By Janet Sellers
We had our first Art Hop on May 24. It’s a celebration of community and art in and around the shops and environs of Downtown Monument, complete with sidewalk art booths and more. Created and championed by local art legends Richard and Linda Pankratz, the annual Art Hop season has become a local favorite event each spring and summer. The event has grown from visiting art and artists at local venues to include live music around town and author book readings and signings. It’s a monthly art festival and more.
The area’s annual ArtSites public artworks, managed by the Town of Monument, hosts a permanent collection and an annual rotating exhibit that is part of the exhibit through a juried selection process. This year, the Town of Monument celebrates its new exhibiting artists with an artist reception that aligns with the downtown Art Hop on June 28.
Good for your health
Taking an evening walk is good for our health, and enjoying outdoor art and music helps create community camaraderie, all of which support optimal feelings with health benefits. Besides being in something that feels really good, there’s scientific evidence to back up the health and well-being benefits of the art!
Addiction sneaks in to our well-being
Smartphone addiction and screen addiction have crept into modern life to the extent that it is a serious mental health issue. Seemingly a simple and safe way to connect with others or keep busy, the underpinnings with the dopamine rush in games and “novelty brain” click bait marks our minds as its territory. It’s potently impressed on teens and those under 30, who have this tempting tech in their lives. The desire to connect is so powerful that addicts don’t realize what they are doing and how they are missing out on real life involvement. Screen addiction affects mental health, disrupts sleep, and causes “lazy thinkers” because generating thoughts and ideas is stifled. How this affects brain and mind development remains to be seen.
Screenagers is a term that describes our youth growing up in a screen-saturated world—a global pandemic of sorts, affecting all demographics. Dr. Delaney Ruston, a physician and film director, describes the tech-saturated world that needs balance between screen time and non-screen time in the Screenagers documentaries (and the sequels). Awareness that mere tech communication is not true human camaraderie is vital to well-being. The Screenagers movement has broadened to a myriad of educational plans and helpful actions for parents, teachers, mental and physical health practitioners, and others.
Solutions to our life balance include taking walks with others—especially family and loved ones—and being out and about with people in a safe way. Our Art Hop offers a brilliant blend of what most people like and need these days. It is the fresh outdoors, indoor venues, exercise, fun and interesting art, music and conviviality. Our shops, eateries and ice creameries are noted for the old town, friendly atmosphere. People can chat and laugh while perusing Downtown Monument in a fun and lighthearted way. The artists and artworks are accessible both to see and to purchase. Excellent artworks are offered at affordable prices, benefitting the people who enjoy the art to take back to home or office, and the artists and venues.
The next Art Hop is June 28. See you there!
Janet Sellers is an artist, writer, and speaker with a focus on enjoying nature and well-being. She can be reached at JanetSellers@ocn.me.
Other Art Matters columns
- Art Matters – Is our education keeping up with visual literacy? (2/4/2026)
- Art Matters – How Gen Z influences our cultural and financial future (12/31/2025)
- Art Matters – Art curation: We all do it, even with holiday trees and gift wrapping (12/4/2025)
- Art Matters – Art shapes our world—and shifts our gaze (10/30/2025)
- Art Matters – October is Arts Month: Artober with Monumental Impact (10/1/2025)
- Art Matters – What is art good for? (9/3/2025)
- Art Matters – We Can’t Unchop a Tree (7/31/2025)
- Art Matters – The many benefits of outdoor art and arts events (7/3/2025)
- Art Matters – On being a sketchy person in the art and cultural sector (6/7/2025)
- Art Matters – May Art Hop and art on the street (5/3/2025)