tag:www.hammondarts.org,2005:/blogs/sparks?p=2Enrich Your Lives2023-09-28T16:20:05-05:00Hammond Regional Arts CenterDiscussions with artists and other professionals on how life and art blend.Melissa GriffinfalseMelissa Griffininfo@hammondarts.orgtag:www.hammondarts.org,2005:Post/72801752023-09-28T16:20:05-05:002023-10-16T09:57:36-05:00Your Guide to Brews Arts 2023<p><img src="https://ci4.googleusercontent.com/proxy/zkbUqUWFb8vNJXTiU2MvaCWS1PbpPKrfh1ZIYUldvi8knXMm9cyX4IIfHowCQkSz6srlEHXBmoYVJV1jIR1SWvN4lpkQK-uVZtaQRgksxKdBx9-a8QYrN9NFbHFfOceGMwfJJ06Bl7f5koHCa-cXsbRDYh3N94ksHg15e0LAnYbC2ArZ8GIvVWOwRvWfqgqJ5fKzeuduP0nSi8g9dDQGT_p7wlxvi8IEqEhSPN69I3VdD4QAGbo96JHacE_-CwxPTX-50Z0tHTLvpFqG3coZyfHvF_uQkJ8H4GSid5XMl7g=s0-d-e1-ft#https://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/48831/e19f5e83fe564e14edf925f693772b7abdf09ec5/original/382232658-811526854310225-7447396971885807900-n.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_orig justify_inline border_" /></p><p style="text-align:justify;">We’re gearing up for the return of our annual Brews Arts Festival! Get ready for an evening of craft beer, delicious food, and live entertainment. Join us as we celebrate the art of brewing and the joy of great company.</p><p style="text-align:center;">Here's everything you need to know about this year's Brews Arts!</p><p style="text-align:center;"><br><br><a class="no-pjax" href="https://u648841.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=VUJ-2BOdqmAWi5-2FYg61soyNSuP4rWce-2BAXx0ltUsL1vix-2BDHhRTZVMH9g60dMMb8p2txnvvxf-2B2bwTrf40HpaBhLIhBdemZkphfoWMzq-2BFZ-2BUenWdwCa0fa7ftRZKqAh7RD-2F3W3dCs22w-2FseL4Ei-2BSBNkLkWx9JqGspcBRjP2KsWvCtUIiIdVJhxBAAX1B9u-2FzflVL_ISU5hcMrXnvZLeTgdZM77LPU1fdtw9o8KuxRLiC-2BL2XEp8Cz79E23O-2BGTUm6N-2Fv22v-2FWbbbEh34K2SHDD3vHLjiaUU07Qp7uIuXFrJA8P2EvAfCeC2R8ih7562vl0mTdIwXsKJfI4RSOPXxQo9FU7duV6lt7nDQ-2FJnhFCI5XiC-2BP8XQM8Z86AmLnS1vEuyST9ZXY8wBH1S7xEyze9nR6Uh-2FKNkFu89qLTUMqU-2F8xFw52-2FGp92K4ceKj4mRl3HSk9NlG68mf-2FRZ1TvmRvzyYaolJH4zFM40IUNasDYvZy29u1k8KtMnrrKdQZoa3khqa-2FS6-2FPp0-2FC2L4bohunxmCHYw-3D-3D" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://u648841.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn%3DVUJ-2BOdqmAWi5-2FYg61soyNSuP4rWce-2BAXx0ltUsL1vix-2BDHhRTZVMH9g60dMMb8p2txnvvxf-2B2bwTrf40HpaBhLIhBdemZkphfoWMzq-2BFZ-2BUenWdwCa0fa7ftRZKqAh7RD-2F3W3dCs22w-2FseL4Ei-2BSBNkLkWx9JqGspcBRjP2KsWvCtUIiIdVJhxBAAX1B9u-2FzflVL_ISU5hcMrXnvZLeTgdZM77LPU1fdtw9o8KuxRLiC-2BL2XEp8Cz79E23O-2BGTUm6N-2Fv22v-2FWbbbEh34K2SHDD3vHLjiaUU07Qp7uIuXFrJA8P2EvAfCeC2R8ih7562vl0mTdIwXsKJfI4RSOPXxQo9FU7duV6lt7nDQ-2FJnhFCI5XiC-2BP8XQM8Z86AmLnS1vEuyST9ZXY8wBH1S7xEyze9nR6Uh-2FKNkFu89qLTUMqU-2F8xFw52-2FGp92K4ceKj4mRl3HSk9NlG68mf-2FRZ1TvmRvzyYaolJH4zFM40IUNasDYvZy29u1k8KtMnrrKdQZoa3khqa-2FS6-2FPp0-2FC2L4bohunxmCHYw-3D-3D&source=gmail&ust=1696019892764000&usg=AOvVaw1HIWtVPIP6vUa6AVR2N3Vx"><strong><u>Brews Arts Festival 2023</u></strong></a> <br>Saturday, October 7th <br>Morrison Park Alleyway, behind the Hammond Regional Arts Center <br>Entrance at 100 block of Cypress St.<br>VIP Hour: 4 pm - 5 pm<br>General Admission: 5 pm - 9 pm<br> </p><p><img src="https://ci5.googleusercontent.com/proxy/zV7QZAzY8l3LgtYBoROoNSorY9YttVDeSwyXFQLbmY1948krVV8fsOmxWmAHwGnKsRNk9-q1KmA3ayftLSI0GOUpAdLTgthT5wUO5TCwIGX7_wzxahQKxwSm-l-khZCe9j53ttbuvdG9FaepazIhGB8ktdZFm0GQfEoumQHHOxaJTJwdrRMuCm42_NxGkxm0jWuPjS8AWtwD2iN1FtmEvYqp7KweMe4kPBK6nUCCkFw0GxOZIUbYwYEWgrfP=s0-d-e1-ft#https://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/48831/9cd9fb810cafcc8265d83903db4b1605b6c845a2/original/phillip-2016.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p><p style="text-align:justify;"> </p><p style="text-align:justify;"><strong>Featured Breweries</strong> <br>This year, we have an incredible lineup of breweries from near and far. Sample a wide range of craft beers, from hoppy IPAs to rich lagers. There will be over 40+ Craft Beers to sample!!</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Featured breweries include local favorites such as Gnarly Barley and Low Road Brewing, plus Abita, Urban South, Port Orleans Brewing Co., Parish Brewing Co., Great Raft Brewing, and Golden Road Brewing. </p><p style="text-align:justify;">But that’s not all. This year, we also have *NEW* breweries, including Agile Brewing, Goose Island Beer Co., Kona Brewing Co. and New Belgium Brewing.</p><p><img src="https://ci4.googleusercontent.com/proxy/A_oq3BfpSKuXSiTsIEx8sN9lqcyV-KlzQ-ZTtF7e49LILhgU-VcgYKT4YfCPxlAdE6Y-5QwnoCQAGZVtqO5PlyHMS_i4RkxEXSCMqGLB6kA5MyWnLbL5t07jZ7LiNmifbR_PTc0VAYyMldiZQ110mZWKBWJPPyOZtZwK5GmjJonkk9sSQ1rVKTIi4Xk_Gp6YNjcii2MPjO3VJyu32tVzFiiznkC5O0vVzUn8jWIy50fpzxdE0DigHaNBGw=s0-d-e1-ft#https://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/48831/331e3854b4c1fb977b9cd8cd97733606f22f2afb/original/untitled-1.png/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p><p style="text-align:justify;"> </p><p style="text-align:justify;"><strong>Entertainment Lineup</strong> <br>Get your groove on with The Pontchartrain Shakers, who will play outside during Brews Arts. The Pontchartrain Shakers feature Amedee “A5” Frederick and Jojjo Wight as the shredding leads, whose sound is driven by the deep roots of blues and the sweet, interweaving harmony of traditional jazz. Along with the Pontchartrain Shakers, there will be live dance performances by Benny’s Misfits.</p><p style="text-align:justify;"> </p><figure class="table"><table><tbody><tr><td>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/48831/d4d5c0ce73ab2d69a434d9a45937addfe9d64cb0/original/pontchartrain-shakers.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_m justify_center border_" /></p>
<p style="text-align:center;">The Pontchartrain Shakers</p>
</td></tr></tbody></table></figure><p style="text-align:justify;"> </p><p style="text-align:justify;"><strong>Art Vendors</strong> <br>In addition to promoting locally crafted beer, Brews Arts Festival will also host an arts market featuring local and regional artists and artisans. This year’s market features the Hammond Art Guild (art), Janie Dick Pottery (ceramics), Purple Elephant (bath and body), Olivia Dubose (art) and Dirty South Made (leather goods).</p><figure><figure class="table"><table><tbody><tr><td>
<p><img src="https://ci6.googleusercontent.com/proxy/gAHRksjz0iLS_6sRikNnAh-i800ojIgchdQ_w1XXxjhgAz3VRK1kdkhPjr8-90JPMOALn6fwuoU2aoQdfSjOqfcO3nOXd1TyRNrDyR9-A5ytBQRJlbQpyESW3O8ceatKpJXXdch4eeBF71TRG25giV8HTMQpB_p_9HTK0nm_HEBx6MqzmC6uYpcUVfW81aWKqNRv8t59z0d-S6M81pp4uhtPGXnernSgbND_kmsY55AG_4kibDclRXLi_BHzaSB_Mvigh8hFzOM5_42vFQlpDPRIIOqmVg=s0-d-e1-ft#https://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/48831/cec08db8926a03423aa8e1b3aa2ab79d2e77ff9a/original/e40da620-be68-4c6a-a657-b0a39946199c.jpeg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p style="text-align:center;">Janie Dick Pottery</p>
</td></tr></tbody></table></figure></figure><p style="text-align:justify;"><br><br><strong>Food Vendors</strong> <br>Great beer deserves great food, and we’ve got you covered! We will have local food vendors such as Thai Kitchen and The Little Laurel Leaf, The Lucky Kettle and Snowballerz on-site with delicious food throughout the festival.</p><figure class="table"><table><tbody><tr><td><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/48831/c544dbffe2ef78154cda66dededb8469526704d5/original/abita-springs.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></td></tr></tbody></table></figure><p style="text-align:justify;"> </p><p style="text-align:justify;"><strong>Ticket Information</strong> <br>Early bird tickets are discounted, with $35 for general admission and $30 for HRAC members. Want to feel like the king of beers? Then, purchase a VIP ticket priced at $50 for HRAC members and $60 for non-members. Kids and designated drivers are allowed in to the festival for free.</p><p style="text-align:justify;">VIP guests will receive access to the festivities, a gift from Fidelity Bank, a chance to win a large beer-centric giveaway prize, access to the VIP cooling tent and a few complimentary appetizer bites. New this year is early entry to the festival from 4-5 p.m., which means no lines to access the beers. </p><p style="text-align:justify;">Door prizes will be given during VIP hour (must be present to win).</p><p style="text-align:justify;">Be sure to snag tickets before next Saturday, as prices will go up to $45 for general admission and $70 for VIP IF we have any left. No physical tickets will be sold, you will give your name at our check-in table.</p><p style="text-align:justify;"> </p><p><img src="https://ci3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/zixhhR_F7O4-zEHhn4KWO6LBxZiflwuZ6tOG7lzMzKQC9R7X1IGtQX_dUvGftCTS5iz9BXVE8ZMg1ifnu2K8Z9NHh_QUi-G6l9XiIUV-sWaAgQtuFAMRtMbhiUNMHLzABzkswQvQqLUbqP47Ybx-KD2ExfohLvlZCeQYZwACVVLvtOOIFXFfR8d3KtwPcTiitUrmNoPh1A5LpeWSeAMF64FfqIhCPQk-CZ4zavhcxiWzHv0jr2rLI7bQcxh1zlVlaElHDEZYtRMJlZSY0E6pl9GGpTKWTpUoaSeP=s0-d-e1-ft#https://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/48831/35e20d2d84439c1cb7735878f44a87831addf211/original/027-brews-arts-fest-10-14-22-pcolwart-copy.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p><p style="text-align:justify;"> </p><p style="text-align:justify;"><strong>Festival Merchandise</strong> <br>Don’t forget to pick up some festival swag! <a class="no-pjax" href="https://u648841.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn=VUJ-2BOdqmAWi5-2FYg61soyNSuP4rWce-2BAXx0ltUsL1vix-2BDHhRTZVMH9g60dMMb8p2txnvvxf-2B2bwTrf40HpaBhLIhBdemZkphfoWMzq-2BFZ-2BXSxW5eLat3Q4ZDCmcoDSE7FJ2oWPcPqAh95Zp0vaVS9EOnFjUXhw7h7-2Fyc-2BaTgSUnABeeh782zIcZ1JxMvVIDrBpXHY8X8V-2BSUX2G2TzVWUw-3D-3DrACd_ISU5hcMrXnvZLeTgdZM77LPU1fdtw9o8KuxRLiC-2BL2XEp8Cz79E23O-2BGTUm6N-2Fv22v-2FWbbbEh34K2SHDD3vHLjiaUU07Qp7uIuXFrJA8P2EvAfCeC2R8ih7562vl0mTdIwXsKJfI4RSOPXxQo9FU7duV6lt7nDQ-2FJnhFCI5XiC-2BP8XQM8Z86AmLnS1vEuyST-2B99NPL7E-2BeBWrNu0YcuSZ1nYTkfrrb9-2B4RDGPnslzXR5O5Agkzuq8BQgKG2vXVGZLlwQ2w0NVBFiogPu-2ByaTcqR6OHm7GOUb4QDF07XcnvnQmwHZQKch-2BNY5lLyRZ9-2BWx5u4atgGkN1UCyDUuD4RTg-3D-3D" target="_blank" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://u648841.ct.sendgrid.net/ls/click?upn%3DVUJ-2BOdqmAWi5-2FYg61soyNSuP4rWce-2BAXx0ltUsL1vix-2BDHhRTZVMH9g60dMMb8p2txnvvxf-2B2bwTrf40HpaBhLIhBdemZkphfoWMzq-2BFZ-2BXSxW5eLat3Q4ZDCmcoDSE7FJ2oWPcPqAh95Zp0vaVS9EOnFjUXhw7h7-2Fyc-2BaTgSUnABeeh782zIcZ1JxMvVIDrBpXHY8X8V-2BSUX2G2TzVWUw-3D-3DrACd_ISU5hcMrXnvZLeTgdZM77LPU1fdtw9o8KuxRLiC-2BL2XEp8Cz79E23O-2BGTUm6N-2Fv22v-2FWbbbEh34K2SHDD3vHLjiaUU07Qp7uIuXFrJA8P2EvAfCeC2R8ih7562vl0mTdIwXsKJfI4RSOPXxQo9FU7duV6lt7nDQ-2FJnhFCI5XiC-2BP8XQM8Z86AmLnS1vEuyST-2B99NPL7E-2BeBWrNu0YcuSZ1nYTkfrrb9-2B4RDGPnslzXR5O5Agkzuq8BQgKG2vXVGZLlwQ2w0NVBFiogPu-2ByaTcqR6OHm7GOUb4QDF07XcnvnQmwHZQKch-2BNY5lLyRZ9-2BWx5u4atgGkN1UCyDUuD4RTg-3D-3D&source=gmail&ust=1696019892765000&usg=AOvVaw0XQvk9AoCyX2nPx7apa74V"><strong><u>Order your limited-edition t-shirt today</u></strong></a> and have it shipped free to your doorstep! It’s a great way to show support and have a memorable keepsake of the experience.</p><p style="text-align:center;"><br>Please help spread the word to your fellow beer enthusiasts about our upcoming Brews Arts! <br>Cheers to great beer!</p><p><img src="https://ci6.googleusercontent.com/proxy/SFg0IN2JnA1CPhN-gjuCAv8D33JlWRAVBIoXJS7C5SV7wSZotaizjHtyU4qwmB7d_bZyBk3Hf9tldtzDtTPOFR3yULg0RGuDhpwN6bCH-GG1NWquKIWWBzp6U2Iwp2R9LB4LHg5RW-_AWagasdIz4bQhNxSYA1zPfro6779Rm4ZLpclTvXotohNpgFc45MLKkm-soY5Odzg50hmzupdkKT00Zs2eU99_wXqhwCBTzv24_U1hBFoIaBQXFsymDqeWKB0jYyijvZ1ypwlXELoLpCY1k_UEfdBjUxbss4wp3JU=s0-d-e1-ft#https://d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/48831/6979c5c2d49d73681637b6d748c9718339c18d05/original/315051179-566418695487710-4226941553473402554-n.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p><p> </p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/48831/f08b75ccc014b61ff4064fc6d525da6de75ff78a/original/purchase-tickets.png/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_m justify_center border_" />Melissa Griffintag:www.hammondarts.org,2005:Post/72345612023-06-30T10:00:00-05:002023-06-30T10:00:02-05:00Petcasso Memberships<p style="text-align:justify;"><meta name="uuid" content="uuidbF4W84lbXLvU"><meta charset="utf-8"></p><p style="text-align:justify;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/48831/df02904acaf68f9bb58b74167a8167892537c2a1/original/1.png/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_l justify_center border_" /><br><span style="color:rgb(14,16,26);"><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Pets are truly a part of the family, and whether they trot, swim, fly or walk, they certainly leave prints in their owner’s hearts. We here at the Hammond Regional Art Center are also animal lovers, so we are launching a new campaign that lets local pet owners showcase their fur babies and get them “involved” in supporting the arts and culture here in Tangipahoa Parish and beyond!</span></span></p><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:rgb(14,16,26);"><span data-preserver-spaces="true">So, if you have a special four-legged friend (or finned or feathered, for that matter), why not sign them up for our new pet sponsorship program?</span></span></p><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:rgb(14,16,26);"><span data-preserver-spaces="true">We call it “Petcasso.”</span></span></p><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:rgb(14,16,26);"><span data-preserver-spaces="true">All discerning, worldly and cultured pets can now become Hammond Regional Art Center members! For a small donation, your special animal can patronize us here at the HRAC, helping us to keep the lights on, create dazzling exhibits featuring local artists, and generally enrich the cultural life of our beloved Hammond. Talk about a PAW-some achievement!</span></span></p><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:rgb(14,16,26);"><span data-preserver-spaces="true">When they join the Petcasso program, your darling critter will be featured as one of our pet patrons on the HRAC website, with a photo and a hearty round of “appaws” from our board of directors. Sorry, we can’t resist an adorable pet-related pun. But the fun doesn’t stop there: the owner of the furry art lover will receive a certificate of thanks— and won’t that make a great conversation starter? </span><i><span data-preserver-spaces="true">My dog supports the arts; how about yours?</span></i></span></p><p style="text-align:justify;"><span style="color:rgb(14,16,26);"><span data-preserver-spaces="true">If you’d like to sign up for your pet, you can find an application </span></span><a class="no-pjax" href="/petcasso" data-link-type="page" data-link-label="Petcasso"><span style="color:rgb(14,16,26);"><span data-preserver-spaces="true"><strong><u>here</u></strong></span></span></a><span style="color:rgb(14,16,26);"><span data-preserver-spaces="true">. We also have applications for our humans to become members </span></span><a class="no-pjax" href="/membership" data-link-type="page" data-link-label="Membership"><span style="color:rgb(14,16,26);"><span data-preserver-spaces="true"><strong><u>here</u></strong></span></span></a><span style="color:rgb(14,16,26);"><span data-preserver-spaces="true">.</span></span></p><p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/48831/65b6f264f4c5400d8d98c44ca102d24e7b25a39a/original/petcasso-members-logos-shaded-heart.png/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_m justify_center border_" /></p>Melissa Griffintag:www.hammondarts.org,2005:Post/71778982023-03-24T09:50:55-05:002023-06-15T12:41:19-05:00Importance of Art Education as we Celebrate Youth Art Month<p><span style="color:#0E101A;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/s:bzglfiles/u/48831/ea6471fbf3d68cd5d837b67ff1ea0bfd239d4852/original/img-3278-copy.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></span><br><span style="color:#0E101A;">The Hammond Regional Arts Center is a place for people of all ages to enjoy local creativity, but this month we are focusing more on the youth in our community. Through March 30th the Arts Center is displaying the artistic output of our local young people in our <i><span>Young Artist's Exhibition</span></i>. If you haven't been able to make it yet, please do come by and support the students who have worked so hard to create these beautiful pieces. The gallery is a site to behold during these green spring days, and the budding talents of Tangipahoa's youth are a treasure well worth appreciating.</span></p><p><span style="color:#0E101A;">To explore what this exhibit, and art education in general, means to students and the larger society we live in, guest blogger Seth Pevey recently caught up with local art teacher Jordan Kenning. More specifically, he is an instructor for the Talented Visual Art Programs at Ponchatoula High and Hammond High. He also happens to be board president here at Hammond Regional Art Center!</span></p><p><span style="color:#0E101A;">What follows is Seth's Q&A with Jordan on what it means to teach art to young people. We hope you will enjoy, and that we will see you at the Young Artists Exhibition sometime soon!</span></p><p><br><span style="color:#0E101A;"><strong>Pevey: What are some benefits of art education for young people?</strong></span></p><p><span style="color:#0E101A;"><strong>Kenning:</strong> "I think it's obvious by now that the creative arts help to develop a 'well-rounded' student; in my opinion that's the moldy chestnut we hold onto too much when advocating for the arts. It's great for selling the need for arts education and programming, but what does that mean, 'well-rounded'? It's just too vague. In my experience with teaching art, there are deeper values to our students that often get ignored. Students use artistic practices to escape trauma, deal with stress, organize their thoughts, etc. Call it 'art therapy' because at the end of the day this is a therapeutic exercise, regardless of if the practice is instructor-guided or independent learning. The unique thing about art, and we'll stick to the visual arts for this point, is that everyone has a unique experience; this is true in every art classroom worldwide. </span></p><p><span style="color:#0E101A;">Through artistic explorations, students can truly self-express and share thoughts without using words; in a time where uniqueness is scarce, art becomes that moment where you can connect with your most true self. Teaching and fostering creativity is something nearly exclusive to the arts. While "out-of-the-box" thinking and problem-solving are indeed valued in most subject areas, the arts are different in that there is no uniform result, variation is ideal. Academically, the interesting side effect of working on art is self-assessment and self-discipline, often unregimented by comparison to most subjects in school. By having clear expectations and goals for students and then drawing the correlation between the work done and the results, students can begin to shift their motivation, resulting in a much healthier and more sustainable learning environment." </span></p><p><br><span style="color:#0E101A;"><strong>Pevey: How do you choose what art/medium/culture to teach?</strong></span></p><p><span style="color:#0E101A;"><strong>Kenning:</strong> "Well, honestly, it comes down to money and time for the most part, I never seem to have enough of both. But, if art teachers are one thing, we are 'resourceful.' I remember taking all of the cardboard spacers from the ACT testing boxes one year and then having this nice clean board for my ART 2 students to work with. Some chose to paint on it, others carved and manipulated the surface, it was a great use of something that was going to be discarded without looking like repurposed trash. Teaching high school exclusively, I will have some students for up to 4 years and so throughout that time I try to get them knowledgeable with as much media as I can. Sometimes I have to get creative with my supplies due to cost and facilities. </span></p><p><span style="color:#0E101A;">For example, when working with clay we use polymer clay (which can be baked in an oven) as opposed to a traditional clay; and when we discuss printmaking, they'll use Plexiglass sheets and a pasta machine instead of copper plates and engraving presses. At the end of the day, they still have a learned skill and can progress with it or learn that it's not the best fit for their method of expression. My students are on a constant journey of self-discovery, their goals are individualized so that their experience helps them build a library of skills and techniques, while developing a style that reflects their personality. By the end of high school most of my students have practiced with almost every art medium we possibly can and mastered at least one; when they graduate, they have a portfolio of work that can carry them through to becoming a professional artist or a hobbyist—I feel accomplished with either path or I try to impress the importance of feeling equally accomplished.</span></p><p><span style="color:#0E101A;">Culture is a little tougher now that I only have my students for one session per week, but with every unit I expose them to as much art history as I can. With time being such a precious resource, I have employed our digital communication channels to share presentations that students can explore independently. Since art is mostly about 'connections' my goals with units (take Color Theory for example) focus on the "Who" and the "Why"; the "What" is pretty basic, and most students understand how the color wheel works in just a few minutes. The end result should be that the students understanding why they chose the color palette they used and what it means to them and their audience. In reflections we often discuss the meanings behind our decisions, both in content and concept, and that gives me a good opportunity to flip it back to the student's individual culture and expand that idea and understanding to fit within a global dialogue."</span></p><p><br><span style="color:#0E101A;"><strong>Pevey: What is the best part about being an art teacher?</strong></span></p><p><span style="color:#0E101A;"><strong>Kenning:</strong> "I struggled with what I wanted to 'be' when I grew up for a very long time. I'm not a traditional art teacher, my undergrad is in Art History, and I went into education thinking it was a good 'Plan B' until I found a career that fit… turns out teaching fit pretty well. Yes, there are mountains of paperwork and red tape, but at the end of the day I get to share my knowledge and skills with students who really crave learning about art. Personally, I find it most rewarding to teach skills and techniques that are dying out, like lithography. And you won't find an art history textbook on any shelf that can hold the amount of good energy and artistic pride you'd find in just one art room, it's a completely different universe in there. </span></p><p><span style="color:#0E101A;">So, I guess to answer your question is to say that there isn't a best part, even the paperwork has its purpose in helping me to reset and escape for a brief moment, the career is the best part really. I'll leave you with this quote from George Bernard Shaw that I've been mulling over for the past few years, I can't find a better way to describe how I feel when I go into work each day, '<i><span>I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community and as long as I live, it is my privilege to do for it what I can. I want to be thoroughly used up when I die, for the harder I work, the more I live</span></i>.'"</span></p><p><br><span style="color:#0E101A;"><strong>Pevey: How does the Hammond Regional Arts Center impact the local art education scene?</strong></span></p><p><span style="color:#0E101A;"><strong>Kenning:</strong> “The HRAC is such a vital part of our community; and it is such a privilege to be a part of that mission to improve the community through the arts. The happenings in the classroom are only part of developing a successful artist. Real gallery experience and examples are so crucial in understanding the very complex workings of the art world, so having a hub that can support artists both experienced and emerging is a gift.”</span></p><p><br><span style="color:#0E101A;"><strong>Pevey: What makes our local art scene here in Hammond so special?</strong></span></p><p><span style="color:#0E101A;"><strong>Kenning:</strong> “I think we benefit mainly from our geographic location and proximity to a major interstate exchange. Both New Orleans and Baton Rouge are incredible cultural banks, and our suburban areas undoubtedly reap the benefits of those resources. Southeastern being a short walk to HRAC is also a huge benefit to our community and emerging artists. The recent creation of our Mezzanine Gallery space allows current and graduated art students to start their careers in a familiar and unique space. Given its compact size, the Mezzanine gallery is also able to accommodate smaller bodies of work from accomplished artists struggling to find an exhibition space that works well for more casual shows.”</span></p><p><br><span style="color:#0E101A;"><strong>Pevey: Can you tell us about the Young Artist's Exhibit currently on display at the Art Center?</strong></span></p><p><span style="color:#0E101A;"><strong>Kenning:</strong> “This exhibition is one of our largest events every year, during the opening reception it's shoulder to shoulder throughout the whole space and a constant buzz of excitement from our students. The opportunity to have students in our local schools exhibit their work in a professional gallery setting is both rare and incredibly special. With over 100 different art pieces, it's easy to see how important our art classes are to the development of our future creatives. For our students (and teachers as well) this is our opening night, our playoff, our opus and it perfectly fits our mission to bring together students, families, and other stakeholders through the practice of art making.”</span><br><br><span style="color:#0E101A;">The Art Center is popping off this spring, with a whole host of lovely exhibits on display. Come support local artists and promote art education in our community!</span></p>Melissa Griffintag:www.hammondarts.org,2005:Post/71403592023-01-19T13:30:48-06:002023-01-19T13:30:48-06:00Robby Klein with Johnny in the Morning<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/aa508235639efea959409904222cd3a3397c64e1/original/minimalist-instagram-post.png/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p>Celebrity photographer and Tangi native Robby Klein speaks with Johnny Chauvin during Johnny in the Morning. Listen as Robby recounts his beginnings as an artist and some highlights of his career.</p>
