Looking for a scavenger hunt this summer that could land you with some Free Art? A fun Geocache style game between Nashville area artists has become a huge contest around the city!
art drop by Jeff Bertrand
Brooke E of Unfriendly Things . We talked about how much we value our creative friends work, and how are nearly starving artists ourselves we cannot afford to purchase their work for what its value is- but how we (and read ME- Jeff is awesome at this) should be less shy and reserved about trading with our artist friends. This came up as we celebrated the amazing life of Brooke E who is battling breast cancer - life is so fleeting. We expressed how we wished we had some of her amazing work. I was always too introverted to ask an art hero to trade - and I deeply regret not approaching Brooke before.
Jim Elstons work near the Centennial Park Parthanon
FAFNSH Facebook page
"Free Art Movement Nashville is a group about sharing your art with the city. Ive been doing art drops now for years going to other cities outside of Nashville and placing small works around the different cities i visit.I leave it for others to find leaving clues and creating a hunt for art. Guess what people find the work too. When I recently visited ATL they were really involved in this. ATL has a huge volume of both hunters and droppers both loving the act of giving and loving the hunt of finding your favorite artists work." Jeff says on the Facebook page "This movement is all about building a collective of like minded artists and creatives and enthusiasts.This is more importantly about having fun and creating a fun art community and a fan base."
Scott Tripp of Latex Soup and Life of the Party
Artist Scott Tripp said "I'm a professional artist. I make my living and support my family solely with my artwork and performance. This afternoon I'm setting up a booth at a market where I will be selling several hundred dollars worth of my artwork. But the part I'm most excited about is this small drawing/painting that I created specifically to hide in the rubble somewhere in hopes that someone would find it and take it home for free. The illogical logic of this group is wondrous and amazing. I've only been a member for three weeks or so, but I've already gained a lot from this group. It's part scavenger hunt and part geocaching. every Friday the city is turned into a big piñata, and we all have treasure maps and cryptic clues to guide us to our prizes."
Above collector and artist Kirin Haller of Hong Meow collective searched out and discovered more of Jeff Bertrands art
Free Art Friday gift from Niki Adams
Here is the note with work Niki Adams left for art finders. She agrees with Scott, adding "For me this movement symbolizes the breaking of the normal paths to people receiving or viewing art in the community. Personally, it affected me by hearing the story of how and why the art was acquired. That's where social media plays a huge role.
Even without learning of how the piece was found, you know that you played a small part in someone's day, hopefully for the better. And to me that's what art is."
Art drop by Abby Coppage of Follicle and Feather
Joseph Jauregui invited you to scale walls for his artwork
While the art is a giving back to the other artists in the group, it is also very likely that anyone could find it. The Geocache and Harry Potter terms for anyone not in the know about a find is Muggles, and it is loose protocol to not include anyone in in the hopes that finds remain secret and undisturbed or removed. This group however embraces the general community at large, and invites them to participate if they find artwork by taking photos of themselves with and making a home for the art, and sharing their finds on social media using the hashtags #Faf #FafNsh among others. The artists then get to connect and interact with recipients via social media posts.
Some artists leave elaborate clues or locations, others snap a quick photo of a well known spot- and a flurry of activity begins as artists track down the artwork rat race style. Several drops have had people competing to make it in time, only to arrive seconds later than another- but always with a lighthearted attitude.
I have made a few drops myself, I am pretty sure that my first drop is living in a cart at an underpass. A presumably homeless person was closely watching me place my first drop at Cumberland Park in Nashville so I am happy and hopeful my work found a home where it is appreciated! However, I really hope to hear back when folks find artwork. Ultimately, for me they are gifts to God and community from me. Because while I certainly feel like my work is valuable and I do not work for 'free', these are just small gifts back, especially to my artist friends. I am looking forward to a summer of searching and collecting and appreciating the vast and amazing talent offered by Nashville, Tn visual artists!
My first contributions! One was found by filmmaker Paul Cain
Clues from artist Joe Melanson
*There are 2 ways you can be involved in #FAFNSH Free Art Movement!!!*
1. You can be the art maker/ art dropper you make art with your hashtag #FAMN (freeartmovementnashville)and leave it with clues around the city.
Leaving a hashtag like# FAMN or #FAF (which stands for free art friday) #freeartNashville this is a way hunters can find your clues and look for the work.
2. You can be the art seeker or hunter and watch for clues and find the works ( you are also the art talker the one who shares their cool adventure with friends.