The Need For Personal Replenishment Becomes Greater

Two to three times a week I meet with three other business associates to informally discuss, brainstorm and strategize our future economic survival. Our group consists of a retail shop owner two independent artists and me an unemployed web developer.
Reflecting on the last few weeks of dialog I have come to visualize the bunch of us as some old, but not so old guys hanging out at the barber shop dissecting every idea and possibility for making a buck. The last several days though our quartet seems to be singing a tired song, tired of what seems to be a deepening lack luster economy. Tired of trying to hold ones own, struggling economically to hang on.
Other of my business associates outside the group that represent the auto industry, custom furniture and cabinet fabrication are also experiencing the same effects.
While the purpose of this post is not to be consumed with the negative the reality is evident that the current economic status is becoming a long term situation.
The Salt Lake Tribune the past month ran headliners stating that another 1,000 government jobs would be cut and recently that another 800 Aerospace jobs were also on the chopping block.
While the government figures for unemployment nationally are stated to be around the 10% area the real unemployment rate takes into consideration many factors including those who have exhausted their insurance benefits and those underemployed. A couple of links regarding the statistics are:
Fox Business news,
Brian Sullivan
http://briansullivan.blogs.foxbusiness.com/2009/11/06/is-the-real-unemployment-rate-17-5/
and the The US Dept of Labor, BLS
http://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.t12.htm

Contemplating the voices of individuals tired by struggling and coping with economic uncertainty it is evident the need is becoming increasingly greater for individual replenishment. Replenishment being the foundation of recreation.
Looking at the situation on the positive side, the cup half full side, both the need and opportunity for personal replenishment is possible with and through increased participation in the arts.
The arts are being hit hard, really hard by the economic crisis. WSWS.org Has identified some of the effects in a most interesting article,
http://www.wsws.org/articles/2009/feb2009/cuts-f17.shtml
So opportunities for involvement in the arts will require individuals to they themselves take the initiative to create, participate and hopefully share with others,
In previous posts I have noted the positive social benefits of the arts. There are two free events that I recommend for stimulating interest in the visual arts and sculpting. Each month in Salt Lake City and also Park City there are Gallery stroll evening events. More than a stimulating look at a plethora of styles and subjects created by a diverse array of artists, the events are a opportunity to visit with some of the artists, gallery owners and staff and learn about their creative process.

Salt Lake Gallery Stroll
http://www.gallerystroll.org/

Park City Gallery Stroll
Hosted by the Kimball Art Center
http://www.kimballartcenter.org/

For my own personal replenishment this month I have been doing on location sketching throughout the city. I also have been doing some sketching in the Wendover Nevada area.
For more on how I integrate art as a part of outdoor recreation please visit my Blog An Easel A Brush & The Bus
http://www.easelbrushbus.blogspot.com/

Please also check out my page of classes workshops and free events
http://www.wasatchphoto.com/was-art/subpages/Workshops%20&%20Classes.htm