Here’s a small fact about me: before I threw myself into the wide world of books, blogging, and binge reading there was one thing that had an iron grip around my off-school and off-work life: art. From the time little me could figure out how to hold a crayon with semi-proficiency I was art-ing on most things I could get my hands on (thankfully I was never a wall-drawer but unfortunately our kitchen chairs did not escape my creative eye). I spent my weekends in art classes and summers at arts camps, and when it was finally time to leave the trenches of high school, OCADU was where I went. While I don’t draw as much as I should anymore, I still enjoy dragging my friends and family to art museums and niche galleries to play my favorite game, Is It Art?, and I can still spout off random art history facts on command (which makes for an odd but sometimes useful party trick).

Now, why am I sharing all this with you? I might be a little late to the party, but it was World Art Day (on April 15^th)! This UNESCO-recognized celebration aims to promote the development of art and spread it so that it can be enjoyed by everyone. Considering the recent string of post-secondary arts program cuts by “budget savvy” administrations and the concerning effects AI-generated imagery has had on art communities across the globe, I think it’s more important now than ever to highlight World Art Day and what makes this form of expression so special.

So, if you’re ready to reach into the untapped depths of your creativity or you just want to read some things about pretty pictures and the people who make them, I’m going to get on my little soapbox to hawk the good word of art, with some of my favorite artsy things you can pick up at your local VPL branch.