<p><em>Special thanks to Johnny Chauvin and Tangi 96.5!</em></p>16:52Melissa Griffintag:www.hammondarts.org,2005:Post/71392102023-01-17T11:46:11-06:002023-01-19T13:25:51-06:00Artist Talk with Robby Klein<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/bd0236114cd95e4d136a14d99539b59dc06b2c44/original/anthony-hopkins-1.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsImxhcmdlIl1d.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_none" alt="" />The Northshore, and Hammond in particular, is the breeding ground for a lot of raw artistic talent. Nowhere is this truer than in the field of photography and in one son of Tangipahoa—the artist Robby Klein. </p>
<p>Though he is based in Nashville these days, Robby’s impressive career-in-progress has its roots right here in our beloved hometown. He came up through the Hammond school system, including the Lab School and Southeastern, where he studied photography. </p>
<p>“I was always in the Talented Art Programs…and my mom was an art teacher. I was always kind of doing something with art,” Robby says. </p>
<p>It was in seventh grade that the young artist picked up his first camera. Only it wasn’t quite the dedicated digital camera we think of today. </p>
<p>“It was actually an mp3 player with a secondary camera function…maybe like a quarter pixel…It was just so much fun taking and deleting pictures.” Robby laughs. “Then, for Christmas, I got a type of disposable camera. If I brought it to Walgreens to get it developed, they’d replace the roll of film for free.” </p>
<p>Then came the auspicious moment when a young Robby discovered that there were people who did nothing else for a living but take pictures of weddings, graduations, high schooler portraits and etcetera. </p>
<p>“The dominoes fell into place from there.” </p>
<p>In high school, he began shooting weddings with Hammond’s own Johnny Chauvin, doing retouching and editing. Robby found a great mentor in Chauvin, and the foundations were laid as the young man discovered his vocation. </p>
<p>“I learned a ton, just watching him…Johnny was the dude when I was in high school…if you wanted the best senior pictures, you were going to him,” Robby remembers. </p>
<p>He’d also meet Sean Fairburn, another local who went on to become famous as a cinematographer. According to IMDB, Sean is the only marine ever to win an Emmy award for cinematography of actual combat. This would further inspire the budding photographer in Robby and demonstrate to him again that it was really possible to make a living using a camera and a keen eye. </p>
<p>While he had a knack for the commercial applications of photography, Robby also discovered a love for the artistic possibilities inherent in a roll of film. In high school, he became obsessed with successful and famous photographers. </p>
<p>“I’d be in class not paying attention. Finding these people on the computer. The most important day for me was the day I found Annie Leibovitz and Mark Seliger. Both on the same day. I saw work from 20 or 30 years ago that was still cool and relevant. That day was when the gears really started turning.” </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/7df70967f8dce84adde67a083f2832e56a0568b6/original/jason-bateman-4-4.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_left border_none" alt="" />As he grew into his role as a local photographer, Robby’s first studio just so happened to be in the attic of the Hammond Art Center, and he credits the institution as having a major supportive influence on him. </p>
<p>“I’ve loved that building [the art center] since I was a kid. So, to have my first solo show, there is genuinely exciting.” </p>
<p>He went on to focus in on his craft, bravely putting all of his chips into one artistic basket. A risky proposition for any young person. But in Robby’s case, it has paid off in spades. What started as a passion would soon launch an incredible career that has yet to see its peak. </p>
<p>He now focuses on entertainment photography: musicians, Hollywood celebrities, and people involved in that industry. Though still a young man, Robby has already photographed the likes of Sir Anthony Hopkins, Nicholas Cage, Justin Timberlake and Kevin Bacon, to name just a few. </p>
<p>It may surprise some to learn that Robby’s experiences working with the infamously diva-ish clientele of Hollywood have been overwhelmingly positive. </p>
<p>He tells a story about John Stamos, who he says is a personal favorite: </p>
<p>“He had a really cool beaded bracelet on. I was shooting and told him, ‘I really like your bracelet; that’s very cool.’ He took it off and gave it to me on the spot…A real kind and pleasant person.” </p>
<p>And then there was Sir Anthony Hopkins, who stunned a star-struck Robby with his down-to-earth demeanor. </p>
<p>“He was my third celebrity shoot, and I had not figured out how to keep my nerves in check at this point. I had an hour before he got there and I was stressing and overthinking. My assistant and I started panicking, wondering, ‘what do we call him?’ He came in with perfect posture, looking the part of a knight. He shook my hand and said, ‘Hey, I’m Tony!’” </p>
<p>When asked what led to his rise to prominence in the world of photography, Robby humbly attributes it to timing. His transformation into a shutterbug began just before the rise of ubiquitous, high-quality digital photography. Because he was, in his own words, “that weird kid with the camera” before everyone and their mother had Instagram, he was able to stand out in an as-of-yet unsaturated field. </p>
<p>But getting a load of his work, you have the sense that luck and timing had very little to do with it. </p>
<p>“I was able to get the meetings because the rush hadn’t hit yet. I made friends with the creative director of Warner Brothers. It took two years before they ever tried me out. Two years later, he called me about shooting a kid called Cole Swindell, who is now a huge star. They tried me out on something small, and it got a little bit bigger, and now we shoot all the time. That’s the kind of the trajectory that a lot of it took.” </p>
<p>Tyra Banks was his first Hollywood shoot, with Anthony Hopkins soon after. This led to a steady amount of work, the linchpin of any career in the arts. This newfound success allowed Robby a little time to circle back to some of the more artistic and creative elements of his craft. </p>
<p>“Every time I focus on the art side of it, that’s when I get better. Staying in the studio until 2 a.m. shooting random stuff. Trying different lights. Something would finally hit. Then when the shoot comes, I could implement that technique.” </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/d01a73d0f3bbba1e88f7abb2cf56a8dbdec63aa4/original/lance-armstrong-4.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_right border_none" alt="" />His studio in Nashville is his base of operation these days. But Robby loves getting out of the controlled environment of the studio and going on photographic expeditions. </p>
<p>“It is about fifty-fifty. It goes through seasons, sometimes in the studio, sometimes on location. The grass is always greener. After long periods in the studio, I get the itch to go out and do something.” </p>
<p>There are pros and cons of both, Robby claims. The controlled environment of a studio allows for a lot of tweaking and adjustment. Whereas “on location,” there are a whole lot of variables that have to be adapted to. But this pivoting is one of the more exciting aspects of a career in photography, says Robby. </p>
<p>“A lot of people overlook the value of thinking on your feet. It is one of those things that they are not going to teach you in school. I circle back to situations, for example, where there is a lighting issue. I circle back to my times with Johnny Chauvin shooting weddings.” </p>
<p>Chatting with him, it is apparent that Robby has kept a soft spot for his hometown and for the Art Center. Though he has had to make moves to achieve his staggering levels of success, Robby says he thinks about moving back to Hammond “all the time.” He keeps a home near downtown and tries to spend a third of the year here, at the very least. </p>
<p>We have a feeling we might see him come back permanently one day, but until then Robby is still a massive supporter of our local arts scene. </p>
<p>So much so, in fact, that you can catch an exhibition of Robby’s celebrity photography coming to the Hammond Regional Arts Center very soon. The opening reception will be held here in downtown Hammond on Friday, January 20th, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Robby will be in attendance, so you may even get a chance to chat with the man himself. The exhibit will remain on display through February 16th, so there is plenty of time to stop by and enjoy the works of one of Tangipahoa’s great success stories. </p>
<p>Come out and support great artists like Robby all year in 2023. We’ll be looking forward to seeing you!</p>Melissa Griffintag:www.hammondarts.org,2005:Post/71140622022-11-30T14:44:42-06:002022-11-30T14:44:42-06:00Reflections of an Arts Center<p><span class="font_regular"><em>Written by Seth Pevey</em></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p>If life were a football game, one’s 40th birthday would be as good a time as any for the halftime show. But instead of celebrity dance routines and fireworks, this interval often brings about a spell of deep reflection. </p>
<p>As the Hammond Regional Arts Center recently celebrated its own 40th birthday, perhaps we can be thankful that institutions rarely have mid-life crises. They do reflect, however, and they do remember. Suffice it to say that the marking of four decades has given the HRAC much to consider, even more to plan, and most importantly, many thanks to be given. </p>
<p>When we think back to our distant conception, two local luminaries rise immediately to mind. For if any two people could be rightly called the “parents” of the Arts Center, those people are Denise Tullier-Holly and Larry Gray. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/595acc2eec963eec4550d0e4641003efcf834088/original/larry-gray-headshot.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_left border_none" alt="Larry Gray" />Larry Gray is a prominent local playwright who has lived a life in letters. After a childhood spent in Ohio, Larry had just returned from living in France when he was offered a job by a small university right here in Hammond. In the fall of 1972, he was hired as a professor of English at Southeastern, netting our village a permanent new citizen deeply devoted to the arts. </p>
<p>“I just fell in love with the food. South Louisiana had some of the best cuisine I’d ever tasted,” Larry says. </p>
<p>Five years later, in April of 1977, Hammond gained another young artist who would have a big impact. It turned out the 70s would be quite an auspicious decade for our burgeoning town. Denise Tullier-Holly had just graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park, as an art student. She was interested in all mediums of art—drawing, printmaking and ceramics. Her husband, Michael Holly, was an up-and-coming architect with his eye on a modest one-story cottage (built in 1919) near downtown. As fate would have it, that cottage happened to be right across the street from Larry Gray’s home. </p>
<p>“It happened to be the Fourth of July when we first looked at what would be our future home. We met Larry and Beth that day, and they invited us over for hotdogs! They were amazing neighbors, and we’re still celebrating the Fourth together, our friendship anniversary,” Denise says of Larry. </p>
<p>It was during the 80s that Larry and Denise would become both fast friends and linchpins of the local artistic community. Larry directed small productions with the Columbia Theatre Players and soon began writing his own plays with feverish energy. He would cast Denise in his first play, <em>Scrapbooks</em>, which won the Mid-South Playwriting Competition, prompting two sequels. This “Louisiana Trilogy” would go on to be performed all over the world—from New York City to London—but the plays were conceived and first produced right here in Hammond. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/ff978ae670a148709f6a0726d86dab5fc183b6b8/original/denise-tullier-holly-headshot.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_right border_none" alt="Denise Tullier-Holly" />But rather than chase fame in far-flung metropolises, both Denise and Larry doubled down on their efforts to expand the cultural relevance of main street America. It was a sleepier borough then, with few venues for artistic expression, and a lot of the vibrance and uniqueness we now associate with our charming downtown had yet to come to fruition. </p>
<p>“On the east side of the tracks, there were about four shoe stores and the Rexall drug store. That was downtown in those days,” recalls Tullier-Holly. </p>
<p>It was not long after that when one of those once-in-a-lifetime opportunities came along. A property became available on the main downtown drag. Only, it came with conditions. Most long-time inhabitants of Hammond will be familiar with the story, but a quick retelling for those that aren’t: the building that now houses the Arts Center was once the Levy Department store. When Maya Levy inherited it, she decided to gift the building to the town. But only so long as it was used exclusively to enrich the artistic and cultural life of Hammond. </p>
<p>“Larry came over one day excited,” says Tullier-Holly. “We prepared a 3-inch binder filled with clippings, programs, and letters from all of Hammond’s arts organizations and events. We then used this information to influence the City to lease the newly donated building. The process began that day. Larry and I garnered support from the University Art Department head, Ron Zaccari, and he, in turn, involved J. Larry Crain, then president of Southeastern. Art organizations were invited to the table as well.” </p>
<p>Working with the shared vision of kindred spirits, Larry and Denise were able to secure a lease on the Levy building for just one dollar a year. With a location set, the prototype of the Arts Center, which was then called the “cultural foundation,” was born. </p>
<p>“We performed so many plays in that building; it was really a great spot for shows,” says Gray. </p>
<p>Over the ensuing decades, the Arts Center would become what it is today, a gathering place in which to celebrate local artists and host events of cultural importance to our little hamlet. While the center only receives small sums from the government, it is mostly kept afloat by the goodwill of local citizens who support the center through memberships and volunteering. </p>
<p>Tullier-Holly, now a lifetime board member of the Art Center, has gone on to have a dizzying career in art and art education. She has received many prestigious awards for both her work as an art teacher and for her own paintings and artwork. She’s taught at LSU and SLU (including 25 years at the Lab School), been honored by the Library of Congress and had her work exhibited at galleries and museums all over the country. </p>
<p>She reflects now on how proud she is of the Arts Center and of Hammond in general. “Hammond is our home,” she says, “And the Arts Center is the lifeblood of the arts we always hoped it would be.” </p>
<p>While too modest to make such a connection themselves, there is certainly plenty of praise to be heaped on Larry and Denise for the way in which the Arts Center helped to revitalize downtown, making it the special place it is today. In fact, Denise recently attended the Great American Main Street Award (GAMSA) held in Virginia and saw Hammond named one of three national winners. Her husband, Michael Holly, was grateful to be part of our local delegation accepting the award as the firm, Holly and Smith Architects, has played a role in helping to restore some of Hammond’s oldest and most iconic architecture. </p>
<p>“He got a little misty-eyed when they announced Hammond as a winner,” Denise says of her husband. “Hammond means a lot to us.” </p>
<p>These days, Larry and his wife Beth enjoy good restaurants, theatre, opera, reading good books, and spending time with their ten grandchildren. He also has a new novel, <em>The House on Esplanade</em>, that is being published by the University of Louisiana Press. </p>
<p>After 25 years of teaching art at the SLU’s Lab School, Denise continues to serve as site coordinator for Art Education students in their final year at Southeastern. </p>
<p>The two of them remain the closest of friends and great neighbors, even today. </p>
<p>As we celebrate our 40th birthday here at the Arts Center, we recognize that without special figures like Larry and Denise, we may never have come so far. We’d like to thank everyone who has played a part, big or small, in making us what we are today. To those who have donated their time and money over the years to help us keep our lights on here at the old Levy Department Store—we salute you. It takes a village to keep an institution like ours afloat. Here is to Denise and Larry and to the next 40 years of cultural enrichment!</p>Melissa Griffintag:www.hammondarts.org,2005:Post/68740802022-01-19T13:55:28-06:002022-01-19T13:55:28-06:00Planning a Perfect Gallery Visit<p style="text-align: justify;">Art galleries can be inspiring places to visit, but not everyone knows how to enjoy a trip to a gallery. Here we offer some tips in a brief guide to make your next visit to the Hammond Regional Arts Center fun, stimulating, and thought-provoking. Following some, or all, of the suggestions, will help you approach art, engage with HRAC, and create a new avenue of enjoyment for yourself. </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="font_regular"><span style="color:#3498db;"><strong>Go with a Friend</strong></span></span> </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/9e52e86b1a2bdb87c09f6aa8b500e972d76718ac/original/016-hrac-pressed-pcolwart-2-crop.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_left border_none" alt="" />Many things are more memorable and fun if you do them with friends, and gallery trips are no exception. Visiting a gallery with a friend and seeing one of the standout pieces is a thrill that hardly needs explaining. And having discussions with a friend about the art will help you think about what you’re viewing more deeply. It may even help you notice details you might otherwise have overlooked on your own. </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="font_regular"><span style="color:#3498db;"><strong>Explore Both Galleries</strong></span></span> </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Once you arrive at HRAC, the best thing to do is walk around the two exhibition spaces. The Main Gallery is located directly upon entering the building, and the Mezzanine Gallery is located up the main staircase. Work your way down and across and note which exhibitions are located in which spaces. HRAC staff encourages everyone to walk both shows from beginning to end at least once. </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="font_regular"><span style="color:#3498db;"><strong>Engage Mentally</strong></span></span> <strong> </strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Art is displayed in galleries for us to enjoy but also for us to think critically. During your HRAC visit, you should stop and take some time in front of individual works that capture your interest. Think about how the artist created the work with the mediums or techniques used. How does it speak to you? Was the piece meant to be commentary? These questions are some examples to help you look at the work in an active and engaged frame of mind. <img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/fe44c14b788949e54bc8ea74750244ede27d5463/original/exhibit-pic.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_right border_none" alt="" /></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="font_regular"><span style="color:#3498db;"><strong>Take Photographs</strong></span></span> </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The act of taking a photograph can increase your connection to a piece of art, making it more memorable and making you look at it from a different lens (pun intended). Once home, your photos can be a nice personal reminder of your trip. HRAC welcomes you to take non-flash photographs of display art for private use. However, always check before doing so, as sometimes it will not be allowed for various reasons such as copyright and legal protection of loans. </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="font_regular"><span style="color:#3498db;"><strong>Purchase an Art-O-Mat Token</strong></span></span><strong> </strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/9608ae9e16d804e2bfa6078c03fb92e15083024b/original/05-art-o-matic-pcolwart.jpg/!!/meta:eyJzcmNCdWNrZXQiOiJiemdsZmlsZXMifQ==/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_left border_none" alt="" />Don’t let the vintage cigarette machine inside HRAC fool you. Inside it holds one-of-a-kind pieces of art that fit in the palm of your hand with works ranging from fine to functional such as tiny art prints, handcrafted jewelry, miniature sculptures, small mobiles, or handcrafted soap. The Art-O-Mat is a nationwide movement, and HRAC is one of four locations in Louisiana to host one. It’s never been easier to become an art collector and is the perfect way to treat yourself during your HRAC visit. </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="font_regular"><span style="color:#3498db;"><strong>Visit a Local Café</strong></span> </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Enjoying a coffee and pastry after a trip to an art exhibition is a pleasant way to end the day. Nearby cafés such as Luma Coffee, Courtyard Café, and PJ’s Coffee are perfect places for engaging in conversations about art. You’ll also have a chance to reflect on art displayed at these local businesses, which can be quite an enjoyable experience. And who can say no to another opportunity to find more art in Hammond? </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong><span class="font_regular"><span style="color:#3498db;"><strong>Visit HRAC on the Go or at Home</strong></span></span> </strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">You don’t have to be inside the HRAC to visit HRAC. If you’re out and about in Hammond, check out the current featured <span class="font_regular"><a contents="Pop Galleries" data-link-label="Pop Gallery" data-link-type="page" href="/pop-gallery"><span style="color:#3498db;"><strong>Pop Galleries</strong></span></a>. These temporary galleries “pop-up” in and around Hammond as a community beautification project bringing local art to the public. Or once at home, you can still engage with the HRAC through your home computer by visiting HRAC’s <span class="font_regular"><a contents="Virtual Art Gallery" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://hammondarts.org/virtual-art-gallery" target="_blank"><span style="color:#3498db;"><strong>Virtual Art Gallery</strong></span></a>, which features items for sale by artists from the local community. </span></span></p>Melissa Griffintag:www.hammondarts.org,2005:Post/66472762021-06-02T08:24:44-05:002021-06-02T08:24:44-05:00Making Music with J. Rees<p>Singer songwriter J. Rees joins host Melissa Griffin on the podcast to talk about the songwriting process. A storyteller at heart, Rees' music connections people through shared experiences. On the podcast, Rees tells stories about how music comes to life--Rees' life experiences taking shape as art through lyrics and melodies. Rees plays some tunes as well. </p>
<p>More about J. Rees on www.jreescreative.wixsite.com/whatsgood or @j.rees_</p>38:50Melissa Griffintag:www.hammondarts.org,2005:Post/65997042021-04-09T17:10:42-05:002023-06-15T12:40:31-05:00DIY Sidewalk Chalk<div style="text-align:justify;">
<p><span class="text-big" style="color:#2980b9;"><strong><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/b225413463a79cc52d6efffdf4c29fe70ce189c9/original/chalk-the-walk-tangi.png/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsImxhcmdlIl1d.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" alt="" />DIY Sidewalk Chalk</strong></span></p>
<p>Sidewalk chalk drawings are a fun way for kids to enjoy the outdoors and express their creativity. It's also an excellent activity for bored children who are stuck at home when school is closed. It's washable as well, so children can have fun with their outdoor canvases over and over again. <br> </p>
<div style="text-align:justify;">
<p><span style="color:#2980b9;"><strong>How to Make DIY Sidewalk Chalk</strong></span><br><span>Homemade sidewalk chalk is easy to make, and you can store the chalk in a plastic container with a lid for using time and again. </span></p>
<div style="text-align:justify;">
<p><br><span style="color:#2980b9;"><i>Ingredients for DIY Sidewalk Chalk</i></span></p>
<ul>
<li>1-3/4 cups of water </li>
<li>2 cups dry plaster of Paris </li>
<li>Tempera craft paints </li>
<li>Plastic cups </li>
<li>Silicone molds, such as for cookies, muffins, ice cubes, candy-making, or crafts </li>
</ul>
<p>You can also use cardboard tubes, such as those found in toilet paper rolls or aluminum foil, or cellophane tubes. If you do this, include some masking tape to seal one end of the tube. </p>
<div style="text-align:justify;">
<p><br><span style="color:#2980b9;"><i>Making Sidewalk Chalk Step by Step</i></span></p>
<ol>
<li>Add the water to the plaster of Paris in a mixing bowl. Add the water in slowly as you mix the dry ingredient with a spoon or paint mixing stick. <br> </li>
