Howdy to everyone out there in the Do Art Nation!
Hope you’ve been having a great spooky season. I’ve been noticing more fall decor and halloween decorations popping up from Chicago to Arkansas. Halloween is an amazing time to see the creative energy come out in people as we embrace the WACKY energy of costumes and fall crafts.
I had an incredible week last week, as I attended the Missouri Library Association Performer’s Showcase, and the Premier Showcase in Dallas, TX! Showcases are immensely fun for me because not only do I get to meet some amazing librarians and educators, I get to see some incredibly talented performers bring their own creativity and energy to the stage! I always walk away with new inspiration and ideas for Do Art, and this week was no exception.
It started on Wednesday with the MLA showcase. I was able to see some familiar faces and show them some of what Do Art can offer to libraries through our workshops and assemblies. I got to see some amazing drawings of me, as well as share a sneak preview of our latest offering: Graphic Novel Week! Perfect for summer camps and multi-day events, graphic novel week incorporates drawing exercises, discussions of narrative topics like character and setting, as well as our usual creative energy and performances.
With no time to relax it was down to Dallas, TX, for the Premier Showcase the next day. By Thursday I was in the Texas sunshine at La Cantera dance Studio, sharing Do Art with librarians and performers alike. I was gratified to see familiar faces as well as meet new people, and experience what Dallas Texas has to offer.
The week ended in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas, for a comic book workshop. After two days performing for grown-ups it was nice to actually do what I’d been promoting for the last week. We made an awesome comic where The Other Thing lets a dinosaur out of his cage! One kid complimented me on my drawing of a T-Rex–as someone who’s been practicing drawing dinosaurs in preparation for Summer Reading 2026, I was extremely grateful.
After the workshop, I had one more stop before heading home to Illinois: Beatles Park. The story goes that the Beatles stayed in Walnut Ridge for one night on their way to Missouri, and a downtown street commemorates the Fab Four with murals, sculpture, and other artwork! As a lifelong Beatles fan, and a great lover of whimsical small town artwork, I had to stop and take a few pictures. One of the many amazing things about touring the country the way we do is being to find these kinds of hidden gems that America has to offer–ways that people use art and creativity to give their hometowns a unique sense of place, and show love to their communities.
How do you use art to make your community a better place? Reach out to us and let us know. Keep creating, Do Art Nation, and we will see you soon!
