Small drawings in unexpected places

It’s part of the Arts Council of Wayne County’s new program, Found Art Friday, which started on Black Friday.

Georgia Dees, Arts Council director, said the idea came from an article that Goldsboro native Eleanor Spicer Rice wrote for the November issue of the Raleigh magazine, “Walter.”

“She was doing the article on this artist who lives outside the United States, and he creates artwork and leaves it in various places for people to find,” Dees said. “He’s got people now who will leave it all over the world.”

The article in the magazine states that the artwork has been found in Raleigh the past three years.

Rice interviewed the artist, who wants to remain anonymous, and asked how a small painting is able to have such an impact on people.

His said, “It can be a difficult world for so many, but art is an antidote. It’s about being human and appreciating what it means to be connected. If someone finds a piece, perhaps it changes their framing just a bit and has a positive effect in their world. Big things come from small ripples.”

Rice asked the artist why he keeps his identity a secret.

His said, “I don’t want to influence any part of this project with me as a real, three-dimensional person. It’s not about me, it about everyone else and the art. You and I will connect through the art that you hold in your hands, and that connection doesn’t require a name to be special.”

Dees said Rice messaged her saying she was doing the story and the artist had sent so many pieces of his art that she wanted to share with the Arts Council of Wayne County.

“I said sure,” Dees said. “What was ironic about it was that we had been having discussions here about trying to do something with leaving little pieces of artwork randomly around for people to just find as something to surprise and delight people, something they’re not thinking about during these times. People keep these pieces of art.”

Dees said when Rice contacted her about the project, she thought it would be good for Wayne County to have art from a different part of the world.

Dees said the artist has people who take his artwork all over the world and leave it. The artist doesn’t create big extravagant pieces of art, just little pieces.

“They’re anything he thinks up to draw that he thinks someone would like to see, pick up and own,” she said. “He does lots of animals, significant places like landmarks, just random, whatever he feels like doing that day.”

Dees said she thought it would be a cool thing to do and get people excited about and talking about art.

On the back of each piece is a stamp so the finder knows it’s legitimate. It also has foundart.com on it.

“If you want to go to that site and put a picture of it and say you found it in such and such a place, you can do that,” Dees said. “But my understanding from Eleanor’s article is that he doesn’t really expect people to do that. He just wants people to enjoy his art and not feel like it’s an obligation to let him know. (It’s) just something to make people happy.”

Dees said she’s excited that the Arts Council is now part of the worldwide project.

“It’s something different and something just to make people happy,” she said. “We’re still in the midst of stressful times, and it would be a nice surprise for someone to see something like that. We will include a little explanation in the packet with the piece of art, letting them know they can take it and what it is.”

To begin with, the Arts Council has hidden six packets of art — two in Goldsboro and one each in Mount Olive, Seven Springs, Pikeville and Fremont. They may be found outside a business, on a park bench or just anywhere.

The pieces of art are about the size of someone’s palm and are pen and ink drawings. Most of them are nature, but one is a famous landmark.

“Hopefully it will catch on and we can start doing it more with local artists on a regular basis,” Dees said.

When someone finds one of the six pieces of art, he or she can go to foundart.com and put where he found it. Or the person can just keep it or wrap it up and give it to somebody for Christmas.

“Hopefully it would spark some joy for someone that might not be having the best days,” she said. “Or if you’re having a great day and you find it, you can share it with somebody who might not be or someone who might be in the hospital or a nursing home. It’s just a way to spread happiness. You can frame it and give it to somebody.”

Dees said when someone finds one of the six pieces of art, the Arts Council would like to know when and where.

Any artists who would like to help continue the project can contact the Arts Council, at 919-736-3300.