Cities of Art
One of my favorite things about road trips and vacations has always been finding the art. Eureka Springs, Arkansas. Louisville, Kentucky. Wichita, Kansas. Kansas City, Branson and St.Louis Missouri. When I think of our trips to these places, what I think of is the presence of art.
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Eureka Springs is a city made of art. In every nook and cranny is something interesting to look at. Louisville, home of the Kentucky Derby, has beautifully painted, full size horse statues all over the city. Wichita is a beautiful city that embraces art, and it shows throughout the city. Kansas City has the murals in the Power and Light District, and who isn’t familiar with the Shuttlecocks at The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art? The buildings in Brason are art! In St. Louis, even the graffiti is beautiful.
My City
I live in Joplin, Missouri. Joplin has never been known as a destination art attraction. But in 2011, when the tornado leveled our town, gifted artists began to take initiative. Color and beauty, against the backdrop of a debris strewn landscape, seemed to appear over night. Before long, news papers and the evening news were publishing images of the art, instead of the pages and reels of distruction. There was still so much work to do to rebuild lives and homes, but the hope and joy that the art represented was tangible.
The post tornado art in Joplin was mostly uncommissioned and was created by volunteers. No one asked them to do it, they just saw a need and fulfilled it. The art movement in Joplin hasn’t stopped. It hasn’t even slowed down.
Everyone Is an Artist.
Big, permanent sculptures and murals have beautified our city. A monthly Art Walk that takes place in Down Town invites the public into shops and galleries to view and purchase art. But the artistic and creative spirit of the people in our city has become known through projects like 417 Free Art and Joplin Area Rocks. These are groups in Joplin that incourage individuals to create and hide art around the city, leaving it for others to find. (More on these in an upcoming post!)
Art we’ve found..........
Art we’ve hid...
Rocks we’ve found...
Rocks we’ve hid
Anyone Can Start a Movement.
I have been inspired by the art in my city to create and contribute to it. I’m always on the lookout for a hidden treasure when I’m out and about and I get excited when I have a basket of things we’ve created at home to take out and hide around town.
The Challenge
I am looking for new ideas to get involved in my community, and to get other’s involved in their’s through art. Here’s how you can help. Create a post about art in your community, or the lack thereof, what ever the case may be. Explain why art is important to you and to the community as a whole. Showcase some of the individuals or projects that promote artistic creation in your town. Tell us your ideas and what you can do to get an artistic movement going in your city.
- Does your city embrace art, or is there a need for more art where you live?
- Are there groups promoting artistic creation in area?
- If not, is there something you can do to get the art bug spreading around your town?
Everyday this week, I’ll be resteeming and tipping posts that inspire me. I’ll be selecting a first, second and third place winner at the payout time for this post. The prizes being offered are half of the SBD payout for this post, a 3 SBD prize, and a 2 SBD prize. Depending on this post’s payout, first prize will be half the SBD payout, or 3 SBD, which ever is more. Third place will win 2 SBD or half of the SBD payout, which ever is less.
What You Need To Do
- Create a post. Write a blog, make a video, whatever, just do what you do best. Just be sure to cover the questions and prompts in the The Challenge section above.
- In the comments below, leave a link to your post.
- Resteem and Upvote are not required, but encouraged for this post. The more participation and the higher the payout for this post, the better for all of us!
- If there are a lot of entries, I may find a guest judge to help me pick winners.
Good luck!
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