Art Can Be a Community Effort
Art Can Be a Community Effort
When most people think of artists they think of the solitary practitioner alone in their studio producing canvas prints via a meticulous labor of love and effort. From Picasso to Monet, the names of such art luminaries are known around the world. Their works adorn the greatest museums and are found in the most expensive collections.
Art though can also be a beautiful expression of community involvement. This involvement can occur in many different forms. There are artists who go out and paint in markets or on street corners. For the artist and audience this can be an interactive affair. The artist gets the satisfaction of knowing they are entertaining many with their work in progress and they receive constant feedback to help guide their work. For the audience they play a role in shaping the work and so for them they may wish to purchase the piece as a special reminder of their trip.
Yet another form of community involvement has members of the community each painting their own piece of an enormous work. A recent 3000-meter painting in Tehran that joined two museums used this technique. This is a wonderful technique because it brings a community together. The community effort means that the area is beautified and all of those who participate gain a renewed sense of optimism for their community. This has so many benefits and is a form of art that many other communities should embrace.