By DAVID DUPONT
BG Independent News
Local artists have a gift for you.
It’s up to you, though, to find it.
In January Kathy Pereira De Almeida hid five of her small paintings in locations around town and then posted enigmatic clues on social media.
The first read: “Tucked away on a former pig farm is where you will find the first @artdropbg.”
Within a day the package was found in Wintergarden Park near the pond in Tucker Woods.
Art Drop BG was launched.
The project introduces people to local artists, and also gives them a chance to explore the community.
Early Saturday morning potter Mary Dennis will be out and about stashing five treasures in secret spots around town.
“I was looking for something fun to connect the arts in our community with people,” Pereira De Almeida said. “I thought it was nice way to promote the arts, promote individual artists, and I love treasure hunts.”
The idea for art drops was originated by Jake Parker, a comics writer and illustrator, who does it as he travels around the world. Pereira De Almeida also discovered that Arvada, Colorado, holds a monthly art drop, so she decided to give it a try here.
“We hide original pieces of artwork,” she said. “It could be 3D. It could be 2D. It could be a poem, or a story … as long as it’s original.”
The art is in clearly marked packages.
Then they provide clues on the artdropbg Facebook and Instagram accounts.
Whoever finds the item can then share their discovery on social media as well. They ask the people only keep one piece a month. “Don’t take all the treasure,” she said.
Pereira De Almeida said four of the five pieces she hid were reported discovered. The fifth just disappeared.
The first three months are lined up. Dennis said she’ll have some Valentine-themed work. “I wanted to include things that would be small and less likely to be broken, but also representative of things I make,” Dennis said.
The art may be small, but still good quality.
The artist’s contact information will be included.
After Dennis in February, painter Kim Sockman will be featured. One piece is a drawing she did with glitter pen that she created while on a car trip.
She’s already thinking of places to squirrel away her work. The pieces will probably not be postcard size, but rather something larger that would fit into a standard frame. That size will pose a little bit of an extra challenge.
“I’ll have to do some scouting,” she said.
Pereira De Almeida hopes to hear from other artists and artisans interested in sharing their work in future months.