<li>Stir the mix gently until you get a consistency like cake batter. <br> </li>
<li>Split the mixture up into your desired numbers of portions and put them in the plastic cups. <br> </li>
<li>Add a few drops of paint into the portions and mix until blended. You can add as many drops as you like to achieve the color you want or blend in more than one color. <br> </li>
<li>Pour the mixtures into your molds and allow them to dry. <br> </li>
<li>If you are using cardboard tubes, take the masking tape and seal up one end of the tube. Then pour the mixture into the other end and make sure the tubes remain "standing" with the taped side on the bottom to keep the mixture from leaking out. <br> </li>
<li>It can take 24 to 48 hours for the chalk to harden enough to be removed from the molds. Carefully pop them out of the molds. If you use cardboard tubes, simply cut the top of the tube, roll the cardboard away from the chalk, and discard. <br> </li>
</ol>
<div style="text-align:justify;"><p><span style="color:#2980b9;"><i>Sidewalk Chalk Without Plaster of Paris</i></span><i><span> </span></i><br><span>If you don't have any plaster of Paris on hand, you can make sidewalk chalk using baking soda, cornstarch, or flour.</span><br><br><span>However, your chalk will not be as solid and sturdy as the plaster of Paris-made chalk.</span><br><br><span>You can either substitute 3/4 cup of baking soda and 3/4 cup of cornstarch for the plaster of Paris or 1-1/2 cup of flour.</span><br><br><span>Use 1-1/2 cups of water instead of 1-3/4.</span><br><br><span>When you put your mixture in the mold, you will need to freeze the chalk to get it to harden. It will take about six to eight hours to firm up fully.</span><br><br><span>Because this recipe uses freezing to solidify the chalk, the chalk will begin to melt if you are using it outside on a hot day. Any remaining chalk should be stored in the freezer.</span></p></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>Melissa Griffintag:www.hammondarts.org,2005:Post/65650122021-03-04T15:08:41-06:002021-03-10T21:50:10-06:00Young Artists Spotlight: Vanessa Smay<p style="text-align: justify;">Young artist Vanessa Smay, a senior at Ponchatoula High School, sat down with HRAC to talk about her current work, her beginnings in art, and her favorite piece from her catalogue. Read our Q&A below and learn more about this featured young artist, then check out her work on display during the Young Artists Exhibition this March.</p>
<p><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/fd84b35806bc5580eac838a28276dc95d2bdda82/original/vanessa-smay-edited.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsImxhcmdlIl1d.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_none" alt="" /></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><br><span class="font_regular"><span style="color:#3498db;"><strong>Tell us about yourself. Do you remember your first encounter with art? What made you want to be an artist? </strong></span><br>My name is Vanessa Smay. My mom was probably my earliest encounter with art. She was more of a “hands-on, let’s try this thing” kind of mom, so we did a lot of finger paints and modeling clay when I was younger. As I got older, I figured out that I enjoyed the process of creating things that I thought of, and I loved being able to express them through different mediums. I went through (and still am going through) so many mediums to figure out what my favorite was. </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><br><span class="font_regular"><span style="color:#3498db;"><strong>What is your artistic aesthetic? How has it developed in your art? </strong></span><br>I’m not quite sure what category my art fits into directly, but I feel like I have a surrealistic approach to a lot of my art. I studied body proportions and figures a lot when I was younger, and I feel like I have developed my own way of creating these figures that seem proportionate yet elongated. I tend to stretch the features of a normal atomical figure in many of my pieces. </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><br><span class="font_regular"><span style="color:#3498db;"><strong>Tell us about your process; how do you work when creating a piece? </strong></span><br>My process continues to develop as I get older and get more acquainted with my supplies and tools. As of now, I work very quickly. Both of my art teachers always tell me to slow down and take some extra time to look at a piece before I completely resolve it, but I tend to finish my pieces in a day or so. There is not much pre-planning that goes into my art. Sometimes it’s a very rough sketch in one of my journals, and other times I just dive right into a piece whenever I find a piece of paper or fabric large enough for what I think I need. Most of the time, my pieces come out completely different than what I first imagined. </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><br><span class="font_regular"><span style="color:#3498db;"><strong><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/317ae9736032c0f355c4e8faad66a3ba8880c3da/original/vanessa-smay-ohm.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_right border_none" alt="Ohm by Vanessa Smay" style="margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 20px;" />What’s your favorite piece from your personal work? </strong></span><br>My favorite piece from my work in the past few years is Ohm. This piece was displayed in the Young Artists Exhibition last year. I really enjoyed the process of this one. I got to experiment with textures and color a lot. While color is usually prominent in my pieces, texture usually gets left out because I work in mediums that don’t allow for so much of it. With Ohm, I used different fabrics and cork as a base and then painted and inked on top of those with metallic acrylic and India ink. </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><br><span class="font_regular"><span style="color:#3498db;"><strong>Is there anything that you’d like to make people conscious of through your art? </strong></span><br>I often get asked what meaning is behind a piece that I’ve created. Most of the time, I don’t have an answer. I like to see what other people interpret from my work. I don’t really believe that I create art for a specific cause or purpose other than the sole fact that I enjoy doing it, and I love to see how other people enjoy and interpret my work. </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><br><span class="font_regular"><span style="color:#3498db;"><strong>What are you working on at the moment? </strong></span><br>I have just finished a piece. I decided to experiment with mixed media and collage with this one. I tried to introduce depth and a different perspective in this work, so I started this one on a piece of acrylic plastic. I layered old homework and maps on the backside and painted and scraped on the front side. The two figures are references from myself and my best friend. I’m not really working on a piece at this time, but rather a place to create. I am fixing up a smaller outbuilding that is on my family’s property so that I can have my own studio and give myself more space to experiment and create. I plan to expand my work into ceramics and textiles with the extra space. </span><br> </p>
<table align="left" border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="5" style="width:200px;"><tbody> <tr> <td> <p><em>"I can't really say that I 'taught' Vanessa much, she didn't need it; her time in the Talented Art Program was more experimentation and exploration on her part. I feel very confident that she will be an amazing and prolific artist, she has definitely found her own unique style and settled into it." - Jordan Kenning, HRAC Board Member and Talented Art Teacher</em></p> </td> </tr>
</tbody></table>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="font_regular"><span style="color:#3498db;"><strong>What is your dream project? </strong></span><br>I don’t think that I have a “dream project” in mind. I’m sure that I will one day, but for now, I honestly just create on a whim. I tend to jump in without planning or mapping out the ending product. </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><br><span class="font_regular"><span style="color:#3498db;"><strong>Has the opportunity to exhibit at the Hammond Regional Arts Center shaped your career path? And if so, how? </strong></span><br>I do feel like the opportunity to share my art with people has changed my perspective on what I do. For as long as I can remember, my family has built and renovated homes. To some people, that is an art form all in itself. Because I’ve always been exposed to it, I have decided to take the same career path as my parents and run my own business and possibly take over theirs when the time comes. <span style="color:#3498db;"><strong> </strong></span></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><br><span class="font_regular"><span style="color:#3498db;"><strong>What else are you doing to ensure you continue to grow and develop as an artist? </strong></span><br>I plan to keep creating, and I would also like to continue to share my art through galleries and media. <span style="color:#3498db;"><strong> </strong></span></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><br><span class="font_regular"><span style="color:#3498db;"><strong>Is there anything else you’d like to add that I didn’t directly ask or touch upon? </strong></span><br>I recently got prints made of some of my favorite pieces I have done in hopes to expand my audience and also helping me grow from an artist who works in her bedroom to someone who could potentially be successful through my art. </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span class="font_small"><em>Some of Vanessa's current works featured below on display now at Hammond Regional Arts Center.</em></span></p>
<table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="5" style="width:500px;"><tbody> <tr> <td><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/5e079c6856b071e63245e8a048a380e2f3d4376a/original/img-9934.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_none" alt="" /></td> <td><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/b56dbeb559439499e5dd726223d5b69870993889/original/img-9935.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_none" alt="" /></td> </tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="5" style="width:500px;"><tbody> <tr> <td><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/87cf7552c86ea9df1c942d2ec2d7bd19b2659ee2/original/img-9937.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsImxhcmdlIl1d.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_none" alt="" /></td> </tr>
</tbody></table>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>Melissa Griffintag:www.hammondarts.org,2005:Post/65649962021-03-04T14:36:05-06:002021-03-04T14:51:53-06:00Let's Talk Stress: Art, Yoga and Social Distancing<p>Host Melissa Griffin talks with Marc Settembrino, a sociology professor and certified yoga instructor, about the impacts of stress in a post-COVID world and ways to combat it using yoga (even for people who don't practice yoga), art and personal interactions.</p>29:50Melissa Griffintag:www.hammondarts.org,2005:Post/65440082021-02-07T12:00:00-06:002021-02-11T14:14:25-06:00The Importance of Art Education<p><em><span class="font_small">Written by Melissa Griffin, Executive Director</span></em></p>
<p>I’ve had the pleasure of witnessing firsthand how art education reinforces a student’s regular curriculum in a fun and engaging way. In art classes, elementary students are identifying shapes and colors, as well as practicing fine motor skills and counting. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/d332dacfb3c33e965177ab7cbfd5c7fac70d17db/original/maya-levy-grant-2013.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_none" alt="" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:#7f8c8d;"><span class="font_small">Executive Director Melissa Griffin talks with elementary school student about colors and concentric circles. (2013) Photo by Phillip Colwart.</span></span></p>
<p>For older students, the arts are an opportunity to develop an understanding of themselves and the broader world around them while they push themselves both technically and creatively. As the career marketplace changes and the need for visual, digital and creative, skilled workers increases, thus making art classes are valuable skills-development opportunities. </p>
<p>Every year for the past two decades, the Hammond Regional Arts Center has hosted an art exhibition that features artwork by students from Tangipahoa Parish. It’s a professionally installed display of art and a proud moment for these young artists. Each year our organization is so proud and amazed by the hard work, incredible creativity and inspiring talents in our parish—a strong reminder of the power of art education in our schools. </p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<p><span style="color:#7f8c8d;"><span class="font_small"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/02ecf525d83de446eb386b572bffcb3f62c1ff59/original/2020-yae.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_none" alt="" style="text-align: center;" /></span></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:#7f8c8d;"><span class="font_small">Ponchatoula High School student Vanessa Smay with her piece "Ohm" in during the 2020 Young Artists Exhibition. </span></span></p>
<p>We understand that COVID-19 has altered the landscape of education. At the Hammond Regional Arts Center, we are committed to continuing, or restoring, tangible methods by which we can offer support and encouragement for the arts in our region. I am currently working together with the board of directors on our plans to do so in 2021, and I'm excited about what's to come!</p>
<p><em>Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up. </em>– Pablo Picasso</p>
<p> </p>
<table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="1" style="width:500px;"><tbody> <tr> <td> <p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/d1f4e400cd1af6a012dd8123dbdd1e6329965d0d/original/20180428-115836-2.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_none" alt="" /></p> </td> <td><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/9df12499762969df7dc4efcb88c91186f41c366d/original/ml-arts-education-grant.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_none" alt="" /></td> <td><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/49265e9e41bfe9846df5cb6b5887ae2ab650bd15/original/img-2153.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_none" alt="" /></td> </tr>
</tbody></table>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>Melissa Griffintag:www.hammondarts.org,2005:Post/64849012020-11-24T15:50:21-06:002020-11-24T15:54:16-06:00Fine & Functional Shopping Guide<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/7b58471b3fbeb7481eb181a80181cb6eb9f01616/original/fb-event.png/!!/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" />Give the gift of art this holiday season with choice selections from Hammond Regional Arts Center’s Fine & Functional exhibition. The show’s curators have selected some of the best works to make the perfect present ranging from books for children, timeless leather accessories for your stylish sis, and sleek home essentials fit for an art gallery. </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The list below reflects just some of the perfect presents to add a dash of dapper when rounding out your holiday shopping this year. Find them all and more at HRAC and visit us during Small Business Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon for a unique, local shopping experience. </p>
<center><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="5" style="width:500px;"><tbody> <tr> <td> <p>David and Emily Wortman of Wortman Pottery incorporate a love affair with Louisiana and its culinary abundance. Each of their functional pieces is designed to showcase oysters, crawfish, alligators, and more—a perfect gift for budding chefs. </p> </td> <td style="text-align: center;"> <p style="text-align: justify;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/85125b0b4d16ec81e80aead3a05457b8e16cd459/original/wortman-pottery.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_none" alt="" /></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: justify;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/86d58397092de8be4730ad0dc21241bb51b1c67b/original/jonny-vieuxdo.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_none" alt="" /></td> <td style="text-align: center;"> <p style="text-align: justify;">New to Fine & Functional is Jonny Vieuxdo. Born and bred in Hammond, Louisiana. Now a resident of New Orleans, he has been in the auto title business for over 25 years, developing his interest in license plates. Salvaged materials such as wood and metals combined with old license plates create beautiful décor pieces for any NOLA lover. </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p style="text-align: justify;">Designed by Mike Davis, this glassware tray will accentuate your favorite sushi order from Kirin Sushi or Cate Street Seafood Station. </p> </td> <td style="text-align: center;"> <p style="text-align: justify;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/0d1a1166e630ea55b85bb5006672c71b39130b2a/original/mike-davis.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_none" alt="" /></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td style="text-align: justify;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/3ee09a2523e3743093f415c669cab6195b84b589/original/micah-mcgrath.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_none" alt="" /></td> <td style="text-align: center;"> <p style="text-align: justify;">Micah McGrath works exclusively with leather, making functional art in bags, purses, and wallets. He incorporates vintage found objects into many pieces, preserving the past in new work. </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p style="text-align: justify;">Cathy DeYoung chooses vitreous enamel in her jewelry because of its durability, vibrant color, and ability to last for thousands of years. Her goal is to create durable and artistic sculptures that pay tribute to and preserve the stories of interesting people and places. </p> </td> <td style="text-align: center;"> <p style="text-align: justify;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/dbc8714165350573118579543e8b740f65abbdc5/original/cathy-deyoung.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_none" alt="" /></p> </td> </tr>
</tbody></table></center>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><br>Whether you’re looking for a beautiful painting for your grandchild’s nursery, a house-warming gift for your best friend, or the perfect dinner party display, we’re confident that you’ll find something for everyone on your list within our specially curated exhibition.</p>Melissa Griffintag:www.hammondarts.org,2005:Post/64693992020-11-03T15:11:38-06:002022-05-10T13:16:41-05:00Barbara Tardo: Stunning Kindness & Generosity <p><strong><span style="color:#d35400;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/24101227174c213cf2a537ba4ec716297c6c8b01/original/web-02-barbaratardo-10-16-20-pcolwart2.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsImxhcmdlIl1d.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_none" alt="" /></span></strong></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:#95a5a6;"><span class="font_small">Exhibition curator Denise Tullier-Holly, artist Barbara Tardo, HRAC director Melissa Griffin<br>Photo by Phillip Colwart</span></span></p>
<p>It's been such a pleasure working with, and getting to know, artist Barbara Tardo. Over many decades she has been a supporter and friend to the Hammond Regional Arts Center, and we so greatly appreciate her. As we prepared for her exhibition "Sand Reliefs & Other Works" at the Hammond Regional Arts Center gallery, I had a chance to hear her story and learn more about the journey she's taken as an artist. She sat down with Eloise Cottrell of Tangi Lifestyles Magazine one morning in our Mezzanine Gallery to tell that story. </p>
<p>She started pursuing the arts as a young adult when she moved from New Orleans to Hammond to attend Southeastern College (now Southeastern Louisiana University) with a few girlfriends in the 1950s. She told stories of her early years in Hammond and her travels across the southern parts of the United States, particularly to New Mexico. Receiving a spark of inspiration from the New Mexican landscape, she would "hang out the window of the car with a camera, taking pictures" as they whizzed through the countryside. Those photos would become a rooting theme for her life's work for decades to come. </p>
<p>"My subject matter has always been--if it's not a person--landscape," she commented. If you know her work, you know her subject matter is often portrayed in abstraction. She later went on to say, "I love realism, but it's boring for me because it has a logical end, and abstraction doesn't. Abstraction gives you lots of room to play." </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/45f12a8736d9249feb48ab9cd69611b98619f933/original/img-8841.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:#95a5a6;"><span class="font_small">photo by Melissa Griffin</span></span></p>
<p>Barbara Tardo is now in her early 80s and still embodies that playful spirit. Her wise-cracking sense of humor and her constant smile make her a joy to be around, but it's her genuine love for people that brightens the room. And her story doesn't end there. In her 30s, she was diagnosed with a genetic, degenerative condition that meant over time she would lose her eyesight. Most people would consider this devastating, but Barbara Tardo is not most people. She continued working as an art instructor and an artist for a number of decades following that diagnosis. In fact, the sand reliefs she sculpted in her back yard while living in Folsom were created less than 10 years ago. Only recently has she stopped creating art in the formal sense of the term. </p>
<p>Many years ago, Ms. Barbara donated a large portion of her work to the Hammond Regional Arts Center. As she puts it, "Art you make for you is not something you sell," so she, most often, gives her art away. A few of those pieces were placed in our permanent collection--the rest were stored. This summer, she donated her sand reliefs to the Hammond Regional Arts Center. "Sand Reliefs & Other Works" curated by Denise Tullier-Holly is the recent exhibition of her work at our gallery. Friends, loved ones and community members had a chance to experience her work and get a sense of that journey she discussed during the magazine interview. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/1dc07a5b77aa666825a40675f4e2ac48e4a532fa/original/web-10-barbaratardo-10-16-20-pcolwart.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color:#95a5a6;"><span class="font_small">photo by Phillip Colwart</span></span></p>
<p>Because of her donations of artwork, the Hammond Regional Arts Center sold some of the pieces that hung in the gallery in October. Now, people who appreciate her work will be able to enjoy it in their homes, and the funds will be used to further the mission of enriching people's lives through culture and the arts. Those funds will support our four exhibitions settings: the main gallery (open since 1982), the Mezzanine Gallery (open since 2019), the Virtual Gallery (on our website) and our new Pop Galleries (displayed in the windows of vacant commercial spaces around the community). </p>
<p>I have been encouraged and energized by my encounters with Barbara Tardo. Her generosity and her kindness are stunning. More information about her life and work can be found in the <a contents="October issue of Tangi Lifestyles Magazine" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://issuu.com/webeditions/docs/tangi_lifestyles_1020" style="" target="_blank">October issue of Tangi Lifestyles Magazine</a>, as well as on the Hammond Regional Arts Center website (www.hammondarts.org) and social media pages. </p>
<p>Sincerely,</p>
<p>Melissa Griffin, Executive Director<br>Hammond Regional Arts Center</p>
<p><a contents="Facebook" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.facebook.com/hammondarts" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a contents="Instagram" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.instagram.com/hammond_arts/" target="_blank">Instagram</a>: @hammond_arts, <a contents="Linkedin" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="http://www.linkedin.com/company/hammondarts" target="_blank">Linkedin</a></p>Melissa Griffintag:www.hammondarts.org,2005:Post/64480492020-10-08T14:00:00-05:002020-10-08T14:00:04-05:00Art Talk Thursday: Barbara Tardo<p><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="T90-W1hmTf8" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/T90-W1hmTf8/mqdefault.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/T90-W1hmTf8?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="320" width="640" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Join HRAC for Art Talk Thursday for a retrospective into the life and art of Barbara Tardo! Listen to Tardo as she gives insight to her life as an artist.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The opening for "Sand Reliefs & Other Works" will be held on Friday, Oct. 16th from 4-8 p.m. A New Orleans native, Tardo became a fixture in Southeastern's Department of Visual Arts for four decades. After briefly teaching in Algiers, Tardo went on to study at the University of New Mexico, receiving her master's degree, and then at LSU, where she earned her "Master of Fine Arts" diploma. She would then return to Southeastern in 1965, where she taught visual art until her retirement in 2002.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Tardo says her preference for abstraction over realism is because “realism has a logical end, but abstraction gives you lots of room to play.”</p>Melissa Griffintag:www.hammondarts.org,2005:Post/64281582020-09-08T14:00:00-05:002023-06-15T12:41:13-05:00Tutorial Tuesdays: Watercolors<p> </p><center>
