Each morning we are born again. What we do today matters most.
~ Buddha
I recently heard an idea that was too thought provoking not to share. The premise starts with a year (365 days). We take 10% of those days and say that they’re our best 36 days each year – which also means there are 36 worst days. Divided out evenly into each month, and we have three of our best (and worst) days each month. That means that 3 out of 4 weeks will statistically have both one of the best and worst days of the year in it!
- This week’s artist is – Matt Roussel– who’s work I recently stumbled across. I was really taken with his use of materials – carving out a woodblock and then, instead of using it to print on paper, painting it as the piece of art. For even more, check out his website and instagram!
- Mimi Parent would have been 99 on Friday!
- It’s mesmerizing to watch David Nott create this beautiful rug art/sculpture.
- If you like pigments, here’s a history of smalt PB32.
- Henri Matisse worked in (at least) 8 distinctly different styles.
- In Tibet, when you reach a certain degree of venerableness and age, and people ask, “How are you?,” there is an expression that people use that means, “Just barely not dead.” Some people might be frightened by it but I think it’s quite funny. ~ Robert Thurman
- Printmaking with the sun. May or may not include turmeric.
- Never waste your midlife crisis.
- According to this article, a midlife crisis doesn’t trigger personality changes.
- Thoughts on building a creative practice – that will last (and maybe help extend) a lifetime!
Fun Fact: The world’s oldest known recipe is a beer recipe from ancient Sumeria, dating back to around 3,900 BCE.- Hear live music on Friday night’s at Fox Fire Farms! Music, food and wine. Free admission, seating on spacious lawn. Bring rain gear if there is a chance of rain. This week head out from 6-9 to hear the Jeff Solon Jazz Band.
- This weekend is the Silverton Creates celebration of the arts festival! It’s a weekend-long celebration showcasing local artists and creatives through a variety of events including an Open Studio Tour, Street Fair On Blair, live performances, workshops, demos and more. Friday and Saturday night will feature free, open-air concerts with the finale of our Summer Sounds Music Series! Come join us for crisp mountain air, vibrant fall foliage and a uniquely Silverton creative experience!
- The Durango Barbershoppers are having their first live event in a few years. If you’d like to experience their free concert, head up to the Fort Lewis Concert Hall on Saturday at 7:01.
- Community Harvest Days are still happening! The fruit trees in our region are ripe and ready, but we need hands to harvest! The Good Food Collective works to eliminate food waste, increase food security, and reduce bear-human conflict by helping to collect backyard produce. You can join in by visiting their website to find a list of available fruit trees for DIY harvest, rent gear, list your own tree, or by volunteering at one of their family-friendly Community Fruit Harvests.
- There’s a lot of live music around town. Check out WhatsHappeningDurango.com to find who, when, and where.
- Drop by Guild House Games on Monday from 6:30-9 for the free, weekly Chess Club.
- If you’re a beginner/intermediate acoustic music player looking to play more – head to the General Palmer on Tuesday from 5:30-7:30 for the Slow Bluegrass Jam. This weekly jam is welcoming to all players, with a focus on slower tempo improvisation solos and chord changes. If you can play the I, IV and V chords in G, D and A then you know enough to play at this jam!
- There are classes/workshops/projects available at the Dancing Spirit Community Arts Center, Let’s Letter Together, the Scrapbook Nook, Create Art and Tea, Durango Sustainable Goods the 4 Corners Gem and Mineral Club, 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 had some recent questions about mold-making materials for working with epoxy. Since you’ve been asking, we brought in a couple of different options! If you might need to make a mold of some sort, swing by to check out the rubber and putty to see which one will work best for you.
We’re statistically going to have one of our best and worst days 3 out of 4 weeks. That can be frustrating to hear – we’re likely to have one of our worst days from the whole year this week. But on the flip side – we’re just as likely to have one of our best days of the year this week. And if today ends up being one of those bad days? Tomorrow could be one of the good ones! Statistically, it’s coming soon – and there are plenty more on the way.
So often, a small tweak in perspective can make a huge difference. If you’re having a phooey day – hang on – there’s a great one coming your way. If you’re having a great day – there will be another one fairly soon!
No matter what type of day you’re having – working on a creative pursuit will make it even better. Call it icing on the cake. Whatever the day brings, the world needs your art!
Matthew & the Art Supply House crew
P.S. – September just happens to have 5 Saturdays – which means that the 30th is Customer Appreciation Day! Do you have your bag ready?