7 Reflection on Learning: Visiting the Stanley Museum

As a class we went to visit the Stanley art museum. This visit allowed me to understand the connection between art and healing in a deeper way. In class we had been discussing the aspects of art associated with health and the different ways art can impact illness. When I was at the museum the art piece that stuck out to me was the casket in the shape of a fish. At first I did not know what the art piece was for but after learning it was for burial purposes I understood how important it really was. Typically when someone is buried they are in a normal casket that is shaped as a rectangle but this culture shaped their caskets into something their loved one cherished. Learning these details brought a new light onto death and the expectance of burial. Having a loved one pass away can be very difficult so being able to lay them to rest in something meaningful can help with grief. Knowing that the person you love has been placed into an object that represents them as their resting place creates a celebration rather than sadness. Viewing the art piece helped me understanding how some cultures deal with grief, it also helped me reflect on my personal experiences and the way death tends to be looked at.