People have said, ’Oh, I thought you’d be a nasty piece of work because you’re so dark and trenchant,’ and I say, ‘No I’m not! I’ve got rid of it — it’s all on paper!’
~ Ralph Steadman
I recently stumbled across the quote above, with an intro saying you can get the nasty bits of you out in your work. You can also go the opposite direction and make something bright and cheerful when you’re feeling down and need a pick-me-up.
- This week’s artist is – Daniela Werneck – whose work I ran across somewhere and just had to share. I love those shadows! For even more, check out her website and instagram!
- Richard Avedone would have been 101 today!
- I haven’t fact-checked this, but I didn’t know this is the company/person who created the HB Degree system for graphite hardness.
- Fascinating read about kindergarten and the Avant Garde. (Though I may well be biased since I have been reading about schooling and education for my own kiddo.)
- A geologist claims to have discovered the location in the background of the Mona Lisa.
- The USPS released a sheet of 16 stamps featuring the photography by Ansel Adams.
- Here are winners of the 12th Annual Ocean Art Underwater Photo Contest.
- And the winners of the 2023 Nature Photography Contest.
- Over 1/3 of the year (37.2%) has passed. Is there something you want to accomplish? Still lots of time – here’s a reminder to keep working toward it!
- Stream of a Stream – an ongoing gathering of streams. Each stream sound is captured with an underwater microphone and uploaded to the cloud. There, the sounds of the streams – the natural flow of water – metamorphose into a steady, continuous flow of data transmitted over the internet.
- There’s no such thing as a tree (phylogenetically). I’ve actually had a version of this conversation with a botanist.
- Opera for beginners.
- Here’s a photo of orcas breaching in a storm taken from a fishing boat off the coast of Nova Scotia.
- With so many sporting events cancelled, they’re going to televise the World Origami Championship. It’s on Paperview.
Fun Fact: The first known gallery space dedicated to art was in Ancient Greece. The word “gallery” itself comes from the Greek word “galeria,” meaning a long covered space where art was displayed.- Tonight’s Butterfly Artist Collective meeting is from 5:30-7:30. Meet at Create Art & Tea for a monthly networking meeting for all creative minds to come together and share and learn from each other.
- Saturday the Garden Club of Durango will host their annual plant sale, rain or shine! Go early for the best selection. Cash, check or credit card. Plants are from local and member gardens. A large selection of irises, labeled by color, will be available. Proceeds are used to maintain the gardens at Santa Rita Park. At La Plata County Fairgrounds from 9-10:30.
- Sunday from 8-3 is the Durango Flea Market at the La Plata County Fairgrounds front parking lot. If you want to be a vendor, booths are $20 for the day, no reservations required.
- The Willowtail Sculpture Gardens opening reception & fundraiser is Sunday from 2-5. This is the realization of a long vision – presenting sculpture in their lush gardens and the natural beauty of Willowtail Springs Nature Preserve & Education Center, in one glorious event integrating environment and the arts. There will be a presentation by sculptor Brenda Jones at 2:30. They will have artwork for sale by former Willowtail Artists in Residence and light refreshments. Please no smoking or dogs.
- Have you had a goal in mind for a while now – and it keeps getting tabled due to a series of life events that are beyond your control? You could reach that goal in no time flat in under five minutes a day! Join Master Certified Life- and Writing Coach, Brooke Smith, as she leads you through this incredible workshop of achieving Big goals by taking Small Steps! Tuesday at the Durango Public Library from 6-7.
- It’s the time of year when 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, 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.
- It certainly feels like a great time to grab some supplies and get out and about to make art. (I suppose that would be called plein air – or urban sketching.) If you’re interested in such things and like to play with watercolor – we have a variety of travel brushes on hand. Swing by and check them out!
What work do you need to make? Do you need to externalize your feelings? (Once they’re outside of you, you can literally put them away. They’re always available to pick back up at a later time if you’re missing them.)
Is there a view you wish existed? You can create it.
I’ve heard this expressed as a creative’s manifesto: draw the art you want to see, make the music you want to hear, write the books and poems you want to read.
Whether moving to or away from something – the world needs your art!
Matthew & the Art Supply House crew
P.S. – If you do need to clear out some unrealized creative dreams, our Spring Clean Art Supply Drive is running until this Saturday, (May 18). Almost everyone has a bin of unwanted art supplies gathering dust in their basement. Whether it be from a project you’ve finished, a ridiculous amount of expensive supplies from college or a sewing kit from a loved one, you’re not alone. Free your burden of creativity past and bring them to the store this month and we’ll pass them on to a nonprofit that will put them to good use, changing people’s lives.
P.P.S. – We’re trying out a new email provider – hopefully this shows up ok!