The Still Point Gallery on West Main introduced a new monthly series this week called Slow Looking, where visitors spend sixty minutes with one painting. No phones, no conversation, just a chair and the work. Owner Eliza Croft said the idea came after she noticed people averaging eight seconds per piece during First Friday. She wanted to offer something different.

The inaugural session featured a large oil by Livingston artist Jonah Velez titled “Irrigation Ditch at Dusk.” Twelve participants sat in a semicircle. Some closed their eyes for long stretches. Others sketched in small notebooks. Croft provided a bowl of herbal tea and a sign-in sheet for reflections.

Mara Lindquist, a physical therapist from Belgrade, drove in for the session. “I didn’t realize how much I rush through everything until I had to sit still that long,” she said. “The painting didn’t change, but I did.” She plans to return next month.

The gallery occupies a former auto parts store with the original concrete floors and high windows. Croft kept the patina. She also sells locally made ceramic mugs and offers a small selection of adaptogenic tinctures near the entrance. A quartz cluster sits on the front desk, catching afternoon light.

Next month’s piece will be a textile work incorporating wool from sheep grazed on the Gallatin Valley floor. Croft said she hopes the series becomes a quiet anchor in a season of constant building. The gallery will remain open regular hours for those who prefer a faster pace.

The tea was good. The chair was comfortable.