Yesterday was World Art Drop Day, a day created to celebrate giving away free art with the added bonus of a little bit of a scavenger hunt.
This unique day began because an artist named Jake Parker went on a road trip across America with his family this summer, and to entertain himself he dropped off art along the way. He took pictures of where he hid the art and told people where they were on social media. People loved hunting his art, and he had so much fun he wanted others to join in.
In his words, “The world needs this right now. We need to feel a little more connection to each other and there’s nothing like the bond two random strangers can make through the act of creating and giving.”
I already love surprising people with art in unexpected places, so (unsurprisingly) I took to World Art Drop Day with abandon.
I grabbed 7 of my prints, wrapped them up tight, and wrote notes explaining why this art was laying around. Then I went around my hometown of Denton, Texas and dropped them in a few of my favorite places.
Here are their locations:
1) The Square
Denton has a wonderful downtown square so naturally I needed to hit up the historic courthouse.
2 & 3) Recycled Books
Then I went to my favorite book store and dropped two: one in the art section (for obvious reasons) and another in the Dr. Seuss section to pay homage to a great artist and encourager of imaginations.
4) Beth Marie’s
After that I grabbed a crazy green soda thing at Beth Marie’s Ice Cream Parlor. This place is well loved by everyone in Denton so it was a must. I hope the plastic wrap will protect against the sticky fingers!
5) Voertman’s
Then on to my favorite art supply store. Every time I come back to the US I go and wander around Voertman’s and look at stuff that I think I need to buy and bug the art guys there with all my questions.
6 & 7 ) Emily Fowler Library
My last stop was the library. I placed one piece in the art section because when I began drawing a few years ago those “how to draw” books were the beginning of my current art education.
I dropped the final piece in the Children’s section atop one of my current art teacher’s books. Will Terry hosts online art classes I have been taking over the past year which have helped my skills dramatically. So I wanted to pay respect to him and his help.
Hopefully someone finds these pieces of art and enjoys them as much as I enjoyed making and art dropping them.
What do you think of this? Did you encounter any World Art Drop Day pieces? I’d love to hear!
Such a clever, uplifting idea. Should send in to your local paper. They would write about it. When you get down here in Kingwood, we can let the local Tribune know and they’d do an article on it – I’m almost certain. Bring your gear, dear! Love you know who-o-o-o