Jeanine Thurston: Bold Trees, Quiet Voices – Solo Exhibition
📅 May 2–24, 2025 🕕 Opening Reception: First Friday, May 2 | 6:00–9:00 PM 📍 NoBo Art Center (aka The Art Garage) | 4929 Broadway, Unit E, Boulder, 80304
The NoBo Art District is proud to present a new solo exhibition by Jeanine Thurston, a bold yet reflective artist whose work speaks to the balance between life and art. With each painting, Thurston creates with purpose—anchored by the belief that art should say something that matters.
In this exhibit, trees take center stage. Each piece is an expressive tribute to their quiet power, representing strength, resilience, and the untold stories rooted in nature. These works are not just landscapes, but statements—visual meditations on what it means to stand tall, grow through struggle, and remain grounded.
Join us for the First Friday Opening Reception on May 2, from 6–9 PM, and experience Jeanine’s powerful connection to the natural world, one canvas at a time.
🖼️ Visit the Exhibit: Stop by the Bus Stop Gallery and ask for a showing in the Art Center during the following hours:
Cafe Aion is a Spanish & Moroccan inspired restaurant on The Hill, near CU in Boulder, CO. Pop in for some appetizers, a drink, brunch on the weekends… it is a great place to hang out by yourself, with your person, or for a party/group.
While you’re there… check out my most recent art exhibit as you’re waiting for your PAELLA!!! Some of my favorites: French Onion Soup, Paella, Cauliflower & Crispy Smashers… BEST EATS… yum. Drinks are great too.
Boulder Art Association has a 100 years and counting history – with amazing artists and volunteers that are so supportive! Check them out and join.
Gallery Exhibits, Local Artists, Food, Music & Performances in North Boulder!
First Friday goes 6-9pm- and you can find me at The Armory location Oct – Dec. 2024. Please stop by to see my wall and some amazing other local artists too.
Visit R Gallery and see Boulder Art Association art wall.
Immerse yourself in the vibrant art scene at R Gallery in Boulder, Colorado, where the newest artists on display are redefining contemporary art. This dynamic gallery showcases an eclectic mix of mediums and styles, offering a fresh perspective on the artistic landscape. Explore the latest collections and be inspired by the creativity and innovation of Boulder’s finest emerging talent. Check out the newest additions to the Boulder Art Association Art Wall while you’re there!
Art is an excellent means of self-expression and creativity. It allows individuals to express themselves uniquely and creatively, regardless of their background, language, or cultural differences. Art provides a platform for people to convey their thoughts, feelings, and emotions in a tangible format. It is a form of communication that transcends traditional barriers and can bring people together from different walks of life.
Artifacts, paintings, and sculptures serve as visual representations of cultures, traditions, and beliefs. They provide insights into different periods and civilizations. Art is a time capsule that carries messages from the past into the future. It helps us understand and appreciate different cultures’ struggles, triumphs, and experiences. Art is essential to our cultural heritage, and preserving it helps us connect with our roots.
It has a positive impact on our mental well-being by reducing stress, anxiety, and depression. It provides a sense of purpose and helps individuals stay motivated and engaged. Art also plays a crucial role in healing and therapy, as it helps individuals cope with trauma, illness, and grief. Art is often used in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and other healthcare facilities to enhance patients’ quality of life.
Playing a critical role in economic and social development. Art provides opportunities for individuals to pursue careers in creative fields, such as design, advertising, and entertainment. The arts industry also generates revenue for local communities and contributes to economic growth. Art also promotes social cohesion and brings communities together. Festivals, art exhibits, and other cultural events allow people to interact, share their experiences, and celebrate diversity.
Art plays a vital role in education and learning. It helps develop problem-solving, critical thinking, and communication skills. Art education encourages students to be creative and imaginative, fostering an environment of innovation and discovery. Art also provides opportunities for cross-disciplinary learning, often involving integrating different subjects, such as science and math. Art education should be an essential component of any well-rounded curriculum.
A critical component of human society, art contributes to our personal and cultural growth. It provides us with a means of self-expression, connects with our cultural heritage, enhances our quality of life, promotes economic and social development, and plays a vital role in education and learning. As artists, art directors, and educators, it is our responsibility to ensure that art remains an integral part of our lives and continues to positively impact individuals and communities worldwide.
