Category: Stories

Art Travels to Vietnam and Cambodia

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It’s been a while since I have given updates, but Found This Art remains busy, busy busy! Art has recently been dropped in northern Canada, as well as the historic seaside village of Lunenberg, in Nova Scotia, and in hotel lobby in a small town in New Brunswick.

I also managed to find a friend who was travelling to Far Away Places, including Vietnam and Cambodia. Let’s call this friend of mine Clara (which may or may not be her real name!). Clara recently sent me some photos of the places some art was dropped:

A fishy scene.

This was in Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam), at a cafe. I just love how Clara had the fish peek out from behind the vase. Here’s the original, if you are interested to see what it looks like:

Clara also left a very small piece in the lobby of a hostel in Siem Reap, in Cambodia. Can you find it in the photo below?

This piece is just done with ink, and is perhaps 3-4 inches long and less than an inch in width; here’s the original:

A whale, a spider, a person, a rabbit, and a crow. Just because.

Clara has a few other pieces tucked in her backpack, so you will have to wait and see what other amazing places she visit. Thank you, Clara, for helping with this project! It’s great to have friends like you, and I know people will find the art, and it will bring them joy.

Jack Rabbits, Ski Resorts, and a Montreal Christmas

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Wow it’s been a busy and crazy end to 2021, and I’ve not had time to write in a while, but I do have news to share! First, and foremost, the Rabbits of Montreal (Quebec, Canada) has been happening – many rabbits, big and small, have been placed around the city. I am excited to report that some have been found, including in a city about an hour or so north of Montreal: a world-famous ski resort called Mount Tremblant. A rabbit was apparently dropped at Café Johannsen right at the bottom of the ski hill, and it was found by a man who works at Tremblant.

This is the beautiful ski town called Tremblant, in Quebec.

But here’s where the story takes an unbelievable turn: the man who found the Rabbit tells me he has worked at Tremblant for 17 years and over those years, has found all kinds of things – money, jewellery, and even a TV – but this Rabbit art was the best thing he ever found (YAY!). He also tells me his daughter calls him Bunny Bun Bun, ‘cause he is always running around doing things. The Rabbit art was therefore meaningful to him.

The cafe where the art was found is itself is named Johannsen, after various famous man – Herman Smith-Johannsen – who started a very well known cross country ski program in Canada, and it was called the Jackrabbit program, so Herman was known as ‘Jackrabbit Johannsen’. And, this icing on the cake? The man who found the Rabbit art up in Tremblant did once meet Jackrabbit Johannsen (when Jackrabbit Johannsen was already over 100 years old -he lived to be 111!).

The wee rabbit (a Jackrabbit perhaps!) dropped at the Cafe

Is all this a great coincidence, or something more spiritual and awe-inspiring? You can believe what you want, but I see this as very, very special and I hope you do too.

Another view of Tremblant.

I do know that other people have found art in Montreal. Some was dropped on a commuter train back in mid-December, and closer to Christmas a colourful rabbit was in a trimmed tree in a busy downtown shopping centre. I can imagine a holiday shopper taking a break, and seeing the rabbit staring up…

So this is the last post of the year. This project is still going strong after several years and over 170 pieces of art dropped around the world. So much joy and happiness, and this is so very important these days, as the world does remain in the grips of pandemic. I also want to THANK YOU for reading and following along. Stay well, friends, and I look forward to many more adventures in 2022!

Art in Wayne County

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I clearly have a fondness for North Carolina, and North Carolina clearly likes art. In addition to some exciting activity in Raleigh, recently this project made its way a little to the south-east, to Wayne County, and the city of Goldsboro. I am so grateful for the Arts Council of Wayne County to embrace Found This Art.

This was timed around the US thanksgiving weekend, which is appropriate, since giving and receiving art is something to be thankful for. So, friends of Wayne County, may you find art and may it bring you joy! And thanks, as always, to a great friend of this project, Eleanor Spicer Rice, for helping spread the love of Art to different part of North Carolina.

Art Found in Raleigh!

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Not long ago this art project was featured in a magazine in Raleigh, North Carolina, and in addition to the write-up, art was secretly dropped around the city. And, lo and behold, art was also FOUND in the city! Samantha, for example, discovered a piece of art right in the downtown core, and she shared her find via Instagram:

THANKS Samatha, for being open to seeing art, and sharing your story with the world. I also find it lovely that the art she found in the city was a piece of art that depicted a city scene. That’s fun, and appropriate. Here’s the original:

Ohhh so much is happening, friends – I have many Found Art stories to share with you in the coming weeks. Stay tuned!

The Raleigh Project

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My last blog post talked about some art making its way to the city of Raleigh. And today I get to report something *very* exciting – I was interviewed by a writer from Raleigh and you can read all about it here!