<p><span>It's time for #TutorialTuesday! This week features watercolors!</span></p>
<p><span>If you make something, show it off to us by tagging us on social media!</span></p>
</center><p style="text-align:center;"> </p><p style="text-align:center;"><span class="text-big">DIYs for Adults & Kids</span></p><p style="text-align:center;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/f5282870aeb870ed7d92df81c71014b398dc036c/original/tutorial-tuesday.png/!!/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p><center>
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<a class="no-pjax" href="http://www.livelovediy.com/2016/04/diy-abstract-wall-art.html" data-link-type="url" contents="Abstract Art"><font face="Helvetica, sans-serif"><span><strong>Abstract Art</strong></span></font></a><font face="Helvetica, sans-serif"><span><strong> (adults)</strong></span></font>
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</center><center> </center><center> </center><center><p><i>All tutorials are the property of their original creators.</i></p></center>Melissa Griffintag:www.hammondarts.org,2005:Post/64198682020-09-01T14:00:00-05:002023-06-15T12:41:08-05:00Tutorial Tuesdays: Socks<p> </p><center>
<p><span>It's time for #TutorialTuesday! This week features socks!</span></p>
<p><span>If you make something, show it off to us by tagging us on social media!</span></p>
</center><p style="text-align:center;"> </p><p style="text-align:center;"><span class="text-big">DIYs for Adults & Kids</span></p><p style="text-align:center;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/5e2568dbceaee3ad544ff57d12ef6350396e4db6/original/tutorial-tuesday-1.png/!!/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p><center>
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<td><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/2c708b938114f57accd8ba07a3ed2c239f9e43e6/original/socks-into-warmers.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" /></td>
<td style="text-align:center;"><a class="no-pjax" href="https://thelittletreasures.blogspot.com/2010/12/transform-socks-into-warmers.html" data-link-type="url" contents="Arm Warmers (adults)"><font face="Helvetica, sans-serif"><span><strong>Arm Warmers (adults)</strong></span></font></a></td>
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<td><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/d6d36d5f854cdad7203574e0689a3d72d83c436a/original/sock-dragon-side.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" alt="" /></td>
<td style="text-align:center;"><a class="no-pjax" href="http://www.craftpassion.com/2014/04/how-to-sew-sock-dragon.html" data-link-type="url" contents="Sock Dragon (kids)"><font face="Helvetica, sans-serif"><span><strong>Sock Dragon (kids)</strong></span></font></a></td>
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</center><center> </center><center> </center><center><p><i>All tutorials are the property of their original creators.</i></p></center>Melissa Griffintag:www.hammondarts.org,2005:Post/64014252020-08-04T14:00:00-05:002023-06-15T12:41:02-05:00Tutorial Tuesdays: Toothpicks<p> </p><center>
<p><span>It's time for #TutorialTuesday! This week features toothpicks!</span></p>
<p><span>If you make something, show it off to us by tagging us on social media!</span></p>
</center><p style="text-align:center;"> </p><p style="text-align:center;"><span class="text-big">DIYs for Adults & Kids</span></p><p style="text-align:center;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/4d9c621fd4d959e8908fd9b90579b8dc81951e71/original/tutorial-tuesday.png/!!/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p><center>
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<td style="text-align:center;"><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=En9ap8LtzUY" data-link-type="url" contents="Painting (adults)"><font face="Helvetica, sans-serif"><span><strong>Painting (adults)</strong></span></font></a></td>
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<td><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/8f9b89791dd55d61bee0f960bbba3b88603d4c8b/original/toothpick-painting-with-kids-dried.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" alt="" /></td>
<td style="text-align:center;"><a class="no-pjax" href="https://club.chicacircle.com/toothpick-painting-with-kids-a-crafty-photo-challenge/" data-link-type="url" contents="Painting (kids)"><font face="Helvetica, sans-serif"><span><strong>Painting (kids)</strong></span></font></a></td>
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</center><center> </center><center> </center><center><p><i>All tutorials are the property of their original creators.</i></p></center>Melissa Griffintag:www.hammondarts.org,2005:Post/63958362020-07-28T14:00:00-05:002023-06-15T12:40:57-05:00Tutorial Tuesday: Bottle Caps<p> </p><center>
<p><span>It's time for #TutorialTuesday! This week features bottle caps!</span></p>
<p><span>If you make something, show it off to us by tagging us on social media!</span></p>
</center><p style="text-align:center;"> </p><p style="text-align:center;"><span class="text-big">DIYs for Adults & Kids</span></p><p style="text-align:center;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/19194d7158119c9f606334f673fd5ecab70ca708/original/tutorial-tuesday.png/!!/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p><center>
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<td><a class="no-pjax" href="https://iheartcraftythings.com/bottle-cap-art-fish-and-flower-scene.html" data-link-type="url" contents=""><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/4ba531c661a8c30558ec7010953019002bcbef30/original/bottlecapfishart-750x588.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" alt="" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align:center;"><a class="no-pjax" href="https://iheartcraftythings.com/bottle-cap-art-fish-and-flower-scene.html" data-link-type="url" contents="Art"><font face="Helvetica, sans-serif"><span><strong>Art</strong></span></font></a></td>
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<td><a class="no-pjax" href="http://www.markmontano.com/2014/10/beautiful-backsplash-diy.html" data-link-type="url" contents=""><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/03fa41cb471d9da82a55c0e48a90eb8c24ce8934/original/beauty2backsplash.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" alt="" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align:center;"><a class="no-pjax" href="http://www.markmontano.com/2014/10/beautiful-backsplash-diy.html" data-link-type="url" contents="Backsplash"><font face="Helvetica, sans-serif"><span><strong>Backsplash</strong></span></font></a></td>
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</center><center> </center><center> </center><center><p><i>All tutorials are the property of their original creators.</i></p></center>Melissa Griffintag:www.hammondarts.org,2005:Post/63951802020-07-21T14:00:00-05:002023-06-15T12:40:50-05:00Tutorial Tuesdays: Cocktail Umbrellas<p> </p><center>
<p><span>It's time for #TutorialTuesday! This week features cocktail umbrellas!</span></p>
<p><span>If you make something, show it off to us by tagging us on social media!</span></p>
</center><p style="text-align:center;"> </p><p style="text-align:center;"><span class="text-big">DIYs for Adults & Kids</span></p><p style="text-align:center;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/e652c7cd12bc3a0d068c1d511948ae245d9ba9aa/original/tutorial-tuesday-cocktail-umbrellas.png/!!/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p><center>
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<td><a class="no-pjax" href="http://www.tipsycones.com/blog/2014/12/12/the-12-days-of-craftmas-part-one-this-seemed-like-a-good-idea" data-link-type="url" contents=""><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/94ca2fcd565e4039b1847df27d3f23620c20eb8c/original/image-asset.jpeg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpeg" class="size_m justify_center border_" alt="" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align:center;"><a class="no-pjax" href="http://www.tipsycones.com/blog/2014/12/12/the-12-days-of-craftmas-part-one-this-seemed-like-a-good-idea" data-link-type="url" contents="Ornaments"><font face="Helvetica, sans-serif"><span><strong>Ornaments</strong></span></font></a></td>
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<td><a class="no-pjax" href="https://thebeansproutnotes.blogspot.com/2012/07/diy-wall-art-umbrellas-on-parade.html" data-link-type="url" contents=""><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/bd923fd950a7ad6001cf91b060c2a63d6b587ac9/original/umbrella-art7.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" alt="" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align:center;"><a class="no-pjax" href="https://thebeansproutnotes.blogspot.com/2012/07/diy-wall-art-umbrellas-on-parade.html" data-link-type="url" contents="Wall Art"><font face="Helvetica, sans-serif"><span><strong>Wall Art</strong></span></font></a></td>
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</center><center> </center><center> </center><center><p><i>All tutorials are the property of their original creators.</i></p></center>Melissa Griffintag:www.hammondarts.org,2005:Post/63951782020-07-14T14:00:00-05:002023-06-15T12:40:44-05:00Tutorial Tuesdays: Matches<p> </p><center>
<p><span>It's time for #TutorialTuesday! This week features matches!</span></p>
<p><span>If you make something, show it off to us by tagging us on social media!</span></p>
</center><p style="text-align:center;"> </p><p style="text-align:center;"><span class="text-big">DIYs for Adults & Kids</span></p><p style="text-align:center;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/5c68430f8545440b90664d6c839cfce610f70c31/original/tutorial-tuesday-matches.png/!!/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p><center>
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<td><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhy29qcMrvI" data-link-type="url" contents=""><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/995ad63df70f0547ab00b86539415e3182da8ecb/original/maxresdefault.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" alt="" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align:center;"><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xhy29qcMrvI" data-link-type="url" contents="Barbie Beach Furniture"><font face="Helvetica, sans-serif"><span><strong>Barbie Beach Furniture</strong></span></font></a></td>
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<td><a class="no-pjax" href="http://treasuresandtravelsblog.com/blog/2014/1/8/diy-matchstick-wall-art" data-link-type="url" contents=""><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/0d8d5771fbb9ee6bbcd2e04f60bc72c9b83fcdef/original/diymatches1.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" alt="" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align:center;"><a class="no-pjax" href="http://treasuresandtravelsblog.com/blog/2014/1/8/diy-matchstick-wall-art" data-link-type="url" contents="Wall Art"><font face="Helvetica, sans-serif"><span><strong>Wall Art</strong></span></font></a></td>
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</center><center> </center><center> </center><center><p><i>All tutorials are the property of their original creators.</i></p></center>Melissa Griffintag:www.hammondarts.org,2005:Post/63912042020-07-09T15:40:00-05:002020-07-23T15:37:42-05:00Art Talk Thursday: Jose Canales<p><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="BX-KGCdnnrY" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/BX-KGCdnnrY/mqdefault.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BX-KGCdnnrY?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="320" width="640" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p>
<p>For today's #ArtTalkThursday, we hear from our own Mezzanine Gallery Coordinator Jose Canales who shares his love for the screenprinting medium and his current projects. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll appreciate eccentric pieces.</p>Melissa Griffintag:www.hammondarts.org,2005:Post/63912032020-07-02T15:40:00-05:002020-10-06T23:57:21-05:00Art Talk Thursday: Caitlyn Clark<p><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="Feb0K3yA7Ls" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/Feb0K3yA7Ls/mqdefault.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Feb0K3yA7Ls?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="320" width="640" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe> </p>
<p>Our next #ArtTalkThursday features Caitlyn Clark. Learn how her interest in pop culture 2-D art led her to her own style in 3-D sculpture.</p>Melissa Griffintag:www.hammondarts.org,2005:Post/63951742020-06-30T14:00:00-05:002023-06-15T12:40:38-05:00Tutorial Tuesdays: Rubber Bands<p> </p><center>
<p><span>It's time for #TutorialTuesday! This week features rubber bands!</span></p>
<p><span>If you make something, show it off to us by tagging us on social media!</span></p>
</center><p style="text-align:center;"> </p><p style="text-align:center;"><span class="text-big">DIYs for Adults & Kids</span></p><p style="text-align:center;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/5361e3cf1d8a505ea2e33c7b919bae08f2dbdb2a/original/tutorial-tuesday-rubber-bands.png/!!/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p><center>
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<td><a class="no-pjax" href="https://ragstocouture.com/rubber-band-chain-necklace-and-bracelet-diy-tutorial/" data-link-type="url" contents=""><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/d1c6fe237c484b8525b85e6ed689ec1c4c13344b/original/rubber-band-necklace-chain-diy.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" alt="" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align:center;"><a class="no-pjax" href="https://ragstocouture.com/rubber-band-chain-necklace-and-bracelet-diy-tutorial/" data-link-type="url" contents="Chain Jewelry"><font face="Helvetica, sans-serif"><span><strong>Chain Jewelry</strong></span></font></a></td>
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<td><a class="no-pjax" href="https://babbledabbledo.com/easy-art-projects-for-kids-rubber-band-art/easy-art-for-kids-rubber-band-art-babble-dabble-do-stamping-collage/" data-link-type="url" contents=""><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/eeaef99ee11431204f3b7a414dd7f33830088a0f/original/easy-art-for-kids-rubber-band-art-babble-dabble-do-stamping-collage.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" alt="" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align:center;"><a class="no-pjax" href="https://babbledabbledo.com/easy-art-projects-for-kids-rubber-band-art/easy-art-for-kids-rubber-band-art-babble-dabble-do-stamping-collage/" data-link-type="url" contents="Art Stamps"><font face="Helvetica, sans-serif"><span><strong>Art Stamps</strong></span></font></a></td>
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</center><center> </center><center> </center><center><p><i>All tutorials are the property of their original creators.</i></p></center>Melissa Griffintag:www.hammondarts.org,2005:Post/63912022020-06-25T15:40:00-05:002020-07-23T15:38:26-05:00Art Talk Thursday: Tiffany Nesbit<p><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="tk2kH1hEHAc" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/tk2kH1hEHAc/mqdefault.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tk2kH1hEHAc?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="320" width="640" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p>
<p>This week's #ArtTalkThursday looks into Tiffany Nesbit's methodology on creating new and adapting that art to what is going on around her.</p>Melissa Griffintag:www.hammondarts.org,2005:Post/63951842020-06-23T14:00:00-05:002023-06-15T12:40:25-05:00Tutorial Tuesdays: Cotton Balls<p> </p><center>
<p><span>It's time for #TutorialTuesday! This week features cotton balls!</span></p>
<p><span>If you make something, show it off to us by tagging us on social media!</span></p>
</center><p style="text-align:center;"> </p><p style="text-align:center;"><span class="text-big">DIYs for Adults & Kids</span></p><p style="text-align:center;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/7cdd35ae0a43304d14ae000236db021795d46bba/original/tutorial-tuesday-cotton-balls.png/!!/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p><center>
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<td><a class="no-pjax" href="https://diyjoy.com/diy-cloud-lights/" data-link-type="url" contents=""><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/28304b7b9b787d35ea1694299e19ecfc0514e1a6/original/cloud-lights-1-480x270-1.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align:center;"><a class="no-pjax" href="https://diyjoy.com/diy-cloud-lights/" data-link-type="url" contents="Cloud Lights"><font face="Helvetica, sans-serif"><span><strong>Cloud Lights</strong></span></font></a></td>
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<td><a class="no-pjax" href="https://mhorama.wordpress.com/2010/02/11/cotton-ball-confections/" data-link-type="url" contents=""><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/cda78e817d517bd57146e09aa58f90ab3c42aa5b/original/dsc-5297.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" alt="" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align:center;"><a class="no-pjax" href="https://mhorama.wordpress.com/2010/02/11/cotton-ball-confections/" data-link-type="url" contents="Sweets"><font face="Helvetica, sans-serif"><span><strong>Sweets</strong></span></font></a></td>
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</center><center> </center><center> </center><center><p><i>All tutorials are the property of their original creators.</i></p></center>Melissa Griffintag:www.hammondarts.org,2005:Post/63912012020-06-18T15:40:00-05:002022-02-25T09:42:11-06:00Art Talk Thursday: Aubree Barber<p><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="iCYO1WTKSAs" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/iCYO1WTKSAs/mqdefault.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iCYO1WTKSAs?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="320" width="640" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p>
<p>Today we learn more about Aubree Barber and what art means to her for today's #ArtTalkThursday.</p>Melissa Griffintag:www.hammondarts.org,2005:Post/63951792020-06-16T14:00:00-05:002023-06-15T12:40:19-05:00Tutorial Tuesdays: Paper Clips<p> </p><center>
<p><span>It's time for #TutorialTuesday! This week features paper clips!</span></p>
<p><span>If you make something, show it off to us by tagging us on social media!</span></p>
</center><p style="text-align:center;"> </p><p style="text-align:center;"><span class="text-big">DIYs for Adults & Kids</span></p><p style="text-align:center;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/93bbe4574f27d5cba4031019a3c438850f86e107/original/tutorial-tuesday-paper-clips.png/!!/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p><center>
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<td><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.easypeasyandfun.com/printable-diy-paper-clip-bookmarks/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=pinterest&utm_campaign=tailwind_smartloop&utm_content=smartloop&utm_term=30231788" data-link-type="url" contents=""><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/e701be95a5f36e8d1d91324895dfc3dbc181d6d9/original/diy-paper-clip-bookmarks-classroom-idea.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" alt="" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align:center;"><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.easypeasyandfun.com/printable-diy-paper-clip-bookmarks/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=pinterest&utm_campaign=tailwind_smartloop&utm_content=smartloop&utm_term=30231788" data-link-type="url" contents="Bookmarks"><font face="Helvetica, sans-serif"><span><strong>Bookmarks</strong></span></font></a></td>
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<td><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Paperclip-Ring-1/" data-link-type="url" contents=""><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/3d7e7bfcf0d0aef9cefc9ea87cc51733050ee7b8/original/f7ibeiqj16oxw06-large.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" alt="" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align:center;"><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Paperclip-Ring-1/" data-link-type="url" contents="Rings"><font face="Helvetica, sans-serif"><span><strong>Rings</strong></span></font></a></td>
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</center><center> </center><center> </center><center><p><i>All tutorials are the property of their original creators.</i></p></center>Melissa Griffintag:www.hammondarts.org,2005:Post/63407672020-06-03T13:15:58-05:002020-07-23T15:41:02-05:00I heART Summer: Rock Painting 101<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/1c243b2e9f4c902b82b1871895612340ca243c77/original/ff05a79402ceef6e5a329f0b3351a20c.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_left border_none" alt="" /></p>
<p>If you haven’t heard of them, kindness rocks are a growing trend! Maybe you’ve seen a painted rock laying around in Hammond – that’s quite possibly a kindness rock. </p>
<p>It started with the Kindness Rocks Project and their mission is “one message at just the right moment can change someone’s entire day, outlook, life.”</p>
<p>The Kindness Rock Project is the thing that got me started painting rocks in the first place – and now I’m hooked. Try out this tutorial with the kiddos for a fun summer project that allows them to spread a little bit of joy.</p>
<p><strong>Materials Needed:</strong></p>
<p>Acrylic paint <br>Paint brushes <br>Oil based markers- these, these and these come in a wonderful array of beautiful colors <br>Stickers <br>Acrylic spray (to seal) <br>Nail dotting sets (to make dots) </p>
<p><strong>Instructions</strong></p>
<p><strong>Choose your Rocks</strong> </p>
<p>These can be purchased at a dollar store or home store or at Amazon. You can even use random stones found on your family walks or hikes. </p>
<p><strong>Wash</strong> </p>
<p>If your rocks are smooth and shiny they have possibly been treated with wax or oil. As a preventative measure, wash them to remove any coating. For natural rocks, rinse your rocks and remove any dirt/debris and let dry thoroughly. </p>
<p><strong>Paint </strong></p>
<p>Paint the top in a color of your choice with multiple coats and let dry thoroughly. Flip over, paint the flip side and let dry. Paint the sides, if needed. Repeat coats of paint to have an even finish. Perfection is overrated- just go with the flow and have fun. Don’t worry about brush marks on your rocks since it just gives them character. If mistakes bother you, you can always repaint if need be.</p>
<p><strong>Decorate </strong></p>
<p>This is my favorite part! Draw your designs on your rock or you can paint freehand. Paint with acrylic paint or oil based markers. If you’d like to make polka dots, you can use the end of a crochet hook or eraser. It can also be fun to add stickers. The possibilities for your rocks are endless. Let your rocks dry thoroughly afterwards.</p>
<p><strong>Seal </strong></p>
<p>Spray glaze seals your paint and keeps your rock weatherproof. Now go hide your rocks for someone to find and spread a little bit of joy.</p>Melissa Griffintag:www.hammondarts.org,2005:Post/63319062020-06-03T13:15:28-05:002020-07-23T15:41:10-05:00I heART Summer: Squirt Gun Spray Painting<p><em>Young kids have such fantastic creative energy! </em>Putting together some of their favorite things to create art is thrilling for them. In this case it's water guns, painting, playing outside and making a giant mess! My toddler and I set out do some kid-friendly spray painting. And he loved it! </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/074edb7e2b51f855b03ea4ff4ad0825df4112805/original/img-7562.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p><strong>Materials Needed:</strong></p>
<ul> <li>Squirt Guns or Spray Bottles</li> <li>Heavy Paper or Poster Board</li> <li>Paint - at least 2 colors</li> <li>Easel (or other place to tack or pin up the paper) </li>
</ul>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/62b6f8130bb9ec794c9870fd1d0c7e0c0a950bed/original/img-7500.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_left border_" /></p>
<p><strong>Put the Paint in the Water Guns / Spray Bottles: </strong>We used acrylic paints and small water guns--because that's what the store had available. (Suggestion: use a spray bottle or a squirt gun that has a large opening to make the set up process much easier.) If you're using a thick paint like we did, test the gun beforehand, you'll probably need to add some water and shake up the mixture. </p>
<p>Let your child pick the colors. This is a great opportunity to talk about colors--favorite colors, bright colors, warm colors, muted colors, primary colors, complementary colors, etc. </p>
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<p><strong>Set Up Outside: </strong>Spray painting with water guns is definitely an outdoor activity! Find a place outside, and be prepared to get a little messy--especially if you're working with young kids. I covered my toddler's easel with gift wrap tissue paper to make clean up easier. <br><br>Don't have an easel? Pin a thick piece of paper or poster board to a tree or a piece of wood. </p>