Although I use to paint over 25 years ago – I just got back to it the past couple years. It’s amazing how easy it is to slip back into the brushes. It is calming and the perfect way to wind down on the weekends and evenings. You can follow my painting on Instagram at http://www.instagram.com/jeaninethurstonartwork
The year after the shutdown… we weren’t sure what to expect. Elopement weddings have been a priority for me for the past 5+ years – but this year even more so. I love my small weddings, intimate ceremonies, and the time with the couples that it affords me. Getting to know them and having more time to photograph with just the couple or a small amount of family and friends. Nothing fancy… just LOVE.
“Consciously aware in the present moment without judgment.”
Self-care is an essential step to overall wellness. Being consciously aware in the present moment without judging your experience is something that we overlook when we are continuously preparing or reacting. Our busy lives have conditioned us always to think ahead or be hyper-prepared for action instead of relaxing and just taking in a moment.
Let’s filter out the forecasting and start being mindful of the details that are happening here and now. Reconnecting with life, by seeking out simplicity and awareness – finding our peace within. Over-thinking it will have you missing the point, as you don’t need to be religious or on a spiritual journey to practice mindfulness. It’s just focusing on the present, leaving worry about the future or “what ifs” and accepting that there is no right or wrong way to be mindful.
How is mindfulness relaxing?
When you tune out worries and live in the present moment, you are taking out the static and allowing your mind to rest. It’s not going to fix your anxiety, or change your negative feelings altogether, what it will do is give you a moment to enjoy the sights, sounds, smells, and happenings of what is happening one moment in time. The continuous bombardment with media and everyday distractions can be debilitating at times, it’s those distractions that can stop you from experiencing very simple joys in life.
Meditation or mindfulness?
Mindfulness is a form of meditation. The most significant difference is mindfulness is taking a moment and redirecting your focus to what is happening right now. It’s not fighting what is happening, or trying to change the way we feel; instead, it is acceptance of a moment without judgment. Human nature is we want to change things – mindfulness is allowing you to let things be as they are and accepting that moment.
Empowering.
Once you find that you can practice mindfulness, you will feel liberated and empowered. It’s not something you master, instead, it’s something you practice. Making mindfulness a habit can be a form of self-care and helps us take control over what we are feeling and how we react.
It’s easier than you think.
Most anyone can develop the skill of mindfulness and find an inner sense of calm. Making a habit of this can increase confidence, self-esteem and even contribute to compassion for people around us – and for ourselves. We are so often worried about tomorrow, or dwelling on the past. Practicing mindfulness can make us more aware of others and how they feel – fostering empathy and empowering us to help those around us.
Where to start?
Find a quiet place and close your eyes. Try starting by grounding yourself; this helps when you need to calm yourself and relax.
5 things you can see
4 things you can feel
3 things that you can hear
2 things you can smell
1 thing you can taste
The easiest way to follow through is to put it on your schedule and make it a habit. Take a few minutes each day to ground yourself to a calm and relaxed baseline.
Laufskálavarða is a lava ridge, surrounded by stone cairns, between the Hólmsá and Skálmá Rivers, close to the road north of Álftaver. Travelers crossing the desert of Mýrdalssandur for the first time would pile stones up to make a cairn, which was supposed to bring them good fortune on their journey through this dangerous area.
Over time there were less stones available for travelers, so now the Icelandic Road Administration sees that there is always a good supply of rocks so that first time travelers can build their own small cairn for luck. A word of advice though…. you may see other cairns along your travels; however, Laufskálavarða is THE ONLY place where it is allowed to create a stone pile – it is forbidden to create stone piles in all other places in Iceland.
You’ll find information on a sign there and what makes the area so dangerous when Katla erupts!
Here ya go. I’ve been photographing weddings professionally since 1989… yeah – that’s right – 27 years. Yes… I am that old… and yes I started with medium and large format cameras (the stone age). So… after 900+ weddings – I can pretty much say I’ve seen it all. I’ve photographed in 40 states and 6 countries… from weddings with 500+ attending, to a Grateful Dead wedding a mile back in the woods in a field… goth weddings… balloon weddings… I don’t even know where to start.
I NEED SOMETHING CRAZY FUN. It can be an elopement or big wedding. I’m offering 50% off any one of my packages to the first wedding couple that can WOW me with the wedding they have planned. Please e-mail my right hand Jenny at jennyb@fototails.com and I need a theme, a plan, your wedding date, your wedding location, how you met or your story, and why your wedding is going to be something I’ve never seen before.
ENTRIES must be received before November 1st, 2016. I MUST have your wedding date available to qualify.
Jeanine Thurston 