I must give a HUGE thanks to Walter Magazine for taking an interest in this project, and a HUGE thanks to Eleanor, who interviewed me, and a HUGE shout-out to Raleigh itself, a simply exceptional city, and one that I am so fond of visiting.

I hope some of you fine folks in North Carolina stumble across some art. Enjoy it, and may it bring you joy.

Seeking and Finding.

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It’s been a long time, my friends. I have received questions and comments from people – saying WHERE ARE YOU, WHERE IS THE ART? I’ll be honest, things were slow for the past six months. I was doing lots of art, but wasn’t sending pieces around the world. But then the other day I got a message over Twitter:

In May 2021, Cheryl found a piece of Art in library book in a small town in Nova Scotia, Canada. This piece was made about a month before the pandemic hit, and somehow found its way to a library book, and was found over a year later. I do not know exactly how this piece of Art made its way to New Glasgow (which is far away from where I live), but it do. I do not know how it made its way into a library book, but it did. I don’t know what the chances are that Cheryl picked up a book, and found this art.

Let me say that again, because it is incredible to think: A global pandemic was about to hit. Someone hid a piece of my art in a library book and it was found over a year later. That is inspiring, lovely, and speaks to the essence of Found This Art.

More to come, my friends. The energy is returning. More art shall be made, shared, and found.

Trouvé à Montréal

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Big news from a fabulous Canadian city*… the 58th piece of art was dropped in Montreal and it was found (or “trouvé“)!

This was a “thumbnail landscape” – a small winter scene with a wee cabin and trees. It was dropped by a secret agent on a bench in a fitness center in the downtown area:

The finder of this little piece was delighted, and she tweeted her discovery later in the day! …although it seems to have migrated from the bench to a nearby window sill (Yes, everyone, we have a twitter account)

And this little winter scene was posted up on a bulletin board in its new home:

Once again, it seems this very fun project has brought some joy into someone’s life, and that’s the whole purpose.

The world is a tough place with so many stressful things happening. I believe firmly that art can connect us, bring us happiness, and keep us grounded during difficult times.

Please be kind and spread joy whenever you can.

—

*another piece of art was found a while ago in a different and equally fabulous Canadian city – here’s the story!

Hope and Joy

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I have big news to share with you –

Earlier this month a very special secret agent recently dropped piece #38 at the Seven Stars Bakery in Providence, Rhode Island (the Hope Street location). The piece was carefully placed on the condiment table, as seen in this photo, here:

I’d like to visit this bakery sometimes – apparently it is one of the best.

The day after it was dropped, I received a note from the person who found it, who is named Joy.

It reads:

“I found painting #38 dated October 2019 at the Seven Stars Bakery on Hope Street Providence, RI. I saw it sitting on the service station and assumed someone was coming back for it. After it had been sitting there for awhile I picked it up and turned it over and saw that it was probably left there intentionally. I love it so much, it brought such a smile to my face and now lives on my shelf where I can see it everyday. Thank you!”

You are MOST welcome, Joy!

And it is so fitting that this bakery is on Hope street.

Hope and Joy: these are good things.

One year, 52 art pieces, 14 countries

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I know it’s hard to believe, but Found This Art started one year ago! It’s been a fabulous year for the project: the 52 pieces of art found their way to 14 different countries, from North America, to Europe, Australia to Thailand. I must give a HUGE thanks to the amazing secret agents (’cause I sure didn’t travel to 14 different countries this year….)

While I’m confident all the pieces were found, three people reported in with their stories: one from a coffee shop in the USA, one from a hotel in Portugal, and one from a tourist center in the Yukon Territory of Canada. I’m also confident a few more folks will report their own Found Art adventures as this year draws to a close.

This map shows the countries that become home for the Art (depicted by the dots), and the three countries were Art was found (blue dots).

I’m sure you have many questions, but perhaps the one that is top-of-mind is this: will the project continue? Well, friends, that’s an easy one to answer: OF COURSE IT WILL. It’s been so much fun to do this project, and a great adventure for me, my secret agents, and I know it has brought much joy to many people, around the world.

Please, everyone, keep an eye out for pieces of art – whether on a table of a coffee shop, maybe in an airport, on a plane, or on the back of a golf cart. The art is everywhere, waiting for you.

And Happy New Year too! I’m forever grateful that you are following along and taking part in Found This Art.

Jellyfish in Japan

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A little while ago I wrote about some of the recent pieces of art that left the studio – and I can now happily report that one of these pieces (a jellyfish, done in watercolor) has had a VERY big adventure, and was dropped off by a special secret agent in a hotel bar in Japan!

Here’s the proof:

I want to take a pause and give a big shout-out to my friends and family who have been helping move pieces of art around the world (soon some pieces will travel to Thailand and China which is *most* exciting!!).

Thanks for following along! Stay tuned for more adventures…