Last week, I attended a Creative Living lunch and learn at staC Art Gallery in Evansville, Indiana. We talked about living creatively and intentionally after hearing an insightful essay written and read by Dawn Murtaugh. Dawn is a local art quilter and is the first speaker of the new bi-weekly lunch and learns being held at the gallery.

These stepping stones welcomed me into the gallery!

I happened to see on Facebook that a friend was attending it and I thought hmmm what is that? I went to the link and wavered on whether to try to set up the dominoes in motion for childcare. I went back and forth for about 30 minutes and thought, well if Dad can watch Asher then I’ll go.

I clicked to buy tickets after finding out he could watch Asher only to discover I missed the deadline! But I called anyway (like 3 minutes before they closed!) and I talked to Miai Almaraz, the art curator for StaC Art Gallery who was so sweet and told me I was able to get in. Talk about the universe nudging me on this one. For things to fall in place the way they did was pretty amazing in my book considering I had a small window to work with as a dental appointment was at 2:00.

If any of my artist friends get an opportunity to attend a Lunch and learn at staC Art Gallery, then I highly recommend you do it. I got so much emotionally out of this, really food for my soul. Just being around other like-minded creative people and exchanging ideas is so nourishing. Speaking of nourishing, I have to mention that the lunch part of the lunch and learn was chicken salad, fruit and pasta from Sauced and it was really good.

There were a wide range of ages and occupations there, while not all were what we deem as “artists”, all were creative and indeed artists in their way of thinking. Builders, construction workers, architects, sewers, knitters, a hula-hoop maker as well as traditional designers, painters and sculptors rounded out this interesting gathering. So many different creative minds came together to discuss creative living in everyday life!

This was also a great chance for me to check out the new gallery to see if it was a match for my art. The owner of staC Art Gallery, Nguyen Qui Bau, also known by many as Ted Nguyen opened the gallery after an extensive renovation in the arts district in downtown Evansville, Indiana. He is also an artist as well and many of his own works are throughout the beautiful gallery and coffee shop.

Here’s the coffee bar, but they offer a lot more than coffee.

I was in a hurry to make a dentist appointment for my son and didn’t get quite the photographs I was hoping for including the beautiful outside, but I plan to go back and attend more lunch and learn at staC Art Gallery. Click on my links I added to see his gallery and renovation. I asked what the pronunciation of the gallery was and found out that it’s really cats spelled backwards! (So I think it’s just pronounced Stack). When Ted bought the property and before he could renovate it, he had to wrangle up all the cats that called the house home and get them along with their odor out of there! I loved the name he picked for the gallery.

One of many interesting art collaged tables.

The top paintings I know are the owners.

Art fills the walls and more.

Each room has a great vibe and art is everywhere you look, in a good way!

Aren’t these masks cool?!

These are the landscape art quilts by Dawn, the speaker.

Everything was tastefully arranged.

I have more photos, but these are the best. Maybe next time I share the photos from staC art gallery, mine will be joining them! If you’d like to learn more about staC Art Gallery then I suggest visiting the website or the Facebook page here.

Some of my paintings

Learn more about me on the ‘About’ page in the menu at the top. I’m an artist – a painter mostly and an avid gardener. I paint a variety of subjects including birds, koi fish, my gardens, ponds and flowers as well as anything having to do with nature especially trees and tropical scenes. I also enjoy painting abstracts and have started created more and more of them. My most favorite thing to try to achieve in my painting is is mystery.

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