Artistic Inspiration News
Glow-in-the-dark petunias, sensual masculinities, a figure drawing night with a NYT illustrator, a chance to contemplate stains, and other Springtime inspirations.
Welcome back to Artistic Inspiration News! Once a month, if we’re organized, this substack brings artistic opportunities, activism, events, ways to learn and develop as an artist, artists and artworks to watch, and whatever else catches our fancy. All events in the Artistic Inspiration News are free unless noted. We are Twin Cities-centric, but we do report cool opportunities all over. Jackson Street Arts’ substack (including Artistic Inspiration News) remains free, at least for now. Thanks for reading!
Crafts/Garden
(Twin Cities) The one isn’t free, but looks so fun. Griffin Overbye of True Hue is leading a candle-making workshop, with cocktails, at Dampfwerk Distillery, May 4th, 5-7, tickets are $100. Griffin’s candles are the most evocative and lush; I bet this will be magical.
(Everywhere) For $29, plus a ludicrous shipping fee, you can buy a petunia plant that glows in the dark. I kind of want one, but petunias are annuals outdoors and I am pretty sure I would kill it as a houseplant. Maybe your luck will be better. From Light.Bio.
Sex/Relationships
(Twin Cities) Smitten Kitten is hosting a workshop on sensual masculinities. If you’re on the masc side of the sphere, I suspect this will be heart-opening. April 27th, 1-4 p.m., $20.
(Everywhere) This is not new, but it was new to me. Do you need a structure to optimise your long-term relationship maintenance? Multiamory has got you on RADAR. I think this looks useful and might try it and let you know how it goes. As usual, things designed by polyam people to make our relationships work better are probably as good or better than anything you monogamous folks are using.
(Everywhere) The Embody Lab is hosting a free one-day Embodied Intimacy Summit, May 4th, 8 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. I am not sure what I think of Scott Lyons’ work but this might be a low-rent way to find out.
Visual Arts
(Everywhere) Artefacto School is hosting a free two-day workshop in Loose and Free Watercolor with Andy Evansen as the instructor, April 16th and 17th. I always learn something technique-wise in these workshops.
(NYC) This one is sold out for this month, but is a recurring event, so I’m sharing it to put it on your radar. NYT illustrator Julia Rothman is hosting a figure drawing night, Sunday April 21st, 6-8:30 Eastern time, at the Painting School. Not sure how much this one costs, since it’s sold out for this month anyway.
(Twin Cities) Springboard for the Arts is hosting an Artist Resource Fair on April 20th from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Lots of free resources and activities, but if I go, what I’ll want to attend are the free artist career consultation mini-sessions.
(New Hampshire) Thomas Little is an artist who makes pigments and inks by melting guns in acid. He’s teaching a workshop this summer about his process at Long Ridge Farm in NH. He’s a fascinating person, whose art is quiet and evocative, and I definitely think it would be worth $350 to spend a weekend learning from him. August 5-6th, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern.
(Twin Cities) Fresh Eye Gallery is seeking artists to participate in their Eye to Eye 2024 show, which teams up pairs of artists, including artists with disabilities, to create collaborative art together. The gallery is committed to reducing barriers to participation and will provide participating artists with supplies and space; I think this show might be a good way to deepen your artistic community. Deadline for consideration is April 28th.
(Minnesota and Geographically Aligned Native Nations) Are you an artist who works in both rural and urban contexts? Are you an urban or rural artist who wants to team up to create art that emphasizes urban-rural solidarity? Springboard for the Arts wants to give you $2,500-$5,000 dollars to do it. Application deadline is May 20th.
(Vermont) The Museum of Everyday Life is issuing an open call to all artists, philosophers, collectors, and ordinary people to contribute to their 2024 exhibition, which will be on the topic of Stains. They’ll consider anything from personal artifacts accompanied by your individual narrative, to vague, raw ideas for displays; from fully realized art objects to theoretical writings, and research. If you’ve never been to the museum, it is a mysterious, wonderful, self-service museum in Glover, Vermont, but you definitely shouldn’t send them anything you’d be heartbroken if it didn’t make it back to you — the museum is often completely unattended, which is part of its magic. They don’t have info about this call up on their website yet, but to contribute to the exhibition, or for more information, contact Clare Dolan via the “contact us” form on the Museum website.
Fashion
(Twin Cities) There are a lot of clothing swaps coming up that look fun. Tare Market and Zero Waste Minnesota are hosting one on April 20th from noon to 2 p.m.
(Twin Cities) The Hewing Hotel is also hosting one, with shopping and an upcycling workshop, on April 21 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Clothing swaps and free closets are a nice way to feel rich and fabulous with no money at all.
Music/Dance
(Twin Cities) Dance Agenda is hosting a outdoor sunset-over-Tonka-Bay dance party at Back Channel Brewing on May 26th from 3-9 p.m.
Theater/Immersive/Connections
(Twin Cities) Liban Kano of Strangers Meeting Strangers has got to be one of the most interesting impresarios we’ve got in the Twin Cities these days. Everything he does is worth attending, especially if you want to meet new and exciting people. He’s hosting a Town Hall (no, I’ve no idea what he means, and I bet he doesn’t either, yet) at Theatre in the Round on April 21st from 6-8:30.
And that’s it for now. What’s inspiring you as the weather gets warmer? Let us know in the comments, and, as always, like, subscribe, and share this newsletter to keep the goodies coming.