Every spring, art comes to life in flowers at Minneapolis Institute of Arts during Art In Bloom. Professional and amateur floral artists draw inspiration from color, from shapes, from themes and meanings — and sometimes, they recreate literal items from the piece of art. Walking through, the museum becomes something of a design lab, a chance to see creativity at work. It is free and open from April 25 to April 28, if you are also in need of some color and creative sparks (please visit our Facebook page for additional photos from Art in Bloom). And — even cooler? The MIA’s new exhibit “More Real” is free during Art in Bloom — it is another interesting consideration from our perspective, since many of the tools designers use have the power to alter reality as well as create art. Lots to think about. Our Twitter and Facebook chatter explored earthy themes including Earth Day, calendar apps, newspaper subscriptions, and Arbor Day via #4Qs. Here they are:
April 22 was Earth Day. Have you or your company done anything special to be green?
Things like recycling pop cans and paper are pretty commonplace and some clever companies are upcycling shredded paper for shipping. Others are conserving energy by unplugging what isn’t in use, using more energy-efficient computers, and reducing travel by making use of technology.
What is your favorite calendar app?
They just keep getting cooler and more intuitive. Imagine a day when an online calendar becomes fun.
Do you have a newspaper subscription?
The answer from our readers was an emphatic no. Some might point to the industry’s decline, citing decreased revenue and lower circulations. There was even a list by Careercast.com thatnamed newspaper reporters as 2013’s worst job. But subscriptions and actually circulation doesn’t tell the whole story of a publication’s reach — some say measuring total reach in print and online paints a more accurate modern picture as media outlets focus on the message and look at ways to stretch the medium.
April 26th is Arbor Day. Have you ever planted a tree on Arbor Day?
The Arbor Day Foundation honored 14 people and organizations for their efforts to plant more trees. One of them was the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, who lead 500 volunteers in planting 1,100 trees following a May 2011 tornado. What a great city to live and work in!
An invitation: You can let us know your viewpoint — here or on Twitter — Monday through Thursday, we pose questions ranging from lighter fare to industry-focused topics. Every Friday we look back at the week and dig a little deeper. If you are on Twitter, we are @ProLitho — please follow us, and join the discussion about this week’s #4Qs.