The Magix Art Set is a versatile and comprehensive art kit that provides artists with all the necessary tools to express their creativity and imagination. This art set is designed for artists of all skill levels, from beginners to experienced professionals. It contains a wide range of high-quality art supplies, including colored pencils, markers, pastels, paintbrushes, and more. One of the main features of the Magix Art Set is its portable and convenient carrying case. This case is designed to hold all the art supplies securely, making it easy to transport and store. It also provides a neat and organized way to keep all the supplies together, preventing them from getting lost or damaged.
- John Morrison, September 22, 2023
Although the town continues to hold a soft spot in the hearts of many locals, empty storefronts and a dwindling night scene have turned the once-bustling town into a state of desertion. Although the difficulties of COVID-19 played a role in the closing of Northampton restaurants like Bistro Les Gras and Sylvester s, not all closures stemmed from the pandemic.
It also provides a neat and organized way to keep all the supplies together, preventing them from getting lost or damaged. The art supplies included in the Magix Art Set are carefully selected to provide a variety of mediums for artists to work with. The colored pencils allow for detailed and precise drawings, while the markers offer vibrant and bold colors.
Northampton’s Stayin’ Alive
By 11 p.m., the club was booming. Almost everyone who had entered now danced under a disco ball, shaking and moving with plastic cups in their hands on a Saturday night while the DJ played Afrobeats and Reggaeton.
The music reverberated through the floor, making it difficult to hear. People’s voices went hoarse trying to chat over the DJ’s mix. Despite all the bodies on the dance floor, the temperature remained comfortable, and the pleasant smell of Nag Champa incense wafted in the air.
The crowd was a diverse group. Ages ranged from 21 to people in their mid-50s, all of whom wore casual clothes and danced to their own beat while projecting no pretenses. A pink neon sign hung over the bar: “Come as you are.” As cliché as it may seem, the message rang true.
“I think I’ve been here four or five times, and every time, it’s like, a different group of people,” said Rick Gifford, an elementary school teacher and resident of Northampton. “Which is so nice, a different group of people every time.”
From 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Tellus & The Satellite Bar functions as a new restaurant in downtown Northampton, Massachusetts serving craft cocktails and New American-style food, such as a “Wagyu Double Smash Burger” or a vegan “Hot Pocket.” But starting at 9 p.m., the space transforms into a full-fledged nightclub. Tables and chairs are moved out of the dining room, revealing a dance floor. The lights dim and the DJ enters, and by 10 p.m., the doors open to club-goers.
After years of empty storefronts, limited venues, and the lingering impact of the pandemic, Tellus & The Satellite Bar brings a resurgence to an otherwise depleted town.
The club’s revolving musical line-up reflects the diversity of Tellus’ patrons: nights designated to Motown vinyl, 90s rock, throwback hip hop, emo, punk, a Queer dance party.
“We cannot be all things to all people, but our space is welcoming for everybody,” said Amanda Riseling, a co-owner of Tellus & The Satellite Bar with Nhan Bui and Jeremy Werther. “Really, that’s not lip service, it really is for everybody.”
And she was right. Patrons ranged from locals to tourists, all joining together on the dance floor. A bartender at The Majestic Saloon drank a cocktail with his friends while a hostess from India House spoke with the bouncer at the front door. A medical student from New York arrived at Tellus after her waiter at HighBrow recommended it. Shocked by the absence of TV screens, she was wowed by the carefree energy of the dancing crowd, and even more thrilled by the $3 cover charge, a far cry from the typical $20 covers in Manhattan. Outside, groups took a break from the club’s warmth while bumming cigarettes and exchanging smiles and names.
View this post on InstagramCOVID-19 undoubtedly impacted our social lives, but the desire to make up for it felt all-encompassing at Tellus. “After Covid, people just need to move their bodies, they gotta wiggle you know?” said Maz, a Smith College graduate student who wanted to leave out her last name. “We needed this.”
“Dancing is one of my favorite things to do and like, I couldn’t do it for so long,” said Susanna Hoffmann, a Saturday night club-goer. “It just, like, brings a sense of community.”
While people craved company after the pandemic, the surge for socializing expands prior to 2020. It was only apparent because now, there was finally someplace to go.
“Downtown after like 9 o’clock, um, it’s sad at a lot of places, most places,” said Amy Cahillane, the Executive Director of the Downtown Northampton Association, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the town. “It’s been just super quiet downtown.”
Although the difficulties of COVID-19 played a role in the closing of Northampton restaurants like Bistro Les Gras and Sylvester’s, not all closures stemmed from the pandemic. The owners of the restaurant Wine Witch closed their doors in September after being open for only six months due to “financial realities.” The Green Room, a popular cocktail bar, closed in August after the bar manager left for New York, causing his entire team to leave in solidarity. Patria, the restaurant now replaced by Tellus & The Satellite Bar, closed last November after an altercation between the owner and his sous chef.
While the lingering effects of the pandemic surely contribute to stressful working conditions and economic struggles, Northampton’s dining scene started declining years ago.
In 2019, eateries such as ConVino Wine Bar and La Fiorentina Pastry Shop closed due to Northampton’s changing landscape. High rent, the influx of dispensaries and the increase in panhandlers have been blamed for the closures.