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<p><strong>Point and Shoot! </strong>Then switch colors and keep at it. Have the "painter" stand close up then far away or at different angles for even more fun.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> <img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/a264d19975414cba378271224c7d19a0e17007a3/original/img-7512.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsInNtYWxsIl1d.jpg" class="size_s justify_none border_" /> <img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/20cf7bcf7268c725489c5345bc46a27559ae2d92/original/img-7513.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsInNtYWxsIl1d.jpg" class="size_s justify_none border_" /> <img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/3c0b7191ad955c2a347535a65cf73be1d65da0ea/original/img-7534.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsInNtYWxsIl1d.jpg" class="size_s justify_none border_" /> <img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/b136d20fab3724aba23a54234e71509f05c0d0b2/original/img-7531.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsInNtYWxsIl1d.jpg" class="size_s justify_none border_" /></p>
<p>Tips:</p>
<ol> <li>Know when to stop. Too much paint will make the paper soggy and tough to dry.</li> <li>Be careful of colors that mix together to make other colors, such as yellow and blue make green. You can patiently to wait for your first color(s) to dry before adding more. <br> </li>
</ol>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/902d6805731d68d9aedf03de8ecb7878a537ff08/original/img-7536.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsInNtYWxsIl1d.jpg" class="size_s justify_left border_" /><br> </p>
<p><strong>Turn to Dry: </strong>When we were done, it looked like brightly colored sludge sliding down the page. Turn the page and pin it back to let the paint move in a different direction as it dries. </p>
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<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/074edb7e2b51f855b03ea4ff4ad0825df4112805/original/img-7562.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_left border_" /></p>
<p>When you're done, you've got fun, abstract art you can frame for your office or home. This kind of creative play sparks imagination and helps kids to think about things in new and different ways. And the color combinations are almost endless.</p>
<p>The pride on their little faces is totally worth the minimal effort! </p>
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<p>Let us know if you try it too. We'd love to see the results!</p>Melissa Griffintag:www.hammondarts.org,2005:Post/63407662020-06-03T13:15:17-05:002020-07-23T15:41:16-05:00I heART Summer: Bubble Art<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/40516c88d87e13b4c14bff3bbb65cb57f5e7f8f4/original/popped-bubble-art.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_left border_" />How many of you have wee ones who love blowing and chasing bubbles? Now, how many of you container after container of bubbles?? Yep, I'm raising my hand too. </p>
<p>There is something very magical about bubbles, and bubble painting takes it to a whole nother level. It's very simple, using minimal ingredients and it will help your kiddos stay engaged and busy creating for a long time. </p>
<p><strong>Materials</strong> <strong>Needed:</strong><br>Bubble Mix <br>Bubble Wands <br>Food Coloring <br>Paper </p>
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<p><strong>Instructions </strong></p>
<ul> <li>Pour 1 tablespoon of bubble mix into a small, shallow bowl. </li> <li>Add a few drops of food coloring to the bubble mix and stir well.</li> <li>Place your bubble wand in the colored bubble mix, remove and blow bubbles towards your paper. </li> <li>As the bubbles hit the paper and pop, they will leave interesting patterns. Repeat with other colors.</li>
</ul>
<p><br><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/2a76b1dfffd33d2ec9ddb0da5e468e605ef06447/original/popped-bubble-art-1.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
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<p><strong>Bubble Painting Hints & Tips:</strong> </p>
<p>The activity is a little messy, so outdoors is best. I would suggest wearing art aprons and covering work surfaces too since some food coloring may stain.</p>
<p>The effect the bubbles make on the paper is amazing and the experience was lots and lots of fun! Afterwards, think about framing your child's art and create a tiny gallery for them.</p>Melissa Griffintag:www.hammondarts.org,2005:Post/63407652020-06-03T13:14:39-05:002020-07-23T15:41:22-05:00I heART Summer: Chalk Sundial<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="h08U7R7IQnM" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/h08U7R7IQnM/mqdefault.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/h08U7R7IQnM?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="315" width="560" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p>
<p>Did you know that shadows can help in telling the time of day? A Sidewalk Chalk Sundial teaches kids how to keep time the way ancient civilizations used to do! You’ll need to do this on a bright sunny day for best results. Grab your sidewalk chalk and get ready to be amazed at how much your child’s shadow changes throughout the day.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Materials Needed:</strong></p>
<p>Sidewalk Chalk</p>
<p><strong>Instructions</strong></p>
<p>1. On a day forecast to be sunny, head out in the morning with your child and to a flat, paved area that gets good sun exposure most of the day. Stand still and have him or her use sidewalk chalk to trace the outline of your (or a friend/sibling’s) shadow. Mark the spot where you were standing and write down the time next to the shadow or in a journal. </p>
<p>2. Set a timer for an hour. When it goes off, head to the same spot and have your child trace the shadow again in a different color. </p>
<p>3. Repeat several times during the day to record how your shadow’s position and shape shifts.</p>Melissa Griffintag:www.hammondarts.org,2005:Post/63362572020-06-03T13:14:10-05:002020-07-23T15:41:28-05:00I heART Summer: Glass Bead Sun Catcher Wind Chime <p>A glass bead sun catcher and wind chime is a fun and festive addition to any yard or porch. While it takes some time and patience to create, the final product is well worth it. We recommend this project for older kids with developed fine motor skills. <img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/6360d4101266ef271c3012c5bca2eb753cde40e8/original/a-img-9486.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" /> <img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/169afa0da846113f0a4844f10aab8a1a17edc710/original/a-img-9477.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Feel free to improvise. Here's how we made ours. </p>
<p><br><strong><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/ca7a9f2e36081d9e4a4d8b42594ff780b1139d0b/original/a-img-9388.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" />Materials Needed: </strong></p>
<p>- Dried piece of wood or a ring (something you can hang beads from)</p>
<p>- Fine, but sturdy string or fishing line</p>
<p>- Beads </p>
<p>- Twine (to hand the sun catcher)</p>
<p>- Bells (optional)</p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/b69ae3f74b62c273c45bb94c8663ff16702f81b2/original/a-img-9389.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">First, with a small drill bit, drill evenly-space holes through the wood. You can stain or seal the wood if you wish. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/12e8d24ea7e3706f7ff5dce8c9aef36adf2bae62/original/a-img-9410.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_left border_" /></p>
<p>Start stringing! Cut a piece of string--we used between 11 and 17 inches of string each time. Make sure there's enough extra string to tie necessary knots with ease. You can cut excess string later, or leave it for a purposefully messy look. </p>
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<p>Use a knot to secure a bell to one end of your string. Use a needle to thread beads as desired. We haphazardly grouped similar colors together and used both clear and opaque beads as spacers. Large be beads also work well as spacers between sections. (We tested completely random colors as well, but preferred grouping like colors together on a string.)</p>
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<p>After stringing the desired length, use the needle to string through the wood. Add a final bead on top and loop multiple times to make a knot. Cut the excess string (or don't!--up to you). </p>
<p> <img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/60d9f0d24a1a38dec8a05d415b8dd367167a986a/original/a-img-9.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_left border_" /></p>
<p>Repeat these steps until all the strands are attached. This can be time consuming and tedious at times. Take breaks and stretch as needed! </p>
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<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/51339f8f3a6e81a575dcbb891c47d555388f7fc9/original/a-img-9443.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_left border_" /></p>
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<p>Next add the twine to both ends of stick for hanging, and hang in a place that gets lots of sun light! </p>
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<p>Enjoy! We hope you enjoy this project. Show us your creativity! Please send us photos of your new Glass Bead Sun Catcher & Wind Chime.</p>
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<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/62e8233639851b85bbcceae4ef112eeef28284f4/original/a-img-9418.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_left border_" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/cdedf02193fb0306989b6a29a8d072aea2d0f690/original/a-img-9428.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsInNtYWxsIl1d.jpg" class="size_s justify_left border_" /><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/6761ee8657fb2b51fdf8bfcdbdbcecfcf4475f89/original/a-img-9436.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_left border_" /></p>
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<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/169afa0da846113f0a4844f10aab8a1a17edc710/original/a-img-9477.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/919cc49124499b8d9945286cec167ce83e5f4d77/original/a-img-9482.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/6e394b025deaa68fb1d4883a88a1f4f8eb8ab7e1/original/a-img-9484.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<div id="UMS_TOOLTIP" style="position: absolute; cursor: pointer; z-index: 2147483647; background-color: transparent; top: -100000px; left: -100000px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"> </div>Melissa Griffintag:www.hammondarts.org,2005:Post/63951832020-06-02T14:00:00-05:002023-06-15T12:40:12-05:00Tutorial Tuesdays: Bobby Pins<p> </p><center>
<p><span>It's time for #TutorialTuesday! This week features bobby pins!</span></p>
<p><span>If you make something, show it off to us by tagging us on social media!</span></p>
</center><p style="text-align:center;"> </p><p style="text-align:center;"><span class="text-big">DIYs for Adults & Kids</span></p><p style="text-align:center;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/300e4b0d488f59a70cbc5d1958e1ec3b2c7e139b/original/tutorial-tuesday-bobby-pins.png/!!/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p><center>
<figure class="table" style="width:500px;"><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="5"><tbody>
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<td><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/button-bobby-pins-3" data-link-type="url" contents=""><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/0c446dc80232f66471b674b6dfeda7b0692f8130/original/medium-buttonbphtmain.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" alt="" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align:center;"><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.cutoutandkeep.net/projects/button-bobby-pins-3" data-link-type="url" contents="Button Barrette"><font face="Helvetica, sans-serif"><span><strong>Button Barrette</strong></span></font></a></td>
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<td><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.brit.co/bobby-pin-pendants/" data-link-type="url" contents=""><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/f952c27d3e05d25a1afbb064f22b493d5febff00/original/ezgif-4-9141dadf2a4e.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" alt="" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align:center;"><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.brit.co/bobby-pin-pendants/" data-link-type="url" contents="Pin Pendants"><font face="Helvetica, sans-serif"><span><strong>Pin Pendants</strong></span></font></a></td>
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</tbody></table></figure><p> </p>
</center><center> </center><center> </center><center><p><i>All tutorials are the property of their original creators.</i></p></center>Melissa Griffintag:www.hammondarts.org,2005:Post/63912002020-05-28T15:40:00-05:002020-07-23T15:39:00-05:00Art Talk Thursday: Jeff Mickey<p><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="Tstds9b4nE8" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/Tstds9b4nE8/mqdefault.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Tstds9b4nE8?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="320" width="640" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p>
<p>Today we dive into the language of craft with Jeff Mickey for today's #ArtTalkThursday.</p>Melissa Griffintag:www.hammondarts.org,2005:Post/63951762020-05-26T14:00:00-05:002023-06-15T12:40:06-05:00Tutorial Tuesdays: Pennies<p> </p><center>
<p><span>It's time for #TutorialTuesday! This week features pennies!</span></p>
<p><span>If you make something, show it off to us by tagging us on social media!</span></p>
</center><p style="text-align:center;"> </p><p style="text-align:center;"><span class="text-big">DIYs for Adults & Kids</span></p><p style="text-align:center;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/cbcc86c51de56534a9a95cd0efecaf21831d00ed/original/tutorial-tuesday-pennies.png/!!/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p><center>
<figure class="table" style="width:500px;"><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="5"><tbody>
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<td><a class="no-pjax" href="https://tocrave.blogspot.com/2012/04/so-cheap-so-easy-penny-vase.html" data-link-type="url" contents=""><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/ae97d950067a537d73459b1f885feaf252623dcd/original/dsc-7419.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" alt="" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align:center;"><a class="no-pjax" href="https://tocrave.blogspot.com/2012/04/so-cheap-so-easy-penny-vase.html" data-link-type="url" contents="Pixel Art"><font face="Helvetica, sans-serif"><span><strong>Pixel Art</strong></span></font></a></td>
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<td><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.instructables.com/id/penny-mario-pixel-art/" data-link-type="url" contents=""><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/a242009dd0ebdb9020017907b1764f90f910898e/original/ffmaijvi1tqwiz8-large.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" alt="" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align:center;"><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.instructables.com/id/penny-mario-pixel-art/" data-link-type="url" contents="Penny Vase"><font face="Helvetica, sans-serif"><span><strong>Penny Vase</strong></span></font></a></td>
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</tbody></table></figure><p> </p>
</center><center> </center><center> </center><center><p><i>All tutorials are the property of their original creators.</i></p></center>Melissa Griffintag:www.hammondarts.org,2005:Post/63911992020-05-21T15:40:00-05:002020-07-23T15:38:45-05:00Art Talk Thursday: Ben Diller<p><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="hnyj4RApoZ4" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/hnyj4RApoZ4/mqdefault.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hnyj4RApoZ4?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="320" width="640" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p>
<p>Welcome to another #ArtTalkThursday! Today we will be taking a look at artist Ben Diller, and his site-specific artwork that he created for his very own home! </p>
<p>For more of Diller's work, please visit his website at https://bendillerart.com/.</p>Melissa Griffintag:www.hammondarts.org,2005:Post/63911982020-05-14T15:40:00-05:002020-07-23T15:39:42-05:00Art Talk Thursday: Chandler Damrill<p><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="CMBU9f1Vz8Q" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/CMBU9f1Vz8Q/mqdefault.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CMBU9f1Vz8Q?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="320" width="640" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p>
<p>Welcome to Art Talk Thursday! Today we will be taking a look at Chandler Damrill's work process in one of his most recent art series. Damrill's sculpture work makes his audience question what they are comfortable with by creating anthropomorphic tables.</p>Melissa Griffintag:www.hammondarts.org,2005:Post/63164062020-05-14T12:55:42-05:002020-06-18T13:58:19-05:00ARTisTRy Tutorial: How to Screen Print<p><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="GNqwf_qfP0g" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/GNqwf_qfP0g/mqdefault.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GNqwf_qfP0g?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="360" width="640" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p>
<p>Welcome to <strong>ART</strong>is<strong>TRY</strong> Classes! Today we will be going over the process of Silk Screen Printing! In this video we will review where to buy the necessary material and how to properly utilize them when printing on a shirt. Also keep in mind that this method can also be applied to other surfaces and not just shirts! </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Important Links: </strong></p>
<p>Screen Printing Cmplete Kit - https://www.amazon.com/Speedball-Advanced-All-Screen-Printing/dp/B007W6SAD4/ref=sr_1_13?dchild=1&keywords=screen+printing+tool+kit&qid=1588375695&sr=8-13 </p>
<p>Screen Printing Scoop- https://www.amazon.com/aluminio-Emulsi%C3%B3n-serigraf%C3%ADa-herramienta-revestimiento/dp/B01HSFXCOU/ref=sr_1_5?crid=2U636LX1GIBQ7&dchild=1&keywords=screen+printing+scoop+coater&qid=1589402110&sprefix=screen+printing+scoo%2Caps%2C197&sr=8-5 </p>
<p>Other Screen Printing Videos- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC73etjTrHXBeSTrPI90W41w?view_as=subscriber</p>Melissa Griffintag:www.hammondarts.org,2005:Post/63951752020-05-12T14:00:00-05:002023-06-15T12:40:01-05:00Tutorial Tuesdays: Glass Jars<p> </p><center>
<p><span>It's time for #TutorialTuesday! This week features glass jars!</span></p>
<p><span>If you make something, show it off to us by tagging us on social media!</span></p>
</center><p style="text-align:center;"> </p><p style="text-align:center;"><span class="text-big">DIYs for Adults & Kids</span></p><p style="text-align:center;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/81f48bdea27fe73059083d4704aeb7f95c3395de/original/tutorial-tuesday-glass-jars.png/!!/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p><center>
<figure class="table" style="width:500px;"><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="5"><tbody>
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<td><a class="no-pjax" href="http://oleanderandpalm.com/2012/08/mason-jar-monogram-lig.html" data-link-type="url" contents=""><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/9fd09b2ae8f32234013a7adee572d2073d3149e7/original/imgp7182.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" alt="" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align:center;"><a class="no-pjax" href="http://oleanderandpalm.com/2012/08/mason-jar-monogram-lig.html" data-link-type="url" contents="Mason Jar Monogram"><font face="Helvetica, sans-serif"><span><strong>Mason Jar Monogram</strong></span></font></a></td>
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<td><a class="no-pjax" href="http://alittleclaireification.com/2015/05/11/mini-mason-jar-aquariums-summer-in-jars-series/" data-link-type="url" contents=""><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/8c03d5f1df0a3cfd1c1f01eab4af172876d47857/original/mini-mason-jar-aquariums-pm2.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" alt="" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align:center;"><a class="no-pjax" href="http://alittleclaireification.com/2015/05/11/mini-mason-jar-aquariums-summer-in-jars-series/" data-link-type="url" contents="Glass Jar Aquarium"><font face="Helvetica, sans-serif"><span><strong>Glass Jar Aquarium</strong></span></font></a></td>
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</tbody></table></figure><p> </p>
</center><center> </center><center> </center><center><p><i>All tutorials are the property of their original creators.</i></p></center>Melissa Griffintag:www.hammondarts.org,2005:Post/63951732020-05-05T14:00:00-05:002023-06-15T12:39:55-05:00Tutorial Tuesdays: Plastic Spoons<p> </p><center>
<p><span>It's time for #TutorialTuesday! This week features plastic spoons!</span></p>
<p><span>If you make something, show it off to us by tagging us on social media!</span></p>
</center><p style="text-align:center;"> </p><p style="text-align:center;"><span class="text-big">DIYs for Adults</span></p><p style="text-align:center;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/6352cfbe45cf12cfd5085a9bf68d491e286543ce/original/tutorial-tuesday-plastic-spoons-adults.png/!!/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p><center>
<figure class="table" style="width:500px;"><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="5"><tbody>
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<td><a class="no-pjax" href="http://www.madebymarzipan.com/?tutorial=diy-spoon-roses" data-link-type="url" contents=""><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/24aff25044136df59cfbe94ed415502c19aa1ce2/original/img-5498.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" alt="" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align:center;"><a class="no-pjax" href="http://www.madebymarzipan.com/?tutorial=diy-spoon-roses" data-link-type="url" contents="Flower Bracelet"><font face="Helvetica, sans-serif"><span><strong>Flower Bracelet</strong></span></font></a></td>
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<td><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.icreativeideas.com/diy-plastic-spoon-pineapple-lampshade/" data-link-type="url" contents=""><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/fcbcea697cb34d44f3939fd3c97abbeda63d9552/original/diy-plastic-spoon-pineapple-lampshade-2.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" alt="" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align:center;"><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.icreativeideas.com/diy-plastic-spoon-pineapple-lampshade/" data-link-type="url" contents="Pineapple Lampshade"><font face="Helvetica, sans-serif"><span><strong>Pineapple Lampshade</strong></span></font></a></td>
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<td><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.addicted2decorating.com/layered-ombre-vase.html" data-link-type="url" contents=""><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/7336104cdfd1afec7d93f9eae9386d252a10333d/original/layered-ombre-vase-8.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" alt="" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align:center;"><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.addicted2decorating.com/layered-ombre-vase.html" data-link-type="url" contents="Ombre Vase"><font face="Helvetica, sans-serif"><span><strong>Ombre Vase</strong></span></font></a></td>
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<td><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.purplehuesandme.com/2012/07/tealight-candle-holder-great-glitzy.html" data-link-type="url" contents=""><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/62693f55bd2bc83db5e7f174dae549d45afbe040/original/black-candle-holder.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" alt="" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align:center;"><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.purplehuesandme.com/2012/07/tealight-candle-holder-great-glitzy.html" data-link-type="url" contents="Rose Tealight Holders"><font face="Helvetica, sans-serif"><span><strong>Rose Tealight Holders</strong></span></font></a></td>
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<td><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.countryliving.com/diy-crafts/how-to/g1010/mirror-crafts/?slide=1" data-link-type="url" contents=""><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/5eaca8e7daab60d24e07d1c194577f535cdd0eba/original/5578a42db4568-spoon-mirror-0709-de.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" alt="" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align:center;"><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.countryliving.com/diy-crafts/how-to/g1010/mirror-crafts/?slide=1" data-link-type="url" contents="Mirror"><font face="Helvetica, sans-serif"><span><strong>Mirror</strong></span></font></a></td>
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</tbody></table></figure><p> </p>
<p> </p>
</center><p style="text-align:center;"> </p><p style="text-align:center;"><span class="text-big">DIYs for Kids</span></p><p style="text-align:center;"><span class="text-big"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/eece0a6d5258a1057857a38a0155628db6bd9352/original/tutorial-tuesday-plastic-spoons-kids.png/!!/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></span></p><center><figure class="table" style="width:500px;"><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="5"><tbody>
<tr>
