The Free Art Movement

In cities and towns all over the country, artists of all mediums are hiding their creations in parks, setting them in window sills downtown, tucking them in nooks in buildings and trees and setting them on benches at bus stops. Painted rocks, detailed paintings, crocheted hats, handmade jewelry and sculptures, found with tags giving the finder notice that the item is free for the taking, are becoming a regular sight. What’s got artists willing to let go of their work, for free and sometimes anonymously?

---

---

---

Here are a few of the things we’ve found around town.

---

---

The free art movement in Joplin, MO has been gaining momentum over the last few years. Groups like Free Art 417 and Joplin Area Rocks are encouraging the creation and sharing of art in the community.

What Is Art?

When you think of art, do you think of Vincent van Gogh and his Starry Night? Or maybe Auguste Rodin and The Thinker?

Everyone has their own thoughts on the subject, but Jae Swimm, founder of Free Art 417, has a pretty good idea about what art is.

“You glue a couple sticks together to make a person, that’s art. You paint a rock. That’s art. Even the way you live is art. Art is EVERYTHING! Just open your eyes and your minds and jump in!”
~Jae Swimm

Are You an Artist?

According to Jae, and Free Art 417’s moderator, Nicole Lee-Sye, you are an artist.

“I just can’t stress enough that art isn’t some fancy thing only artists do. EVERYONE CAN DO ART!”
~ Jae Swimm

You don’t believe it?

Maybe you don’t believe you’re an artist because when you think of art, you think of the Greats that I mentioned above. You’ve got to come to an understanding that “anything can be art!”

“I’m not creative. I can’t paint. I can’t draw. I think people’s understanding of the concept that anything can be art is growing. That understanding is so important. Art is for everyone.”
~ Nicole Lee-Sye

I Love Free Art!

I’ve dabbled a little bit in Free Art 417. I’ve mostly just observed. This morning I had some errands to run, so I packed up a bag of my art to take with and ‘hide’ around town.

---

---

---

---

Dropped off the pixy hat at the library along with a couple books. When we stopped for lunch, I clipped the 3-D glasses hairclip on a parking sign. On the way through downtown, the Ewok and the Wookie were left near a tree. And between the post office and home, I stopped by the Ronald McDonald house and left Bob Bunny. You might recognize Bob from yesterday’s #makeitmonday post.

---

---

---

---

Why Should You Start or Join a Group Like This?

Putting yourself, or your work out there can be intimidating, or even scary. But when you’re a part of a supportive group of people, all doing the same thing, it becomes easier. You’ll feel more confident. It’s the reason I won’t sing karaoke with out my 17 best friends!

”Standing in front of a group of people, in person or on a social media group, and saying, “I made a thing. Do you like my thing?” can be a very vulnerable position to be in,” explains Lee-Sye. We’re so very fortunate to have amazing people on Free Art 417 who not only stand up and say ‘I made a thing.’ They release that thing into the world. Their openess and bravery becomes a catalyst for happiness.”

“We don’t accept ‘I’m not artistic’ in our group. If you say you are afraid to make art, you will be showered with positivity and encouragement. That’s just how it goes!”
~ Swimm

“You never know who you could make friends with or what you could learn.”
~Swimm

Back to the Original Question

What’s got artists willing to let go of their work, for free and sometimes anonymously?

No one does anything for nothing. So what’s the payoff? What benefit is there for the artist?
Maybe it’s the feeling you get when you do something for someone in secret. The feeling you get when you pay for the guy behind you in the drive through. Only maybe art is more personal. It’s a little piece of you, after all.

“Free Art 417 is about, to me, bringing kindness into the world. Setting something of yourself free into the world just to make a stranger’s day. Getting people out in our city and into nature. To explore and see there are wonderful, unique people in this community.”
~ Cassie Estes, group moderator

Everytime a piece of art is hidden, it’s done with the intention reaching out and making someone’s day a little brighter. When someone finds a piece of art on the way into work, or while they’re out shopping or running errands, perhaps their day is made a little brighter.

“Someone finds it, and maybe that person is inspired to do something for someone else.”
~ Lee-Sye

Discovering the feeling of giving just for the giving is a brilliant experience. For me it’s a giddy feeling. It’s love and mischief and excitement all mixed up.

“I love that it teaches people to give without expectation of anything in return.”
~Swimm

What might be the most important benefit is what children can learn through giving.

“I think it’s a great lesson in reciprocity for the kids. It shows them that getting a good feeling from doing something for someone else can be better than getting a THING in return.”
~ Lee-Sye

My Payoff From Today’s Hides

I don’t know if anyone found the hair clip, but I actually got to see who found the pixy hat. I’m not sure if he kept it or left it for someone else, but it was cool to see someone check it out.

But this is the real payoff:

---

---

---

Photos used with permission from Shelby Schroeder.
Source Source

---

---

What’s better than knowing that I’m (at least partially) responsible for those smiles!

Final Thoughts

If there is a free art group in your area, I encourage you to take part, at least give it a try. There’s so much to gain and nothing to lose.

I encourage you to get out in your community, go to the locally owned businesses, coffee shops, markets and shops, bars theaters, restraunts, parks. Take a walk into nature or downtown. There, you will always find art.
~ Estes

If you don’t have one, consider creating one. There are so many out there, look at how they’re organized and get some free art goin’ in your town. It may take some time and some work. But, as all Steemians know, nothing worth doing is easy!

“For at LEAST a year, I turned out art left and right to hide with very minimal response. Maybe two or three “found” posts on the page. I got discouraged. Until I realized it’s not about who responds. It’s not about feeding my ego and seeing where my art went. I wasn’t failing, I was being challenged. So i stepped it up a level, or seven, and just started saturating the area with free art. I decided I just wasn’t giving up and my project would succeed, so it did! But not by my own stubborn efforts alone. Without all of our amazing members, none of this would be possible.”
~Swimm

New Tag and Tips!!

Every week, I’ll be putting free art out into my community, and I’ll be posting it on Steemit on Tuesdays. I’ll use the tag #freearttuesday. If you’d like to join in, DO IT! When you do, be sure to use the tag #freearttuesday, then come back here and comment a link to your post. And frankly, I don’t even care if it’s on a Tuesday! The first five #freearttuesday posts that show up in the comments below will recieve a tip from me!