The Hands Project: I can get lost in this place...
Colors jump out at me from every direction... countless hues of the rainbow on display, each in its unique form, made from various materials, carefully hand-crafted by one soul for another.
I slowly stroll my way through and around and back again, eyes wide, not wanting to miss anything. Every treasure before me has a story to tell. And you can't find it anywhere else.
This is my experience every time I walk into Tri-State Artisans (TSA) downtown Columbus, Indiana, home to the soulful artistic expressions of more than 40 local artists! This kind of stuff can't be replicated... it's all original.
Jamie Mustaine, small business owner of TSA, pours out her heart and soul through her hands each day, creating, crafting and teaching fine art, for the community.
For Jamie, "This isn't just a store... it's a story... Everything here is personal."
Why art? What does it do for us? You may be thinking to yourself, "I'm not an artist." But I'm going to challenge you on that. I will admit, art comes in many, many different forms and is different for everyone. The best thing about it in my opinion, is there's no right or wrong way to create!
(If you've been to one of the classes at TSA, you know this poster! It's my favorite and makes me smile every time I see it!)
Creativity is a place where I can just BE. I can let go of should's and shouldn't's, I can play and try new things. When my camera is in my hands, I'm in my "happy place." For you, maybe it's a paint brush, pencil, kitchen utensil or keyboard. I can capture the vision and beauty that I see, or birth something totally new. Oftentimes, I have no idea where it will end up! But that's part of the journey, part of the fun.
Art can be a way to bring inspiration and vision into reality, or express emotions in a way that we struggle to get out otherwise.
I love to see my son draw! He's a totally different person when he has his markers in his hands verses a video game controller. There's a peace about him when he's creating, whether it be a drawing or a fort. Even as I've been writing this blog post, I've come to realize that when I'm creating, when I'm allowing myself freedom to just BE, let go of expectations, and do whatever flows naturally, I'm in alignment with my truest, most authentic self. And that feels really good.
Whether the outcome is drawing, painting, photography, jewelry, sculpting, pottery, botanicals... designing t-shirts, buildings or cakes... creating is in our DNA! It's part of our design as humans created in God's image. And if you consider for a moment that we are co-creators with the Maker of the Universe, the opportunities are literally endless!
Capturing Jamie teach her classes to both youth and adults was such a unique experience. If you've never taken an art class at TSA, I highly recommend it!!! Especially right now when it's c-c-c-cold and dreary outside. You can feel her passionate energy not only for the art itself, but for teaching it. She doesn't just want to tell you what to do make a picture, but wants you to walk away with a new skill and understanding. She doesn't want the experience to end when her students walk out the door... they can take the knowledge with them and carry it on.
ART IS FOR EVERYONE... it's for everyday people.
It's for you and for me, for giving and receiving.
"But there are so many colors in the rainbow,
so many colors in the morning sun,
so many colors in the flowers and I see every one."
(If you were singing along with me, good for you! I know I'm dating myself with Harry Chapin, but these words will always hold a special place in my heart.)
So what's in YOUR heart? Where is your passion pointing? What do you want to create this year? Each day offers a new canvas. Where in your life do you need to let go and find freedom for your soul to BE what it was created to BE? Go do that!
This world needs more of beautiful YOU!
For more information about Tri-State Artisans or classes, visit their website at www.tsartisans.com.
Facebook: Columbus TSA
Instagram: columbustsa
Thanks so much for reading! I'm Kristen Amber, and I'm a photographer specializing in business branding, families & newborns. If you need pictures, I'd love to hear from you and learn about how I can serve you!
(All photographs are Copyright: Kristen Amber Photography)