As snow blankets Southwest Colorado, we find ourselves delighting in all the opportunities that awaken with winter.

Some of us find a long-awaited invitation to play and explore with a fresh snowstorm, while others find a respite and invitation to be indoors – comforted by a blizzard to create.

I often think of winter as time to slow down, go inward and rest a little more; however, this theory was recently stretched when I ran across studies like Scientific America’s “Winter Wakes Up Your Mind,” where the main premise focuses on how winter can actually instigate creative expansion. “5 Weird Ways Cold Affects Your Psyche” from Live Science was another one sharing how temperatures affect different forms of creativity. “Cold temperatures can influence our thoughts and decisions without even knowing it – from influencing what colors women wear to the limits of human creativity.”

What stands out from this quick research is a simple reminder that there is a quiet dance and relationship constantly happening between us and our changing environment, which impacts and influences how we think, feel and create. It’s not rocket science – we all know how different we feel when it’s sunny versus raining, especially for long durations. Drawing attention to this spatial contextual awareness allows for us to examine all the ways in which we are influenced and inspired by our surroundings (people and place) and also how to view and understand the diversity and natural rhythm of the creative process alive in all of us. And yes, everyone has a well of creativity; some might be overflowing while others are blocked and waiting to bubble up.

Everyone has the potential to be creative. This winter, the Durango Arts Center invites you to explore how snowy Southwest Colorado days influence and inspire you and your creative self, whether it’s trying life drawing or advancing your watercolor skills or testing the stage with our adult performing art program, The Saturday Series, beginning in January. Maybe your inner artist enjoys taking in someone else’s artistic talents? If so, mark your calendar for the opening of the group exhibit that opens Jan. 8, “The White Season,” where you can take in the ephemeral beauty of winter and interpretations of serenity, silence, grace, tranquility and eternity through seven artists working in the mediums of sculpture, paper, painting and mixed media.

We invite you to come find your inner artist this winter. Until then, might a snowy field, a warm cup of tea and a sketchpad await you! Happy holidays from the Durango Arts Center.

elsa@durangoarts.com. Elsa Jagniecki is the marketing coordinator for the Durango Arts Center.