seating available and if there
isn’t, we hope that you will “paint a picture” of the benefits of having Quick-Seat Chairs. For those who
still need to sit due to mobility issues, fatigue and onset of weakness, and for all of the tomorrows to come
for others who may be at risk, don’t be afraid to suggest the Quick-Seat Chair. No one should have to wait
for long on their feet.
Temporary Seating that closes itself