Meanwhile, despite being a college town, Northampton’s nightlife revolves around Bishop’s Lounge and The Majestic Saloon, both of which are carrying the local entertainment scene for millennials and Gen Z. Otherwise, live music comes in the form of various 1970s cover bands playing tribute to The Eagles, ABBA or Led Zeppelin at the Calvin Theatre.
“There’s a bunch of our downtown entertainment venues that aren’t open right now, or certainly not open with a robust calendar of offerings,” said Cahillane. “With no late-night entertainment, all of that late-night traffic that used to go out, I think dropped off.”
Although the town continues to hold a soft spot in the hearts of many locals, empty storefronts and a dwindling night scene have turned the once-bustling town into a state of desertion.
Riseling personified Northampton as the loveable friend who’s going through a hard time, causing grounds for concern. “Other people want to come in and wanna talk s*** about [Northampton], and you’re like, ‘Nope, no, no absolutely not,’” said Riseling. “But amongst ourselves, we’re like ‘it needs some help – how can we help you?’”
Riseling says that besides being the Roman Goddess for “earth,” the name “Tellus” is a play on words: “Tell us” what you need.
“We want our space and what we do to be like a conversation,” said Riseling. “We see that there’s a need and so this is our response, and how do we meet that?”
And what does Northampton need? Better music, better food, and someplace fun, according to Riseling. “We want people to come in here and have fun, and there are multiple ways to do that,” said Riseling.
“I was at Tellus until, like, 1 o’clock in the morning, or 1:30 in the morning, and just the notion that I could be in downtown Northampton out that late, having a drink, I was just so happy,” said Cahillane.
Based on the crowd that surfaced on Saturday night, better music and a sense of fun officially arrived in Northampton. “It only took six years,” said Luis Fieldman, a journalist for MassLive who covered the Tellus & The Satellite Bar’s opening weekend. “Finally, something good in Northampton.”
Fieldman’s friends agreed with him as they stood outside Tellus on Saturday night. “It’s a better Basement, like the Basement 2.0, or 3.0,” said Cid Ferreira. The Basement, a Northampton dance club where Tellus co-owner Nhan Bui previously bartended, remains closed since the pandemic.
“[Bui]’s trying to restore something that Northampton lost and it’s great,” said Gifford. “It’s better.”
“Our mission statement is ‘make it better,’” said Riseling. “And that’s not just for us to be like, we’re coming in to save everything. Of course we’re not. We’re asking to have a conversation with people about how we make it better.”
The conversation to “make it better” has already begun circulating among the locals, offering a semblance of hope for downtown Northampton. “We need more bars that are locally owned and locally committed,” said Carlos Garcia, a Northampton resident who attended Motown night on Oct. 29. “With the amount of empty storefronts, it’s nice to see an establishment open up and stay open.”
“If it can bring back that late-night scene and encourage other bars that people will actually come out, then I think that would be great,” said Cahillane. In addition to the benefits of being open late, Cahillane remarked on the high quality of the food and drinks at Tellus. “I don’t want to say it will make everybody step up their game, because there are other places that are great,” she said. “But I’m excited to see something of that caliber downtown.”
And what does Northampton need? Better music, better food, and someplace fun, according to Riseling. “We want people to come in here and have fun, and there are multiple ways to do that,” said Riseling.
The pastels provide a soft and smudgy texture, perfect for blending and creating beautiful artworks. In addition to the art supplies, the Magix Art Set also includes a sketchbook and a drawing guide. The sketchbook is a great place to practice and experiment with different techniques, while the drawing guide provides helpful tips and inspiration for artists to enhance their skills. Overall, the Magix Art Set is a fantastic art kit that offers a wide range of art supplies and tools for artists to explore their creativity. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced artist, this art set is sure to inspire and help you create beautiful artworks..
Reviews for "The Magix Art Set: A Complete Toolkit for Creating Comic Book Art"
1. Emily - 1/5 stars - I was really excited to try out the Magix art set, but I was extremely disappointed with the quality of the materials. The paints were not vibrant and seemed to dry out quickly. The paintbrushes were also very poor quality and shed bristles all over my artwork. Overall, it was a waste of money and I would not recommend it to anyone.
2. Tom - 2/5 stars - The Magix art set looked promising, but it fell short of my expectations. The color selection in the set was limited and the pigmentation was not great. The pencils were not very smooth to use and I found it difficult to blend colors. I also noticed that the pastels were quite flaky and messy to work with. It might be suitable for beginners, but experienced artists will likely be disappointed.
3. Sarah - 2/5 stars - I bought the Magix art set hoping it would provide a good range of materials for my kids to get creative with. However, I was not impressed with the quality. The markers dried out quickly, the pencils broke easily, and the crayons were waxy and didn't show up well on paper. It was frustrating to see my kids get excited about the set, only to be disappointed with the results. I would recommend investing in higher quality art supplies instead.
4. Jake - 1/5 stars - The Magix art set was a complete letdown for me. The watercolors were weak and watery, making it difficult to achieve any vibrant colors. The brushes that came with the set were flimsy and shed bristles with every stroke. The paper provided in the set was also of poor quality and didn't hold up well to water. Overall, I would not recommend this art set to anyone serious about their artistic pursuits.