creativity Archives – Spokane County Library District

Call for Submissions: Create Art & Reconnect for Our Community Art Show

Posted in Explore and Discover, News on January 4, 2023 at 9:40 am

By Alison Johnson We’re hosting a Community Art Show again this year! For 2023, the theme is all about reconnecting—with other people, places, and ourselves. To go along with that theme, the canvas for all art in this year’s show are postcards. During January, each of our libraries will have a postcard craft station with […]

Grow Your Creative Talents in the New Year with Helpful Books, Resources & Programs

Posted in Explore and Discover on December 29, 2021 at 6:00 am

“You can't use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have,” Maya Angelou said in an interview. From my experience, this is absolutely true. This means that including creative goals in your New Year’s resolutions could lead to a more productive and inspirational 2022. Our libraries offer plenty of ways to help with creative goals, incl […]

Explore Random Acts of Art and Ways to Participate

Posted in Explore and Discover on June 2, 2021 at 6:00 am

By Abra Cole Have you found art out in the wild? If you’ve spied some art while out on a walk in your neighborhood, at a bus stop, or on a chair in a café, then you have probably found the kind of art I’m talking about. If not, keep your eyes open for the […]

Nurturing creativity & imagination with picture books

Posted in Parents and Teachers on January 28, 2021 at 6:00 am

BY MELISSA RHOADES Children are naturally creative and tend to display expansive imaginations. It’s even a stereotype that our imaginations blossom when we’re young and get socialized out of us as we grow into adulthood. Pablo Picasso is famously quoted as saying: “Every child is an artist. The problem is staying an artist when you […]

From the Library of Things: Machine sewing at your fingertips

Posted in Explore and Discover on April 2, 2019 at 6:00 am

By Melissa Rhoades Did you know you can borrow a sewing machine from the Library District? Our Library of Things offers two Elna eXplore 320 sewing machines to check out for up to seven days at a time. One is available for pick up at the Spokane Valley Library and the other can be picked […]

Let’s play: Indoor winter fun at the library

Posted in Explore and Discover, kids, Parents and Teachers on January 24, 2019 at 10:00 am

By Gwendolyn Haley The library is a great place to visit in the winter! No really, it’s true! Every week, we have Play & Learn Storytimes for families with children ages 0–5. For older kids, we have regularly scheduled LEGO Clubs, STEM programs, and other activities. And even when we don’t have a formal program […]

School’s back in session: Picture books about new challenges and situations

Posted in Parents and Teachers on October 9, 2018 at 6:00 am

By Rachel Edmondson There are lots of wonderful books about first-day school jitters. But reading to our kids about school doesn’t need to end once school is in full swing. There are all sorts of challenges that kids face while at school. Fortunately, there are also a wealth of books that cover situations such as […]

Karen Mobley: October artist in residence at The Lab at North Spokane Library

Posted in News on September 13, 2017 at 6:00 am

We’re hosting four local artists in residence at The Lab at North Spokane Library this fall. Each month, the artist in residence provides hands-on learning opportunities for community participation and also creates art in The Lab. Everyone is encouraged to stop by to see the displays of artist’s artwork changing each month and meet each […]

A creative booklist from Loretta West

Posted in Explore and Discover on August 2, 2016 at 6:00 am

by Erin Dodge Local artist Loretta West teaches the meditative art form of Zentangle at the Library District during August as part of our 2016 Summer Programs. In a previous post, Loretta graciously answered my questions about Zentangle and where she finds inspiration. Today, she shares a booklist filled with books that have touched her soul and […]

Tags: art, artist, booklists, books, creativity, events

Dealing With Creative Block

Posted in Explore and Discover, For You on November 6, 2014 at 6:00 am

By Cara Strickland It happens to all of us: the blank screen, the empty studio, the silent singing voice. Occasionally, we’re all visited by block of one kind or another. What’s a creative person to do? Although some blocks just take time to lift and lessen, there are a few things I’ve found to help […]

TAG: creativity