Boise Blue Art Supply will close it's doors in the next couple of weeks. After 71 years of serving the art community, the iconic art supply store succumbed to the pressure of economy, online retailers and "big box" stores.
When I began to study art back in the early 1980's, I learned about Boise Blue and began to make regular treks to Boise so I could see what art related item I was missing, and I always found something I needed. When in college, I spent a lot of time there finding things to complete my assignments. Even after college I get a job working in advertising design and publications ...guess what? I was there...a lot! Even today, as a Photographer, I would go a buy mat board and other framing related articles because they had a huge selection and a staff who really knew how to pick the right colors for your print, and they always had the right item to solve your problem. Nobody else in town had that. And now, nobody will.
It's almost like losing a Grandparent, so many memories attached to that place, it was always good to me, I always found exactly what I needed there and I wonder what life will like without it. It is part of an institution that is fading away in our country, the small business.
I walked through the store yesterday looking at the shelves that were beginning to empty out. There was no "Going out of Business Sale" happening, but the store was full of customers, buying their art supplies there for the last time and grieving with the staff over the loss of Boise Blue.
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