You can’t change the direction of the wind, but you can adjust your sails to always reach your destination.
~ Jimmy Dean
This has been a wonky start to a new year (of course, this is subjective and just from my point of view). But we’re just into March now. I’ve heard that March is when things start to shift. January is technically the start of the year, but let’s be honest – there’s a holiday hangover, a sluggish return to routine, and a whole lot of winter hibernation. February? Often still dark and slow. But March – March has momentum.
- This week’s artist is – Fabian Oefner – whose sculptural ode to painting (vibrant brushstrokes floating in resin cubes) really caught my eye. See even more on his website!
- Michelangelo Buonarroti would have been 550 on Thursday!
- Here’s a list of copyright free image sources.
- Apparently the Great Wall of China is 300 years older than previously believed! (It might be better called the Long Wall.)
- New fresco discovered in Pompeii.
- And a 300-year old sketch was discovered in the trash.
- This map lets you see different countries accurately scaled against each other. From the description: “Every map projection introduces distortion, and each has its own set of problems. One of the most common criticisms of the Mercator map Mercator map is that it exaggerates the size of countries nearer the poles (US, Russia, Europe), while downplaying the size of those near the equator (the African Continent).
- A Robert Frost poem from 1918, ironically entitled “Nothing New”, has been published for the first time in the New Yorker’s 100th anniversary issue. (You can also read it here, if you don’t have a New Yorker account.)
- The Underwater Photographer of the Year contest is entering it’s 60th year!
- Just for fun, today is “Learn What Your Name Means Day” – a special day that encourages us to explore the meanings and origins of our names.
Fun Fact: The Bayeux Tapestry, which is about 230 feet long, is not technically a tapestry but an embroidered cloth that depicts the events leading up to the Norman conquest of England in 1066.- In case you haven’t heard, there’s a new ceramic shop in town! Jill opened Nook Ceramics over in Bodo Park and has classes and workshops available. Check out her website to find out more.
- It’s time for the 20th Durango Independent Film Festival! Starting today, it’s running from the 5th till the 9th, at both the DAC and the Gaslight Theaters. Some films are free and open to the public while others require having a film pass. Find out more at their website. (Tonight they’re kicking off with a free movie night at 6:30.)
- There’s a Spanish conversation hour at the Durango Library on the first and third Thursday of each month. If you want to practice conversations en español in an informal setting. All language levels welcome! 5:30-6:30.
- Friday is a free family date night at Sunnyside Library. Go watch “Lady and the Tramp” and enjoy a free spaghetti dinner.
- Saturday, head to Blue Rain Gallery (934 Main Ave) to see Eunika Rogers painting photorealistic landscapes with clay.
- Friday is a free family date night at Sunnyside Library. Go watch “Lady and the Tramp” and enjoy a free spaghetti dinner.
- There are lots of live music events, open mics, live jam sessions, etc, scattered about the area throughout the week. There are too many to list here, so if you’re looking for such things, head over to WhatsHappeningDurango.com.
- There are classes/workshops/projects available at the 4 Corners Gem and Mineral Club, the Bayfield Library, Create Art and Tea, the Dancing Spirit Center for the Arts, Durango Sustainable Goods, Let’s Letter Together, the MakerLab, Picasso & Vino, the Scrapbook Nook, Seed Studio, and the Durango Arts Center. There are a lot more things happening that I don’t include – so if you’re ever looking for something to do, start at WhatsHappeningDurango.com.
- We’ve tested out these notebooks from Denik a few months ago and loved the paper. So we’re thrilled to finally have some available in the store!
- “Ghosting” on glass happens when artwork releases gases over time—a process called outgassing. These gases can create a hazy or foggy residue on the inside of the glass, especially if the piece was framed before fully drying or if materials like fresh paint, varnish, or adhesives are trapped in an airtight space. This is a piece of old glass with a black board behind it to show the “ghosting”.
March is the month to shake off the fog and get serious about your creative year. Not just doing more, but making sure you’re doing the right things. It doesn’t matter how fast you’re moving if you’re headed in the wrong direction.
Perhaps that means you need to invest in your vision. Outline, refine, and map out where you want to take your creative pursuits – whether it’s a career, passion project, or something completely different. Take the time to make the clarity to create work that truly matters. Because the world needs your art!
Matthew & the Art Supply House crew