Miller Minutes
How many of you have started a hobby or activity and couldn’t quite finish it?
I might be the queen of failed artistic endeavors. I tried embroidery during the height of the pandemic, then painting and screen printing. I’ve taken piano, guitar and singing lessons. I was always a sub-par dancer despite all the training.
It’s crossed my mind that some people other than myself become ashamed when they give up or don’t finish an artistic venture. Looking back on my own life, there are certainly hobbies I wish I kept at, but there are others you can tell I wasn’t going to hack it from the beginning.
And that’s OK.
I don’t know who put this voice in our heads saying we have to be amazing at everything, because it’s not true. There’s no way to master every medium on a canvas or in the music industry. Though sometimes that means you look at people who have surpassed you at a certain skill with envy. In some ways, it’s unavoidable, but maybe there’s a way to turn it around for something good.
You can’t be the best at everything, but you can bring a piece of yourself into everything you pursue. Reminding myself of this has stopped me from beating myself up when I tried something and it didn’t come out the way I wanted.
It has also allowed me to celebrate artists who are better than I am at certain things, and it hasn’t stopped me from trying something else for the fun of it.
That being said, there’s a lot of artists in Butler experimenting in their craft, and they deserve to be celebrated. Check out where they will be showing off their skills this weekend.
Watch “Grave of the Fireflies” at 6 p.m. Friday, April 26, at the Maridon Museum. This is the last movie being shown in their Japanese Film Series. Misaki Okita of Slippery Rock University will give a presentation. The event is free to the public, but reservations are required by calling 724-282-0123.
Butler Two Steppers will have a dance on at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the Tanglewood Center, 10 Austin Ave., Butler Township.
See the Butler Little Theatre’s production of “Other Desert Cities” this weekend and next. Performances start at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and at 2:30 p.m. Sunday. There are also showtimes at 8 p.m. on May 3 and 4. Purchase tickets at butlerlittletheatre.com.
Musical Theatre Guild’s production of the musical “Ordinary Days” raises the curtain at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and at 3 p.m. Sunday in MTG’s Butler Memorial Park performance center. For tickets, visit mtgbutler.org.
“Footloose the Musical” is opening Friday at Lincoln Park Performing Arts Center in Beaver County. Performances run throughout this weekend and next. For tickets, visit lincolnparkarts.org.
Come to a craft show at 121 Sparks Ave. starting at 10 a.m. Saturday to benefit the Butler Township Volunteer Fire District auxiliary.
The Butler Paranormal Conference takes place from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday at the Tanglewood Center, 10 Austin Ave., Butler Township.
Doors open at 11:30 a.m. Saturday at the Spring Paw Print Basket Bingo at Highfield Hall, 229 Highfield Road, Butler Township. Tickets are $20 presale or $25 at the door. Lunch will be served at noon. Call 724-287-SPAY for tickets.
Line dance night at the Saxonburg Fireman’s Club opens its doors at 7 p.m. Saturday, with dancing starting at 8 p.m. This event is only for people age 21 or older, so make sure you have your ID! Admission is $5 for nonmembers.
Molly Miller is an Eagle staff writer.