<td><a class="no-pjax" href="https://theownerbuildernetwork.co/easy-diy-projects/garden-ladybug-made-from-plastic-spoons/" data-link-type="url" contents=""><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/c96166f86dec68b44aaf32f6a2215112e944911d/original/garden-ladybug-made-from-plastic-spoons1.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" alt="" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align:center;"><a class="no-pjax" href="https://theownerbuildernetwork.co/easy-diy-projects/garden-ladybug-made-from-plastic-spoons/" data-link-type="url" contents="Lady Bugs"><font face="Helvetica, sans-serif"><span><strong>Lady Bugs</strong></span></font></a></td>
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<td><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.fabartdiy.com/diy-lotus-flower-from-plastic-spoons/" data-link-type="url" contents=""><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/6f53ee07c966de88e3bfd7c48886aec400d1969a/original/diy-plastic-spoon-waterlily-flower8.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" alt="" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align:center;"><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.fabartdiy.com/diy-lotus-flower-from-plastic-spoons/" data-link-type="url" contents="Waterlilies"><font face="Helvetica, sans-serif"><span><strong>Waterlilies</strong></span></font></a></td>
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<td><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.creativejewishmom.com/2009/08/make-puppets-with-plastic-spoons-simply-perfect.html" data-link-type="url" contents=""><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/230a382a4ad515777310ba3c472975b494625fb2/original/6a011570601a80970b0115715d5779970c-800wi.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" alt="" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align:center;"><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.creativejewishmom.com/2009/08/make-puppets-with-plastic-spoons-simply-perfect.html" data-link-type="url" contents="Puppets"><font face="Helvetica, sans-serif"><span><strong>Puppets</strong></span></font></a></td>
</tr>
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<td><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.madeeveryday.com/tutorial-easter-egg-maracas-for-cinco-de-mayo/" data-link-type="url" contents=""><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/b38674435c8229ad0dbba0f7c342ce6718d16553/original/a.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" alt="" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align:center;"><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.madeeveryday.com/tutorial-easter-egg-maracas-for-cinco-de-mayo/" data-link-type="url" contents="Egg Maracas"><font face="Helvetica, sans-serif"><span><strong>Egg Maracas</strong></span></font></a></td>
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<td><a class="no-pjax" href="https://kidfriendlythingstodo.com/a-plastic-spoon-spring-flower-craft-for-kids/" data-link-type="url" contents=""><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/09ff9bfabddc37e4bfc3fcc1e50e5ac486a753b2/original/dsc-0335-plastic-spoon-flowers.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" alt="" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align:center;"><a class="no-pjax" href="https://kidfriendlythingstodo.com/a-plastic-spoon-spring-flower-craft-for-kids/" data-link-type="url" contents="Spoon Tulips"><font face="Helvetica, sans-serif"><span><strong>Spoon Tulips</strong></span></font></a></td>
</tr>
</tbody></table></figure></center><center> </center><center> </center><center> </center><center> </center><center><p><i>All tutorials are the property of their original creators.</i></p></center>Melissa Griffintag:www.hammondarts.org,2005:Post/63012232020-05-01T09:28:23-05:002020-05-01T10:00:13-05:00Digital Gallery Sneak Peek: Caitlyn Clark<p><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="OgqpQvoIcbE" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/OgqpQvoIcbE/mqdefault.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OgqpQvoIcbE?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="360" width="640" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Our fourth featured artist is Caitlyn Clark! Caitlyn uses a variety of techniques and materials to make her scupltures come to life. Here is a peek at one of her recent projects.</p>Melissa Griffintag:www.hammondarts.org,2005:Post/63012222020-05-01T09:27:45-05:002020-05-01T09:59:55-05:00Digital Gallery Sneak Peek: Tiffany Nesbit<p><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="ZhT_kt68XCQ" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/ZhT_kt68XCQ/mqdefault.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZhT_kt68XCQ?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="360" width="640" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p>
<p>Our next Artist sneak peek is Tiffany Nesbit! Check out what this young artist has been up to!</p>Melissa Griffintag:www.hammondarts.org,2005:Post/63012212020-05-01T09:26:04-05:002021-01-28T12:01:55-06:00Digital Gallery Sneak Peek: Abigail Coleman<p><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="tbSszWefR50" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/tbSszWefR50/mqdefault.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tbSszWefR50?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="360" width="640" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The second featured artist in our digital sneak peek is Abigail Coleman. Check out what Abigail has been up to since her exhibition at the Mezzanine Gallery.</p>Melissa Griffintag:www.hammondarts.org,2005:Post/63951812020-04-28T14:00:00-05:002023-06-15T12:39:49-05:00Tutorial Tuesdays: CDs<p> </p><center>
<p><span>It's time for #TutorialTuesday! This week features CDs!</span></p>
<p><span>If you make something, show it off to us by tagging us on social media!</span></p>
</center><p style="text-align:center;"> </p><p style="text-align:center;"><span class="text-big">DIYs for Adults</span></p><p style="text-align:center;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/cbb791ae0789be1b314c3088d315369e6bcb3c29/original/tutorial-tuesday-cds-adults.png/!!/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p><center>
<figure class="table" style="width:500px;"><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="5"><tbody>
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<td><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.diyncrafts.com/89359/decor/upcycled-old-cd-or-dvd-curtain-holder" data-link-type="url" contents=""><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/506bb655ad64d705ab2626dc0a6fd718c6cf4c17/original/curtain-holder-craft-dsc06683.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" alt="" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align:center;"><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.diyncrafts.com/89359/decor/upcycled-old-cd-or-dvd-curtain-holder" data-link-type="url" contents="Curtain Pull Backs"><font face="Helvetica, sans-serif"><span><strong>Curtain Pull Backs</strong></span></font></a></td>
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<td><a class="no-pjax" href="https://ourdailyideas.com/use-old-cds-to-decorate-jewelry-box/" data-link-type="url" contents=""><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/f9075ba313f42a047f1f846a5934752e7af02334/original/jewelry-box-10.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" alt="" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align:center;"><a class="no-pjax" href="https://ourdailyideas.com/use-old-cds-to-decorate-jewelry-box/" data-link-type="url" contents="Jewelry Box"><span><strong>Jewelry Box</strong></span></a></td>
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<td><a class="no-pjax" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160420043329/http://planb.annaevers.com/en/diy-collar-de-cd/#more-1181" data-link-type="url" contents=""><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/34da09547530a5c998c953cc2a811f88390e5c80/original/cd8.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" alt="" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align:center;"><a class="no-pjax" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20160420043329/http://planb.annaevers.com/en/diy-collar-de-cd/#more-1181" data-link-type="url" contents="Collar"><span><strong>Collar</strong></span></a></td>
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<td><a class="no-pjax" href="http://www.thekipiblog.com/2013/04/DIYkaleidoscopeearrings.html" data-link-type="url" contents=""><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/9305ae7c0d634bca5229165e5ab831e56625a5aa/original/diykaleidoscopeearrings-main2.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" alt="" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align:center;"><a class="no-pjax" href="http://www.thekipiblog.com/2013/04/DIYkaleidoscopeearrings.html" data-link-type="url" contents="Earrings"><font face="Helvetica, sans-serif"><span><strong>Earrings</strong></span></font></a></td>
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<td><a class="no-pjax" href="https://craftsbyamanda.com/recycle-craft-cd-coasters/" data-link-type="url" contents=""><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/2519abb3a2656b7f46a0f90dcef8b98c6d51ed56/original/recycled-cd-coasters2.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" alt="" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align:center;"><a class="no-pjax" href="https://craftsbyamanda.com/recycle-craft-cd-coasters/" data-link-type="url" contents="Coasters"><font face="Helvetica, sans-serif"><span><strong>Coasters</strong></span></font></a></td>
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</tbody></table></figure><p> </p>
<p> </p>
</center><p style="text-align:center;"> </p><p style="text-align:center;"><span class="text-big">DIYs for Kids</span></p><p style="text-align:center;"><span class="text-big"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/d945c19fdcfc147beea5fb4c2159315b0bf27485/original/tutorial-tuesday-cds-kids.png/!!/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></span></p><center><figure class="table" style="width:500px;"><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="5"><tbody>
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<td><a class="no-pjax" href="http://www.lbrummer68739.net/2nd-grade-projects-gallery-2/hanging-cd-turtle/" data-link-type="url" contents=""><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/9ebb233f896a5c23cb7b342b1043d8695a38b654/original/cd-turtle-008.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" alt="" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align:center;"><a class="no-pjax" href="http://www.lbrummer68739.net/2nd-grade-projects-gallery-2/hanging-cd-turtle/" data-link-type="url" contents="Hanging Turtle"><font face="Helvetica, sans-serif"><span><strong>Hanging Turtle</strong></span></font></a></td>
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<td><a class="no-pjax" href="https://buggyandbuddy.com/homemade-spectroscope/" data-link-type="url" contents=""><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/def25d3a1448e96632d988c97099a00f27762596/original/spectroscope-fb.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" alt="" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align:center;"><a class="no-pjax" href="https://buggyandbuddy.com/homemade-spectroscope/" data-link-type="url" contents="Spectroscope"><font face="Helvetica, sans-serif"><span><strong>Spectroscope</strong></span></font></a></td>
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<td><a class="no-pjax" href="https://buggyandbuddy.com/cd-spinning-top/" data-link-type="url" contents=""><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/82fca7f8fffd5223b1d64f2a6007d294507cbac8/original/d20wm-768x768.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" alt="" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align:center;"><a class="no-pjax" href="https://buggyandbuddy.com/cd-spinning-top/" data-link-type="url" contents="Spinning Top"><font face="Helvetica, sans-serif"><span><strong>Spinning Top</strong></span></font></a></td>
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<td><a class="no-pjax" href="https://happyhooligans.ca/coffee-can-cd-wind-chime/" data-link-type="url" contents=""><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/28ef5034bb7c1aeb9a4b9b826f4f390c189a7659/original/img-2548.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" alt="" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align:center;"><a class="no-pjax" href="https://happyhooligans.ca/coffee-can-cd-wind-chime/" data-link-type="url" contents="Wind Chime"><font face="Helvetica, sans-serif"><span><strong>Wind Chime</strong></span></font></a></td>
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<td><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.funlittles.com/mothers-day-crafts-upcycle-a-cd-for-an-out-of-this-world-gift/" data-link-type="url" contents=""><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/dcd2528c699e3468bf8a2fb5954167a017617593/original/cd-recycle-craft-spaceship.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" alt="" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align:center;"><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.funlittles.com/mothers-day-crafts-upcycle-a-cd-for-an-out-of-this-world-gift/" data-link-type="url" contents="UFO"><font face="Helvetica, sans-serif"><span><strong>UFO</strong></span></font></a></td>
</tr>
</tbody></table></figure></center><center> </center><center> </center><center> </center><center> </center><center><p><i>All tutorials are the property of their original creators.</i></p></center>Melissa Griffintag:www.hammondarts.org,2005:Post/63951772020-04-21T14:00:00-05:002023-06-15T12:39:42-05:00Tutorial Tuesdays: Duct Tape<p> </p><center>
<p><span>It's time for #TutorialTuesday! This week features duct tape!</span></p>
<p><span>If you make something, show it off to us by tagging us on social media!</span></p>
</center><p style="text-align:center;"> </p><p style="text-align:center;"><span class="text-big">DIYs for Adults</span></p><p style="text-align:center;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/daf198f9ebde6b6dcf544b96806b59d5cd7ac0cf/original/tutorial-tuesday-duct-tape-adults.png/!!/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p><center>
<figure class="table" style="width:500px;"><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="5"><tbody>
<tr>
<td><a class="no-pjax" href="http://www.cremedelacraft.com/2013/09/DIY-Duct-Tape-Necklaces.html" data-link-type="url" contents=""><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/10728a8b6a8f533f34220b1d9f23832e876f09c9/original/diy-kids-crafts-project-how-to-make-necklace-scotch-duct-tape-upcycle-recycle.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" alt="" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align:center;"><a class="no-pjax" href="http://www.cremedelacraft.com/2013/09/DIY-Duct-Tape-Necklaces.html" data-link-type="url" contents="Necklace"><span><strong>Necklace</strong></span></a></td>
</tr>
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<td><a class="no-pjax" href="https://karenkavett.com/blog/2100/diy-duct-tape-and-leather-luggage-tags.php" data-link-type="url" contents=""><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/c5875327dead0f848034ca47bd6ac1ea0fbc455a/original/img-5735.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" alt="" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align:center;"><a class="no-pjax" href="https://karenkavett.com/blog/2100/diy-duct-tape-and-leather-luggage-tags.php" data-link-type="url" contents="Luggage Tags"><font face="Helvetica, sans-serif"><span><strong>Luggage Tags</strong></span></font></a></td>
</tr>
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<td><a class="no-pjax" href="https://advicefromatwentysomething.com/diy-project-geometric-art/" data-link-type="url" contents=""><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/b14119cf48ef3803fc7d0d9f11487f2f64db54b4/original/final-scotch-tape-diy3.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" alt="" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align:center;"><a class="no-pjax" href="https://advicefromatwentysomething.com/diy-project-geometric-art/" data-link-type="url" contents="Geometric Art"><font face="Helvetica, sans-serif"><span><strong>Geometric Art</strong></span></font></a></td>
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<td><a class="no-pjax" href="https://bywilma.com/diy/diy-no-sew-table-mat-and-duct-tape-clutch/" data-link-type="url" contents=""><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/89bac063c4b7fdb499dc556ae1e77c8400443a5d/original/ductape-and-placemat-clutch.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" alt="" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align:center;"><a class="no-pjax" href="https://bywilma.com/diy/diy-no-sew-table-mat-and-duct-tape-clutch/" data-link-type="url" contents="Clutch"><font face="Helvetica, sans-serif"><span><strong>Clutch</strong></span></font></a></td>
</tr>
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<td><a class="no-pjax" href="http://www.thatdamncatdesigns.com/2010/10/duct-tape-picture-frame.html" data-link-type="url" contents=""><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/5e5ea2c0909c7b86b4d3a75471e416b9bcfac298/original/duct-tape-frame.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" alt="" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align:center;"><a class="no-pjax" href="http://www.thatdamncatdesigns.com/2010/10/duct-tape-picture-frame.html" data-link-type="url" contents="Picture Frame"><font face="Helvetica, sans-serif"><span><strong>Picture Frame</strong></span></font></a></td>
</tr>
</tbody></table></figure><p> </p>
<p> </p>
</center><p style="text-align:center;"> </p><p style="text-align:center;"><span class="text-big">DIYs for Kids</span></p><p style="text-align:center;"><span class="text-big"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/f2502599c6130d2e63192be4e2ef22c3d97faf4c/original/tutorial-tuesday-duct-tape-kids.png/!!/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></span></p><center><figure class="table" style="width:500px;"><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="5"><tbody>
<tr>
<td><a class="no-pjax" href="https://dukesandduchesses.com/a-duct-tape-dinosaur-bike-helmet/" data-link-type="url" contents=""><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/df896d8268c54c646c55f5d17095099b1c6032c1/original/img-7012.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" alt="" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align:center;"><a class="no-pjax" href="https://dukesandduchesses.com/a-duct-tape-dinosaur-bike-helmet/" data-link-type="url" contents="Dino Helmet"><font face="Helvetica, sans-serif"><span><strong>Dino Helmet</strong></span></font></a></td>
</tr>
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<td><a class="no-pjax" href="http://mollymoocrafts.com/back-school-crafts-shoebox-school/" data-link-type="url" contents=""><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/2132114845a91dba0b87502b4e6b59cf8a391d51/original/shoebox-school-ducktapecraft2.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" alt="" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align:center;"><a class="no-pjax" href="http://mollymoocrafts.com/back-school-crafts-shoebox-school/" data-link-type="url" contents="School Playhouse"><font face="Helvetica, sans-serif"><span><strong>School Playhouse</strong></span></font></a></td>
</tr>
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<td><a class="no-pjax" href="https://modpodgerocksblog.com/duck-tape-craft-make-backpack-charms/" data-link-type="url" contents=""><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/1307fe4234cc98a79b878926754e167d5fd13bb1/original/backpack-tags-01.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" alt="" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align:center;"><a class="no-pjax" href="https://modpodgerocksblog.com/duck-tape-craft-make-backpack-charms/" data-link-type="url" contents="Book Sack Charms"><font face="Helvetica, sans-serif"><span><strong>Book Sack Charms</strong></span></font></a></td>
</tr>
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<td><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.allfreekidscrafts.com/Homemade-Toys/Duct-Tape-Sword-and-Shield" data-link-type="url" contents=""><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/f76ea0c3edd34d9107dd07889954090ccd43e16d/original/duct-tape-sword-and-shield-small-id-707548.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" alt="" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align:center;"><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.allfreekidscrafts.com/Homemade-Toys/Duct-Tape-Sword-and-Shield" data-link-type="url" contents="Sword &amp; Shield"><font face="Helvetica, sans-serif"><span><strong>Sword & Shield</strong></span></font></a></td>
</tr>
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<td><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.scatteredthoughtsofacraftymom.com/no-sew-zippered-pouch-from-duct-tape/" data-link-type="url" contents=""><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/383999cce9fa0672d46b36964bf7a2420c4d897e/original/025-copy-1.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" alt="" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align:center;"><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.scatteredthoughtsofacraftymom.com/no-sew-zippered-pouch-from-duct-tape/" data-link-type="url" contents="No-Sew Zipper Pouch"><font face="Helvetica, sans-serif"><span><strong>No-Sew Zipper Pouch</strong></span></font></a></td>
</tr>
</tbody></table></figure></center><center> </center><center> </center><center> </center><center> </center><center><p><i>All tutorials are the property of their original creators.</i></p></center>Melissa Griffintag:www.hammondarts.org,2005:Post/62890152020-04-21T08:39:56-05:002020-04-22T22:41:29-05:00Getting Creative with Productivity<p><em>By Melissa Griffin</em></p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/f7294a448ba6e3626f483f0701dbc0b9e73f95c5/original/sharon-mccutcheon-tn57ji3cewi-unsplash.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_left border_" />It seems like many people are using our current social distancing requirements as an opportunity to learn new things, be more creative or hone a skill. At least that’s the picture being painted on social media. That’s not the case for me as a full-time mom and full-time employee. Maybe you’re feeling a similar, just-below-the-surface type of panic. There’s not enough time in the day. There’s not enough energy. And so on. </p>
<p>Those of us who are blessed to continue working, despite the chaos, have to get really creative. But finding creativity under pressure can be stressful. Many of us not only have to be creative in what we do, but also in how and when we do it. It’s an overwhelming task, juggling all of our responsibilities simultaneously. </p>
<p>My husband was deemed essential, and it’s difficult seeing him leave for work every morning as if it’s any other day in our lives. I tried, at first, to work from home and “mom” at the same time. When I realized that my toddler wouldn’t take well to me working all day, I needed to get creative with my scheduling. I started waking up earlier, working during his naps in the afternoon and working after he goes to bed at night. I was working on Saturdays and Sundays when my husband is home and our son is well cared for and occupied. Then I realized that work was consuming all of what should have been my free time. I was burning out fast. </p>
<p>I decided that what’s best for everyone, including me, is to evaluate my expectations of myself. Frankly, I needed to prioritize me. I also needed to come up with some easy ways to shake off the stress and enjoy myself while handling my work life inside of my home life. </p>
<p>No doubt you’ve heard these tried-and-true solutions before, but maybe now the stakes are high enough for you to give them a real try. It’s time to get some stress relief, bust up the creative blocks and increase your productivity. Understanding that not everyone is a trained artist, not everyone feels free enough to spend their time creating art in order purge themselves of the stress they’re experiencing right now, here are some things that anyone can do to get some relief immediately.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Cures for the pressures of our “new normal” may include: </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Declutter Your Space </strong><br>Working from home often means working in a space that wasn’t meant for work. Cleaning up your surroundings (like bills, laundry, paperwork, your kids’ toys, etc.) can mean freeing your mind of the pressure the clutter represents. </p>
<p>Kitchen tables, couches, beds, and countertops are often cluttered by regular life activities, and now we’re trying to squeeze work life onto those surfaces too! It’s starting to all blend together, and there’s a good chance we’ve misplaced our sanity somewhere in that mess. Let’s clean it up! It only takes a few minutes to tidy things up, and you’ll gain immediate release from the stress. </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Music, Music, Music </strong><br>Music is my favorite stress reliever, especially if it’s coupled with dancing! It's good for the body and the mind. </p>
<p>Yesterday, I spent the late afternoon on the floor with my toddler, playing in our blanket “boat” he built for us and listening to old classics from Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald and little Fats Domino. It was fun to share these old favorites and tell him about the fond memories I have of being his age on a swing in my grandparents’ backyard. While my grandfather sang songs like “Summertime” and “Blueberry Hill” for us, my grandmother would sit next to me quietly reminiscing. </p>
<p>Sharing with my son like this was a stress-free way to end an otherwise “new normal” day. </p>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/573f5b8a88b0b72a67f02195c9c65fc966d27791/original/noah-buscher-8a7fd6y5vf8-unsplash.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_right border_" /></p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Forget about it! </strong><br>Do something completely different like take a walk, doodle (try our #chalkthewalktangi program—find it on our Facebook page), play with your pets, make a paper hat, write a letter to a friend or exercise. </p>
