Opt for Optimism

San Antonians unleash optimism into the year ahead at reflective event

While setting intentions for the year ahead, participants paused to reflect on the right now.

Courtesy photo

Despite the cold and rainy weather, dozens of San Antonians had a fab time at CultureMap and Frost Bank's pop-up at the recent Confucius Wishing Lantern event, held along the River Walk and at Hemisfair Park.

Themed "Call Me Optimistic," the event — set up at one of the lantern-selling stations — included two giant boards where participants and passersby were encouraged to jot down what brings them joy. The CultureMap and Frost street team were on hand with tablets so people could take the new optimism quiz, which results in a personalized optimism guide, complete with tips on how to maintain a glass-half-full outlook.

Even with a constant drizzle happening, those who paused were more than happy to take a moment and reflect on the good things in their life. The lantern experience is all about setting new intentions for the year ahead, as well as lighting lanterns for loved ones, so it only felt natural to acknowledge these happy thoughts.

One couple talked about how they each try to make their partner be more optimistic, and how being together brings joy to their family. A young woman who had been having a difficult year said she was very optimistic about things turning around and getting better and was ready to be back on her feet with happiness.

Responses on the Call Me Optimistic boards ranged from "when I wake up and it's sunny" to "when I see my children reach their goals," and most of the event's participants ventured forth into the rain with Frost Bank journals so they could record their happy thoughts going forward.

This feel-good visit, captured on video by WingedSun Productions, was the first of the 2019 pop-ups that are helping San Antonians be more optimistic and spread positivity.

CultureMap and Frost Bank will be hosting more of these pop-up events throughout the year, surprising and delighting folks all over Texas. Want to know where we might show up next? Sign up for our emails and follow along on Facebook and Instagram for hints about our next stop.

promoted charity-guide

SPARE ART

North San Antonio gets crafty with new creative supplies shop

North San Antonio gets crafty with new creative supplies shop

Photo by Ismael Rodriguez.

Local nonprofit Spare Parts recently opened its brick-and-mortar center for creative reuse.

One local nonprofit organization has spent years getting environmental accountability and community education down to a fine art. And now it’s getting crafty with a new brick-and-mortar shop in North San Antonio aimed to help locals to go green.

Spare Parts was founded in 2010 by executive director and longtime arts educator Mary Elizabeth Cantú to provide a creative spark for area students and schools lacking arts funding and resources. Through a variety of educational programs, public art exhibitions, events, and the organization’s traveling Mini Art Museum, Spare Parts has enlightened thousands of students and San Antonians, all while fostering reuse practices and sustainability, a key tenet of the nonprofit.

Spare Parts’ latest endeavor is another artistic triumph. Its new center for creative reuse, located at 13451 Wetmore Rd., is nothing less than a crafter’s delight. The shop features an impressive array of “pre-loved” and price-reduced artsy merchandise — from paint supplies and paper crafts to sewing items, beading and jewelry, school and office supplies, vintage gadgets, and crafting kits — all of which has been rescued from area landfills.

Cantú notes that proceeds from the new Spare Parts’ shop will enable the organization to further increase creative and educational experiences for San Antonio students and families. But even more so, she hopes the shop will help locals embrace the concept that one person’s trash can be another’s artistic treasure.

“There really isn’t any more room in the world for this stuff. Buying pre-loved at places like Spare Parts or other stores is a way to reduce the amount of things [people] feel that they need,” Cantú said in a recent interview with the San Antonio Sentinel. “We’re challenging people to rethink things around them, buy pre-loved, and find a way to be creative in their lives.”

In the time of COVID-19, however, getting the creative juices flowing isn’t as simple as popping into the Spare Parts shop. Though the center for creative reuse is open, the store is currently offering only weekend curbside pickup of items ordered through its website. But crafters shouldn’t despair, as Spare Parts is offering private in-person shopping experiences in the new year, with the first planned for January 16 and 17.

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