Sure, there's public art - installations in public spaces free for all to enjoy - but how about one day a year when local artists give away their work by leaving pieces around for people to find...and keep?
That's the premise of the global Art and Found Day, which takes place on Tuesday, March 12, 2024 and features over 1,225 artists in 49 countries participating this year.
In Vancouver, nearly a dozen local artists, joined by several in neighbouring municipalities, will be among those creatives leaving pieces of art for lucky locals to find and keep.
This marks the fourth annual official Art and Found Day event, but founder Courtney Senior (an artist who started leaving her work around Toronto for finders back in 2015) says it's more than just something that happens once a year.
“Art and Found Day isn't just an event; it's a movement to infuse our lives with art's boundless energy. Art bridges divides, sparks conversation, and kindles the spirit of discovery,” said Senior in a media release. “Our aim? To bring art’s transformative power to the world’s fingertips.”
To that end, the participating artists label their work with the event's official #ArtandFoundDay hashtag, inviting finders to learn more about the individual local artists who have generously shared their work.
In Vancouver, the following artists will be leaving a piece of their portfolios around town:
- Bettina Williams
- Deborah Horton
- Janine Breck
- Leta Goldwynn
- Mary Bennett
- Michael Black
- Nishant Jain
- Rebekah Maurice
- Zoe Desbiens
Joining them will be participating artists in Coquitlam, Langley, Maple Ridge, New Westminster, North Vancouver, and Surrey, as well as in several other locations in British Columbia and across Canada.
If you want to go hunting for art, many of the artists will share clues on their own social media accounts to help you find their work.
Around the globe, artists from Argentina to Turkey, China to South Africa, and Denmark to Saudi Arabia will be taking part. All of the participating artists and their locations are mapped out online to help you find them near you.
You can expect to find artwork in a variety of mediums, including illustrations, paintings, photographs, or even stained glass.