<p>I like to color with my toddler. He loves the quality interaction, and it’s calming for both of us. </p>
<p>Expert tip: Don’t keep work on your mind while you’re doing a “Forget about it!” activity. Reason #1: Your toddler will know! Reason #2: The point is to put down that which is stressing you out—not to carry it around in your head. </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Be Silly </strong><br>Try your hardest to make yourself laugh. Tell a terrible joke out loud when no one is listening. Make funny faces in the mirror, or do dance moves from the ‘50s. Lie on your back, look at the ceiling, and try to remember all the slang words from your childhood. That’d be rad or maybe it’s fetch or swell—really, I don’t know how old you are. </p>
<p> </p>
<p><strong>Be Inspired </strong><br>Draw on the creative energy of others. Take an online class, listen to a TED Talk, or visit a virtual gallery. (HRAC happens to offer the first and the last of these three suggestions!) </p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Whatever tactics you choose to relieve stress just know that we’re feeling the pressure too. Try to keep a good perspective, and set realistic expectations of yourself and those around you. And if the above suggestions aren’t working for you, lower those expectations again. It’s safe to say, you’ve never faced these same pressures before. Productivity comes and goes—don’t sweat it. What you have to offer the world is exactly what the world needs right now. Save the rest for later. </p>
<p><em>But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. </em>Isaiah 40:31, NLT</p>Melissa Griffintag:www.hammondarts.org,2005:Post/63951712020-04-14T14:00:00-05:002023-06-15T12:39:34-05:00Tutorial Tuesday: Wine Corks<p> </p><center>
<p><span>It's time for #TutorialTuesday! This week features wine corks!</span></p>
<p><span>If you make something, show it off to us by tagging us on social media!</span></p>
</center><p style="text-align:center;"> </p><p style="text-align:center;"><span class="text-big">DIYs for Adults</span></p><p style="text-align:center;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/527a1891395c70b445c6a7a52154030c0e103348/original/tutorial-tuesday-wine-corks-adults.png/!!/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p><center>
<figure class="table" style="width:500px;"><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="5"><tbody>
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<td><a class="no-pjax" href="https://wellitsokay.blogspot.com/2012/05/diy-ombre-necklace-rack.html" data-link-type="url" contents=""><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/d858a1be8cb166c8ac1f4a0ec0f2e4f07cd0fe80/original/unnamed.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" alt="" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align:center;"><a class="no-pjax" href="https://wellitsokay.blogspot.com/2012/05/diy-ombre-necklace-rack.html" data-link-type="url" contents="Necklace Rack"><span><strong>Necklace Rack</strong></span></a></td>
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<td><a class="no-pjax" href="https://abeautifulmess.com/2014/10/try-this-wine-cork-bulletin-board.html" data-link-type="url" contents=""><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/5cef16b33d4edbc2d8311c309e7c0a7ff165643c/original/abeautifulmess-wine-cork-memo-board-01.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" alt="" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align:center;"><a class="no-pjax" href="https://abeautifulmess.com/2014/10/try-this-wine-cork-bulletin-board.html" data-link-type="url" contents="Bulletin Board"><span><strong>Bulletin Board</strong></span></a></td>
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<td><a class="no-pjax" href="http://www.athomeinlove.com/diy-wine-cork-cheese-knives/" data-link-type="url" contents=""><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/2e3be2e3bb4f567d6ebc16a2b96ed2714d6f4e38/original/cork-cheese-knives.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" alt="" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align:center;"><a class="no-pjax" href="http://www.athomeinlove.com/diy-wine-cork-cheese-knives/" data-link-type="url" contents="Cheese Knives"><span><strong>Cheese Knives</strong></span></a></td>
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<td><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.lilblueboo.com/2011/08/a-wine-cork-sculpture-a-tutorial.html" data-link-type="url" contents=""><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/a8232d566c9d42eeee54b108fee62f77648c9d60/original/img-1849-512x768.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" alt="" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align:center;"><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.lilblueboo.com/2011/08/a-wine-cork-sculpture-a-tutorial.html" data-link-type="url" contents="Sculpture"><span><strong>Sculpture</strong></span></a></td>
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<td><a class="no-pjax" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130421005743/http://www2.fiskars.com/Crafting/Projects/Jewelry/Necklaces-Bracelets/Upcycled-Wine-Cork-Pendants" data-link-type="url" contents=""><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/59ebd59b8c58b59d8c08a7149b4621a902ce8dc0/original/upcycled-wine-cork-pendants.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" alt="" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align:center;"><a class="no-pjax" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20130421005743/http://www2.fiskars.com/Crafting/Projects/Jewelry/Necklaces-Bracelets/Upcycled-Wine-Cork-Pendants" data-link-type="url" contents="Pendants"><span><strong>Pendants</strong></span></a></td>
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</tbody></table></figure><p> </p>
<p> </p>
</center><p style="text-align:center;"> </p><p style="text-align:center;"><span class="text-big">DIYs for Kids</span></p><p style="text-align:center;"><span class="text-big"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/954e94f2cf729abe44df852b3cfeb0055ca56be1/original/tutorial-tuesday-wine-corks-kids.png/!!/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></span></p><center><figure class="table" style="width:500px;"><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="5"><tbody>
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<td><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.crafterslovecrafts.com/wine-cork-man.html" data-link-type="url" contents=""><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/4561ed510b6734cc2f075e041e30ed4b0b46d1e8/original/corkmen.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" alt="" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align:center;"><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.crafterslovecrafts.com/wine-cork-man.html" data-link-type="url" contents="Doll"><font face="Helvetica, sans-serif"><span><strong>Doll</strong></span></font></a></td>
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<td><a class="no-pjax" href="https://craftsbyamanda.com/wine-cork-succulent-magnets/" data-link-type="url" contents=""><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/b7c614e0fe5a9d2540dca5fd0f892fe5b66cb86f/original/wine-cork-planters-h2.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" alt="" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align:center;"><a class="no-pjax" href="https://craftsbyamanda.com/wine-cork-succulent-magnets/" data-link-type="url" contents="Succulent Magnets"><font face="Helvetica, sans-serif"><span><strong>Succulent Magnets</strong></span></font></a></td>
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<td><a class="no-pjax" href="http://www.thelittlemonsterblog.com/2015/05/repurposed-wine-cork-animal-puppets.html/" data-link-type="url" contents=""><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/a6cbae77ee5b50ea1e22a9f481121f35364cd328/original/animals12.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" alt="" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align:center;"><a class="no-pjax" href="http://www.thelittlemonsterblog.com/2015/05/repurposed-wine-cork-animal-puppets.html/" data-link-type="url" contents="Animal Puppets"><font face="Helvetica, sans-serif"><span><strong>Animal Puppets</strong></span></font></a></td>
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<td><a class="no-pjax" href="https://mamapapabubba.com/2013/06/25/cork-sail-boats-with-sparkly-sails/" data-link-type="url" contents=""><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/3e491ac89ced7640452bfc766d61684d6adade30/original/img-9404.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" alt="" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align:center;"><a class="no-pjax" href="https://mamapapabubba.com/2013/06/25/cork-sail-boats-with-sparkly-sails/" data-link-type="url" contents="Sail Boats"><font face="Helvetica, sans-serif"><span><strong>Sail Boats</strong></span></font></a></td>
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<td><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.designmom.com/perfect-gift-cork-stamps/?#more-22188" data-link-type="url" contents=""><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/584448be936e8156dca790095ddce9cd6a990bf2/original/cork-stamps-13-1.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" alt="" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align:center;"><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.designmom.com/perfect-gift-cork-stamps/?#more-22188" data-link-type="url" contents="Stamps"><font face="Helvetica, sans-serif"><span><strong>Stamps</strong></span></font></a></td>
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</tbody></table></figure></center><center> </center><center> </center><center> </center><center> </center><center><p><i>All tutorials are the property of their original creators.</i></p></center>Melissa Griffintag:www.hammondarts.org,2005:Post/62821932020-04-14T12:28:26-05:002020-04-14T12:29:15-05:00How to Interact with the Arts<p style="text-align: justify;"><a contents="By Tara Bennett" data-link-label="" data-link-type="email" href="mailto:tbennett@hammondarts.org"><strong>By Tara Bennett</strong></a></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Social distancing has become ingrained as a part of everyday life as the United States works to contain the spreading coronavirus. While this practice is an important and essential aspect of keeping COVID-19 in check, it can impact many people's quality of life. Concerts, art galleries, museums, libraries, coffee shops, and more have suffered the consequences of COVID-19 first-hand as many businesses and institutions close briefly while the coronavirus scare passes over. As COVID-19 influences businesses, institutions, and communities, arts and culture venues are finding new ways around the limitations.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"> <img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/9ee0dfa54346fd69b873dfd30f42248f8de2773f/original/library-of-congress-gidmmhkarlk-unsplash.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span class="font_small"><span style="color:#7f8c8d;">Photo courtesy of Library of Congress on Unsplash</span></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">However, arts and culture institutions, from a local to a global scale, are working to provide access to a wide array of art concentrations, including exhibitions, concerts, books, and more for those who are at home and social distancing. Here are some ways for you to enjoy the arts in your pajamas. </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Virtual tours of museums. </strong>From France to Spain to New York, <a contents="many museums are offering virtual tours" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://artsandculture.google.com/partner"><strong>many museums are offering virtual tours</strong></a> for people to view at home through Google Arts & Culture. The Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery in D.C., the Musée d'Orsay in Paris, the National Gallery in London, the Acropolis Museum in Athens, and more let you view hundreds of works of art organized by their mediums, periods, and more. There are a variety of museums that you can see virtually from home. So, tour a new country and experience their culture from home. </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Listen to books.</strong> Audible is allowing patrons to <a contents="stream free audio stories" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://stories.audible.com/start-listen"><strong>stream free audio stories</strong></a> from their phone, laptop, or tablet. While Audible offers an array of children's books, they also provide young adult books, as well as lit classics. You can listen to books like "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Bronte, "The Jungle Book" by Rudyard Kipling, and "Moby Dick" by Herman Melville. </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Virtual national park tours around the nation.</strong> Also offered through Google Arts & Culture, you can <a contents="virtually explore five different national parks" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://artsandculture.withgoogle.com/en-us/national-parks-service/parks"><strong>virtually explore five different national parks</strong></a> located in Alaska, Hawaii, New Mexico, Utah, and Florida. Each park explores diverse terrains and environments, while you can enjoy informative narration, 360-degree photos, and graphics with each park, ranging from fjords, volcanoes, caverns, and canyons. </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Stream concerts, theatrical plays, and Broadway performances.</strong> If you love music, you can take advantage of digital and live-streamed concerts, operas, and other shows. <a contents="NPR has created an extensive list&nbsp;" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.npr.org/2020/03/17/816504058/a-list-of-live-virtual-concerts-to-watch-during-the-coronavirus-shutdown"><strong>NPR has created an extensive list</strong></a><strong> </strong>of bands and musicians that will be live-streaming concerts. So, you can catch concerts like Backstreet Boys right from your couch. If you're a musical fan, <a contents="BroadwayHD" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.broadwayhd.com/"><strong>BroadwayHD</strong></a> is offering a free 7-day trial or an $8.99 monthly subscription to watch acclaimed musicals like The King and I, Peter Pan, Kinky Boots, and more. <a contents="The Globe" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://globeplayer.tv/"><strong>The Globe</strong></a> is also streaming many of their previous recordings of some of the Bard's famous works.</p>Melissa Griffintag:www.hammondarts.org,2005:Post/63951822020-04-07T02:00:00-05:002023-06-15T12:39:25-05:00Tutorial Tuesdays: Buttons<p> </p><center>
<p><span>It's time for #TutorialTuesday! This week features buttons!</span></p>
<p><span>If you make something, show it off to us by tagging us on social media!</span></p>
</center><p style="text-align:center;"> </p><p style="text-align:center;"><span class="text-big">DIYs for Adults</span></p><p style="text-align:center;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/5c359aafb142e0051778edb4d567fca08c3d8634/original/tutorial-tuesday-buttons-adults.png/!!/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p><center>
<figure class="table" style="width:500px;"><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="5"><tbody>
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<td><a class="no-pjax" href="https://thewhoot.com/whoot-news/crafty-corner/button-wall-art" data-link-type="url" contents=""><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/c63e31ceb8a91a06ce68bb2891ad0501d0161846/original/peacock-button-art.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" alt="" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align:center;"><a class="no-pjax" href="https://thewhoot.com/whoot-news/crafty-corner/button-wall-art" data-link-type="url" contents="Wall Art"><font face="Helvetica, sans-serif"><span><strong>Wall Art</strong></span></font></a></td>
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<td><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.happinessishomemade.net/button-globe/" data-link-type="url" contents=""><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/2b7c06fa5bee813ed379873d4d22d482ff0b4c22/original/styrofoam-ball-button-globe.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" alt="" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align:center;"><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.happinessishomemade.net/button-globe/" data-link-type="url" contents="Globe"><font face="Helvetica, sans-serif"><span><strong>Globe</strong></span></font></a></td>
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<td><a class="no-pjax" href="https://craftbits.com/project/make-simple-button-pendants/" data-link-type="url" contents=""><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/6a7b258cbb382622184ea1e32fbc7bd6e10d0d23/original/20150513-132023.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" alt="" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align:center;"><a class="no-pjax" href="https://craftbits.com/project/make-simple-button-pendants/" data-link-type="url" contents="Pendants"><font face="Helvetica, sans-serif"><span><strong>Pendants</strong></span></font></a></td>
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<td><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.brepea.com/easy-diy-reusable-coffee-cup-sleeve" data-link-type="url" contents=""><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/50a4c265480e0a49b6cd10c50b5d3035e6a3094e/original/2d17b-diy-reusable-coffee-sleeve-teacher-gift-dunkin-creamer-7.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" alt="" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align:center;"><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.brepea.com/easy-diy-reusable-coffee-cup-sleeve" data-link-type="url" contents="Reusable Coffee Cup Sleeve"><font face="Helvetica, sans-serif"><span><strong>Reusable Coffee Cup Sleeve</strong></span></font></a></td>
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<td><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.thecraftaholicwitch.com/create-vintage-button-bracelet/" data-link-type="url" contents=""><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/ee23a579b3d0379b299cb771eb23cadadf43c599/original/20151011-130151.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" alt="" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align:center;"><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.thecraftaholicwitch.com/create-vintage-button-bracelet/" data-link-type="url" contents="Bracelet (vintage)"><font face="Helvetica, sans-serif"><span><strong>Bracelet (vintage)</strong></span></font></a></td>
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</tbody></table></figure><p> </p>
<p> </p>
</center><p style="text-align:center;"> </p><p style="text-align:center;"><span class="text-big">DIYs for Kids</span></p><p style="text-align:center;"><span class="text-big"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/6b7885b7492c73037321fc15c78db715e75743ca/original/tutorial-tuesday-buttons-kids.png/!!/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></span></p><center><figure class="table" style="width:500px;"><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="5"><tbody>
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<td><a class="no-pjax" href="https://canadianfamily.ca/activities/crafts/make-your-own-mini-travel-game/" data-link-type="url" contents=""><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/3d2a7fb2f4f500d848b588590cb197e16f713c00/original/magnet-game.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" alt="" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align:center;"><a class="no-pjax" href="https://canadianfamily.ca/activities/crafts/make-your-own-mini-travel-game/" data-link-type="url" contents="Mini Travel Game"><font face="Helvetica, sans-serif"><span><strong>Mini Travel Game</strong></span></font></a></td>
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<td><a class="no-pjax" href="http://www.pinkstripeysocks.com/2014/10/button-pipe-cleaner-rings-kids-craft.html" data-link-type="url" contents=""><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/f15e3bc985b53b398f6b5d3c49dce006262a2b8b/original/pa263639-001.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" alt="" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align:center;"><a class="no-pjax" href="http://www.pinkstripeysocks.com/2014/10/button-pipe-cleaner-rings-kids-craft.html" data-link-type="url" contents="Rings"><font face="Helvetica, sans-serif"><span><strong>Rings</strong></span></font></a></td>
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<td><a class="no-pjax" href="http://sumoftheirstories.com/blog//2014/09/button-cluster-key-ring.html" data-link-type="url" contents=""><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/753b3c9f63ba676a009be7321be5773848630882/original/button-cluster-keyrings.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" alt="" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align:center;"><a class="no-pjax" href="http://sumoftheirstories.com/blog//2014/09/button-cluster-key-ring.html" data-link-type="url" contents="Key Ring Cluster"><font face="Helvetica, sans-serif"><span><strong>Key Ring Cluster</strong></span></font></a></td>
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<td><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.hellowonderful.co/post/BUTTON-STICK-TREE-CRAFT-FOR-KIDS/" data-link-type="url" contents=""><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/b0630333af72e9974164573eebc13143ad3cfd7a/original/diy-stick-button-tree-kids-craft.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" alt="" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align:center;"><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.hellowonderful.co/post/BUTTON-STICK-TREE-CRAFT-FOR-KIDS/" data-link-type="url" contents="Stick Tree"><font face="Helvetica, sans-serif"><span><strong>Stick Tree</strong></span></font></a></td>
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<td><a class="no-pjax" href="https://domesticallyblissful.com/button-bookmarks-for-kids/" data-link-type="url" contents=""><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/62e641e2437633b3289d2346846c991dca3a038e/original/button-bookmarks.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" alt="" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align:center;"><a class="no-pjax" href="https://domesticallyblissful.com/button-bookmarks-for-kids/" data-link-type="url" contents="Bookmarks"><font face="Helvetica, sans-serif"><span><strong>Bookmarks</strong></span></font></a></td>
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</tbody></table></figure></center><center> </center><center> </center><center> </center><center> </center><center><p><i>All tutorials are the property of their original creators.</i></p></center>Melissa Griffintag:www.hammondarts.org,2005:Post/64126992020-04-01T09:00:00-05:002021-04-06T12:45:04-05:00ARTisTRY: Spring Flowers<p><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="sIhYu2GcWpw" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/sIhYu2GcWpw/mqdefault.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sIhYu2GcWpw?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="320" width="640" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p>Melissa Griffintag:www.hammondarts.org,2005:Post/62679602020-03-31T21:10:55-05:002020-04-02T14:27:41-05:00You know, you're really good at...<p><em>By Melissa Griffin</em></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Do you ever think about all the little moments that have led you to where you are right now? There's a song by singer/songwriter Mason Jennings that says "Where would I be right now if all my dreams had come true?" I'd be an Olympic gymnast with lots of gold medals! I’m happy to say that I truly love my life, even if my gold medals come in the form of sticky toddler kisses. </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">What you thought you'd "be when you grow up" may not be what you are today, and that's probably a good thing. You're exactly where you should be right now, and there are so many little moments that got you here with your unique skill set and your one-of-a-kind qualities. Can you remember which childhood teachers or mentors had the most profound impact on your adult life? Think about your favorite teachers and their little "one-liners" of inspiration that you'll never forget. Who in your life said, "you know, you're really good at..."? </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/3820ac7365886ec1a29f882653768550b2d9f558/original/nathan-lemon-fbikcuw-sqw-unsplash.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_left border_" />We often miss opportunities to inspire people, because we assume that inspiration can only come from Dr. Seuss or Albert Einstein quotes. In reality, the sentence “you know, you’re really good at…” goes further than we can imagine, and it only takes a moment. At the Hammond Regional Arts Center, we recognize the value of those little moments—they can change the course of a life forever—and that's why we continue to foster support for arts educators in our area. </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">What have we learned today?</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">1. Let’s appreciate those teachers, parents, grandparents and mentors who took a moment to say something encouraging to us. </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">2. Let’s take a moment to say something encouraging to someone else, especially a child. </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">This morning I watched a TED Talk by Jarrett Krosoczka, and I hope you'll check it out. Krosoczka’s story is inspirational in many ways, and it may help convince you to say “you’re really good at…” to someone soon. (<a contents="Find the talk here.)" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.ted.com/talks/jarrett_j_krosoczka_how_a_boy_became_an_artist" target="_blank">Find the talk here.)</a> </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Here's the description: <em>When Jarrett J. Krosoczka was a kid, he didn’t play sports, but he loved art. He paints the funny and touching story of a little boy who pursued a simple passion: to draw and write stories. With the help of a supporting cast of family and teachers, our protagonist grew up to become the successful creator of beloved children’s book characters, and a vocal advocate for arts education. (Filmed at TEDxHampshireCollege.) Jarrett J. Krosoczka is the author/illustrator of countless children's books and graphic novels, including Good Night, Monkey Boy, Baghead and the Lunch Lady series.</em></p>Melissa Griffintag:www.hammondarts.org,2005:Post/63951722020-03-31T14:00:00-05:002023-06-15T12:41:19-05:00Tutorial Tuesdays: Popsicle Sticks<center>
