Blue Stem is a different kind of store.
Many things are fragile, sure: beautiful blown glass hanging in the window, African-looking sculpture standing next to the bowls and even animals made of weird car parts and metal bits. But there are knitted hats to try on and kaleidoscopes to play with. There are piles of magnets to look at and earrings to hold up to my then unpaired lobes.
And everything is so beautiful that I remember my feet always became seemingly rooted to the spot, my neck craned back as far as possible to try to see the mobiles hanging from the ceilings.
Blue Stem is the ultimate art store because it is not “adult only.” It is not highbrow and stuck-up nosed; it is bright and open and full of life.
This store is exactly what is so great about Columbia’s “The District.” Older couples waltz in, buying gorgeous ceramic mugs for their cup of Colombian. Parents with babies on their hips play with the wooden toys and buy fat scarves to protect their kiddo’s neck from Missouri winters. Teenagers, too, enter shyly and finger the paper sculptures on the shelf.
Art is this alive beast that wraps its ever-growing tentacles around us. Blue stem is like that. So fully alive, so fully delightful.
As a kid, the only word I could find for its beauty was, “Ooh.” I thought as I grew up I’d find something better, but maybe, just maybe, that primal, emotional, can’t-keep-it-in noise of excitement is the only thing that can describe it.
Ooh!
By Maria Kalaitzandonakes
What is the best thing you have seen at the store? I’d love to hear about it. Better yet, tweet @RBHSBearingNews a photo.