<p> </p>
<p><span>It's time for #TutorialTuesday! This week features popsicle sticks!</span></p>
<p><span>If you make something, show it off to us by tagging us on social media!</span></p>
</center><p style="text-align:center;"> </p><p style="text-align:center;"><span class="text-big">DIYs for Adults</span></p><p style="text-align:center;"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/8afa181faac9fb604e8cdd6d5ed4609a7fecdf2b/original/tutorial-tuesday-popsicle-sticks-adults.png/!!/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p><center>
<figure class="table" style="width:500px;"><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="5"><tbody>
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<td><a class="no-pjax" href="https://makeanddocrew.com/diy-wall-art-popsicle-stick-hexagon-shelf-part-i/" data-link-type="url" contents=""><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/fb7d52b613a6e034e08765fddd400d1202f1d42a/original/diy-hexagon-shelf-popsicle-sticks-4.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" alt="" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align:center;"><a class="no-pjax" href="https://makeanddocrew.com/diy-wall-art-popsicle-stick-hexagon-shelf-part-i/" data-link-type="url" contents="Hexagon Shelf"><span><strong>Hexagon Shelf</strong></span></a></td>
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<td><a class="no-pjax" href="https://gracefullysearching.blogspot.com/2012/11/sunburst-mirror.html" data-link-type="url" contents=""><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/512a0d29d43042e89c7334c1bdf6381584192d1a/original/x4a5343.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" alt="" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align:center;"><a class="no-pjax" href="https://gracefullysearching.blogspot.com/2012/11/sunburst-mirror.html" data-link-type="url" contents="Sunburst Mirror"><span><strong>Sunburst Mirror</strong></span></a></td>
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<td><a class="no-pjax" href="https://festoonandfrill.com/2014/11/16/popsicle-stick-wall-art/" data-link-type="url" contents=""><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/425e504273f38609e7d08092415d083e5f17706f/original/img-5113.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" alt="" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align:center;"><a class="no-pjax" href="https://festoonandfrill.com/2014/11/16/popsicle-stick-wall-art/" data-link-type="url" contents="Wall Art"><span><strong>Wall Art</strong></span></a></td>
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<td><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.omaha.com/momaha/easy-diy-terracotta-planters-are-perfect-for-the-home/article_255c528c-ea0f-11e5-a9e1-673398bc8cba.html" data-link-type="url" contents=""><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/5be5700ce954c1e7572621b47997b16110e7c46c/original/56e6fdb7d6327-image.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" alt="" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align:center;"><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.omaha.com/momaha/easy-diy-terracotta-planters-are-perfect-for-the-home/article_255c528c-ea0f-11e5-a9e1-673398bc8cba.html" data-link-type="url" contents="Terracotta Planters"><span><strong>Terracotta Planters</strong></span></a></td>
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<td><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.tonyastaab.com/2011/06/x-treme-bird-feeders.html" data-link-type="url" contents=""><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/339f6834c87ee79aaffc8f0fabd16a98debe0f10/original/6a0120a61aa83a970c01538f428787970b-450wi.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" alt="" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align:center;"><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.tonyastaab.com/2011/06/x-treme-bird-feeders.html" data-link-type="url" contents="Bird Feeders"><span><strong>Bird Feeders</strong></span></a></td>
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</center><p style="text-align:center;"> </p><p style="text-align:center;"><span class="text-big">DIYs for Kids</span></p><p style="text-align:center;"><span class="text-big"><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/2f6184ad137774dc54e715ba99127c40b2b4901b/original/tutorial-tuesday-popsicle-sticks-kids.png/!!/b:W10=.png" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></span></p><p style="text-align:center;"> </p><center><figure class="table" style="width:500px;"><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="5"><tbody>
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<td><a class="no-pjax" href="https://crayonboxchronicles.com/2013/06/16/farm-sensory-bin-a-day-at-the-barn/" data-link-type="url" contents=""><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/2d2524422d0c267b2c6d9af4c7098e296a9a728c/original/barn-craft-small-world-cbc.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" alt="" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align:center;"><a class="no-pjax" href="https://crayonboxchronicles.com/2013/06/16/farm-sensory-bin-a-day-at-the-barn/" data-link-type="url" contents="Barn"><font face="Helvetica, sans-serif"><span><strong>Barn</strong></span></font></a></td>
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<td><a class="no-pjax" href="https://meaningfulmama.com/day-223-book-buddies-diy-book-marks.html" data-link-type="url" contents=""><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/08b2cf4c0612d2c1b2dfbb811608573f157e09d9/original/1-kid-s-bookmarks-book-buddies.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" alt="" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align:center;"><a class="no-pjax" href="https://meaningfulmama.com/day-223-book-buddies-diy-book-marks.html" data-link-type="url" contents="Bookmark Buddy"><font face="Helvetica, sans-serif"><span><strong>Bookmark Buddy</strong></span></font></a></td>
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<td><a class="no-pjax" href="https://kidsactivitiesblog.com/28871/catapult-for-kids-to-make" data-link-type="url" contents=""><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/e89e892cb99e6642a9e98d75aebcf31397452f4d/original/catapults-for-distance.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" alt="" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align:center;"><a class="no-pjax" href="https://kidsactivitiesblog.com/28871/catapult-for-kids-to-make" data-link-type="url" contents="Catapult"><span><strong>Catapult</strong></span></a></td>
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<td><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.danyabanya.com/invitation-fairies/" data-link-type="url" contents=""><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/f2dc58bf39585c72c6976ae4db897268b9d6677d/original/add-a-touch-of-fairy-magic-to-your-garden-with-this-diy-fairy-door.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" alt="" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align:center;"><a class="no-pjax" href="https://www.danyabanya.com/invitation-fairies/" data-link-type="url" contents="Fairy Door"><span><strong>Fairy Door</strong></span></a></td>
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<td><a class="no-pjax" href="https://frugalfun4boys.com/build-marble-run-craft-sticks/" data-link-type="url" contents=""><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/4a5abfc7b2bb768d946830548e5dc0912123803b/original/marbles-and-craft-sticks-fb.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_" alt="" /></a></td>
<td style="text-align:center;"><a class="no-pjax" href="https://frugalfun4boys.com/build-marble-run-craft-sticks/" data-link-type="url" contents="Marble Arcade"><font face="Helvetica, sans-serif"><span><strong>Marble Arcade</strong></span></font></a></td>
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</tbody></table></figure></center><center> </center><center> </center><center> </center><center> </center><center><p><i>All tutorials are the property of their original creators.</i></p></center>Melissa Griffintag:www.hammondarts.org,2005:Post/62674512020-03-31T13:03:52-05:002021-02-22T13:29:57-06:00Free Z Arts Drawing Lesson<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="Md3XF5odjYY" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/Md3XF5odjYY/mqdefault.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Md3XF5odjYY?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="360" width="640" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p>
<p>Learn how to transform shapes into characters with HRAC board member and Tangipahoa art teacher Shayla Kelly in this free Z Arts video tutorial.</p>Melissa Griffintag:www.hammondarts.org,2005:Post/62674452020-03-31T12:59:40-05:002020-05-01T09:24:15-05:00Digital Gallery Sneak Peek: Jose Canales<p style="text-align: center;"><iframe class="justify_inline" data-video-type="youtube" data-video-id="a8kY5y95NLA" data-video-thumb-url="https://img.youtube.com/vi/a8kY5y95NLA/mqdefault.jpg" type="text/html" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/a8kY5y95NLA?rel=0&wmode=transparent&enablejsapi=1" frameborder="0" height="360" width="640" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Art does not stop! Welcome to out digital Sneak Peek series, featuring artists from the Mezzanine Gallery. Jose Canales specializes in silkscreen printing and is scheduled to have an exhibition this summer.</p>Melissa Griffintag:www.hammondarts.org,2005:Post/62552332020-03-19T15:23:27-05:002020-03-27T18:21:51-05:00How to Start Your Own Art Collection<p style="text-align: justify;"><a contents="By Tara Bennett" data-link-label="" data-link-type="email" href="mailto:tbennett@hammondarts.org"><strong>By Tara Bennett</strong></a></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Was that Rothko poster in your old dorm room the last piece of art you ever bought? Do you fear not being able to afford actual pieces of art, or not knowing a masterpiece from your child’s finger painting? Time to squash those hesitations. Plenty of fantastic art sells at affordable prices. It’s all about knowing how to start. </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"> <img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/1f20860260f82ec28590d1cb0694e825b8ba13b3/original/jonny-caspari-kuuddjbhila-unsplash.jpg/!!/b:W10=.jpg" class="size_l justify_center border_" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span class="font_small"><span style="color:#7f8c8d;">Photo by Jonny Caspari on Unsplash</span></span></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"> </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Learn what you like. </strong>Not sure if you get abstract art? Don’t know your impression of impressionism? Then take in as much art as possible. Go to galleries, visit museums, flip through magazines. Don’t worry about what’s popular or what you’re ‘supposed’ to like. Develop your own taste. Start a Pinterest page and track what appeals to you and notice when you start gravitating towards certain mediums, styles, or themes. If you find you keep coming back to a piece, grab it if you can. </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Get to know the artist. </strong>Knowing where the artwork comes from can play an essential role in how you connect with it. As an aspiring art patron, when you attend openings or artist talks, please don’t be shy about asking artists about their process, materials, and inspiration. You can find out more about what went into a certain piece, or if there is a story behind it. Chances are you’ll find artists are excited to discuss their work, put you on their mailing lists, or even invite you for a studio visit. </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Embrace galleries. </strong>You’re not committing to buying anything when you visit an exhibition. It’s all about finding out. If you like a show, but it’s too expensive, you can find out if the artist has any works that may be smaller, a different medium, or something else well within your price point. Often, galleries will let you pay over several months, layaway style. </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Don’t limit yourself to only galleries. </strong>Non-profit organizations host auctions each year that will include works of art from emerging contemporary artists or staples in the local community. Art markets are even more accessible financially. And if a piece at your local coffee shop or restaurant catches your eye, chances are it’s for sale. </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Establish an art fund. </strong>To address the looming, “can I afford this?” question, start saving a small amount of money every month. Set a goal, say, to buy a piece a year. You might even create a sensible plan, such as purchasing a piece on your birthday or when you get a tax refund. If you’re a couple, rather than buying separate gifts, buy something together for your anniversary. </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>It’s not an investment.</strong> You can’t predict which artists will make it big. Unless you have the money to spend to diversify your collection with big names, you shouldn’t think of this purchase as a ticket to a future payoff. That said, if acquiring something that will hold its value is important to you, focus on editioned works. </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Put it up. </strong>Move the work around. Experiment. Sometimes a powerful, small work can anchor a big wall or vice versa. One rule to follow is to pick a height—say 60 inches—as the center point for every piece in a room to create a sense of continuity. Or consider creating a gallery wall in your home by using a bunch of smaller works in a cluster. Start with several pieces at the center, and then expand outward as you buy more, maintaining a consistent distance between them. </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Don’t be afraid to make mistakes. </strong>Just as your taste in clothes changes, your taste in art will, too. If you tire of something, move it to a different room or pass it on. If you donate it to a charity auction, you can write it off. Have fun. You might find that purchases that once seemed discretionary become so enriching you can’t live without them.</p>Melissa Griffintag:www.hammondarts.org,2005:Post/62491562020-03-14T17:45:59-05:002020-03-14T17:47:58-05:00Virtual Museum<h4>
<span class="font_regular">Even if you don't consider yourself a patron of the arts, you can (and should) explore some of the most celebrated and influential works of art in history. For the first time in history, we have the ability to be captivated by these works for no cost and without leaving our homes. </span><span class="font_large"> </span>
</h4>
<p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/026bdffac972cbef91a341b104d91980bf8300db/original/doran-erickson-ixydkxxawq0-unsplash.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_none" alt="" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><span class="font_small"><span style="color:#7f8c8d;">Photo by Doran Erickson on Unsplash</span></span></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Based on a publication by My Modern Met, the Hammond Regional Arts Center has created a list of some of our favorite art collections, all free for public viewing online. </p>
<ul> <li>The Metropolitan Museum of Art's <a contents="online archive" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://archive.org/details/metropolitanmuseumofart-gallery?and%5B%5D=collection%3A%22metropolitanmuseumofart-gallery%22" target="_blank">online archive</a> contains over 400,000 images for your view. </li> <li>The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) has over 200,000 pieces of art in their current collection. Of that 200,000 modern and contemporary works, 84,000 works are currently <a contents="available for view online" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.moma.org/collection/" target="_blank">available for view online</a>. The museum has also made images from exhibitions since its founding in 1929 available <a contents="here" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.moma.org/calendar/exhibitions/history" target="_blank">here</a>.</li> <li>The Guggenheim Museum has released modern art books online for free. That's over 200 copies of topics ranging from Picasso to Kandinsky. From 20th century Chinese art to the craftsmen of ancient Peru. It's art work from all over the world. <a contents="See the entire archive here" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://archive.org/details/guggenheimmuseum" target="_blank">See the entire archive here</a>. </li> <li>Art Institute of Chicago digitized thousands of pieces from their collection. <a contents="Find it here." data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.artic.edu/collection" target="_blank">Find it here.</a>
</li> <li>The <a contents="Barnes Foundation Collection online" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://collection.barnesfoundation.org" target="_blank">Barnes Foundation Collection online</a> is a treasure trove for anyone interested in Impressionist and Post-Impressionist painting.</li> <li>Explore all sides of the 3D models of the sculptures from the <a contents="British Museum online here" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://sketchfab.com/britishmuseum/models" target="_blank">British Museum online here</a>. </li> <li>Spend some time getting lost in the <a contents="Europeana Collections online" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.europeana.eu/portal/en" target="_blank">Europeana Collections online</a>. This digital collection makes Europe's cultural history available to anyone with topics ranging from art and fashion to music, maps, natural history and more. </li> <li>The Japanese woodblock prints archived at <a contents="Ukiyo-e.org" data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://ukiyo-e.org" target="_blank">Ukiyo-e.org</a> are not only searchable by text, but also by taking and uploading a picture of an existing image.</li> <li>Van Gogh's c<a contents="ollection of over 600 Japanese prints " data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://www.vangoghmuseum.nl/en/japanese-prints" target="_blank">ollection of over 600 Japanese prints </a>are available to view online where you can also learn about his love of Japanese art and how it influenced his own work. <p><img src="//d10j3mvrs1suex.cloudfront.net/u/48831/b44471806af3058d1938a4abce84ba038df285cc/original/terry-browning-4utk24hpqmq-unsplash.jpg/!!/undefined/b:W1sic2l6ZSIsIm1lZGl1bSJdXQ==.jpg" class="size_m justify_center border_none" alt="" /></p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><br> <span class="font_small"><span style="color:#7f8c8d;">Photo by Terry Browning on Unsplash</span></span></p> </li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<p>See also:</p>
<p><a contents='"What is Modern Art?"' data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://mymodernmet.com/what-is-modern-art-definition/" target="_blank">"What is Modern Art?"</a> by Kelly Richman-Abdou </p>
<p><a contents='"What is Contemporary Art?" ' data-link-label="" data-link-type="url" href="https://mymodernmet.com/what-is-contemporary-art-definition/" target="_blank">"What is Contemporary Art?" </a>by Kelly Richman-Abdou</p>
<div id="UMS_TOOLTIP" style="position: absolute; cursor: pointer; z-index: 2147483647; background-color: transparent; top: -100000px; left: -100000px; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"> </div>Melissa Griffintag:www.hammondarts.org,2005:Post/62480152020-03-13T12:23:36-05:002020-03-13T12:23:36-05:00Sparks of Creativity<p><em> The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls. </em> – Pablo Picasso </p>
<p>At the Hammond Regional Arts Center, we value creativity and imagination! The best way to spark creativity is to allow yourself to get out of your comfort zone. We’ve made a fun list of ideas to help you get more creative. These are easy things you can do with household items in your home or backyard. Allow your imagination to run wild. Do these alone or with others (friends, spouse, or kids). </p>
<p>Practicing creativity has many advantages: </p>
<ul> <li>You’ll become a better problem solver at home and at work. </li> <li>You’ll become more empathetic as you practice seeing the world from other vantage points. </li> <li>You’ll be motivated to be more active, physically and mentally. </li> <li>Your stress will be reduced and your mood will be elevated. </li>
</ul>
<p> …just to name a few. </p>
<p>Take a day or an afternoon to really let your imagination stretch—like yoga for your mind! Get silly! </p>
<p><strong>1. Start a virtual book club.</strong> <br>a. Use social media to create a group. (A great way to meet new people with similar interests!) <br>b. With group members, decide which book to read. Have everyone buy or download the book. <br>c. Plan group chats to discuss the book as you read together. Ask the tough questions. Ask the silly questions. Dig deep. <br>d. When you’re done, pick another book and start again. </p>
<p><strong>2.</strong> <strong>Printable coloring pages for kids or adults </strong><br>a. Use crayons, color pencils, pens, markers to fill in every space on the page. <br>b. Add more flair with found items, scraps of paper, cut outs from magazines, buttons, etc. <br>c. Coloring contest. Take photos of your work and post online and ask people to vote for their favorite. </p>
<p><strong>3. Practice photography. </strong> Use your phone’s camera. Use filters you’ve never tried before. Try different lighting. <br>a. Go outside for inspiration <br>b. Find the smallest thing you can photograph. <br>c. Find the largest thing you can photograph. <br>c. Take a photo of only green things, only blue things, etc. </p>
<p><strong>4. Practice cooking and baking </strong></p>
<p><strong>5. Write an outlandish story.</strong> Get input for characters and plot lines from others if you’re stuck. </p>
<p><strong>6. Learn Origami </strong></p>
<p><strong>7. Make a smash book or a scrapbook </strong></p>
<p><strong>8. Sidewalk Chalk! </strong></p>
<p><strong>9. Plant a garden </strong></p>
<p><strong>10. Paint rocks </strong></p>
<p><strong>11. Write a poem </strong></p>
<p><strong>12. Write a song </strong>- sing it in the shower; great acoustics!</p>
<p><strong>13. Doodle </strong><br>a. Create a flip book cartoon <br>b. Write a story to go with your cartoon </p>
<p><strong>14. Make up your own board game </strong></p>
<p><strong>15. Write letters to friends and family </strong><br>a. Hand write them to practice your penmanship <br>b. Include doodles or poetry <br>c. Encourage the recipient to write back </p>
<p><strong>16. Find shapes in the clouds </strong><br>a. Draw the shapes you find <br>b. Make characters from the shapes you drew <br>c. Write a story about the characters </p>
<p><strong>17. Learn old dance moves:</strong> jitterbug, 2 step, square dancing, the mashed potato, the Macarena, etc <br>a. Create your own dance moves <br>b. Choreograph a performance for your whole family </p>
<p><strong>18. Go backyard bird watching and draw what you see </strong></p>
<p><strong>19. Make a collage using found objects </strong>(ex: blades of grass, flowers, leaves, pebbles, buttons, etc.) </p>
<p><strong>20. Build a blanket fort </strong></p>
<p><strong>21. Make play-doh sculptures </strong></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Need ideas specifically for the kiddos? Here's a few:</p>
<p><strong>For kids: </strong></p>
<p><strong>1. Fashion show </strong><br>a. Let your kids dress up in your clothes. How cute! <br>b. Snap photos as they walk the “runway” </p>
<p><strong>2. Make a book </strong><br>a. Cut paper in half and fold together like a book <br>b. Staple the pages along the seam <br>c. Help your child write a story, make a cover and illustrate his/her book </p>
<p><strong>3.</strong> <strong>Practice rhyming</strong>—be prepared for lots of laughs! </p>
<p><strong>4. Play pretend </strong><br>a. Make up a scenario <br>b. Create costumes <br>c. Act out the scene <br>d. Start again </p>
<p><strong>5. Ask your child questions. Have them draw their answers. </strong><br>a. What would you do if you were president? <br>b. What would you do if you were principle of your school? <br>c. If you could go to space, where would you go? Why?</p>
<p> </p>
<p>We hope that this list has helped inspire you get your imagination moving! Let us know how much fun you had. </p>
<p>Pinterest is another great resource for additional ideas. May we also suggest the book <em>Wreck This Journal</em> by Keri Smith (not a paid endorsement) for more ideas on how to put your imagination to work. </p>Melissa Griffin