Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/591861
Connect with us Indicates a project funded by a Neighbourhood Small Grant Photos: Courtesy Luminosity; Art Abandonment F a l l 2 0 1 5 I V a n c o u v e r F o u n d a t i o n l p a g e 5 Found art Creativity is king, but sometimes you want the freedom to make a masterpiece without having to find wall or floor space to house it. Enter Art Abandonment, a Kitsilano-based volunteer organization that encourages budding and seasoned artists alike to express their creativity and channel it toward the greater good. Organizers encourage individuals and groups to draw, paint or sculpt to their hearts' content, then package up their artwork and leave it in public spaces, like coffee shops and libraries, free for the taking. Anyone who happens by and takes a liking to a particular piece can either bring it home or pass it along to someone who needs a boost. But that's just the beginning: Art Abandonment has taken this simple pay-it-forward initiative to the next step by hosting regular workshops at Kitsilano Neighbourhood House, teaching community members how to create different forms of art – a notable example being a recent sock monkey workshop honouring the passing of Art Abandonment co-founder and accomplished sock monkey artist Larry Hnetka. And with a $1,000 Neighbourhood Small Grant from Vancouver Foundation, Art Abandonment is now able to help artists purchase supplies so they can continue pursuing and sharing their artistic passions. Art enlightenment Luminosity, Kamloops's groundbreaking, weeklong art event, debuted in fall 2014, lighting up the city's downtown core with awe-inspiring video projections, engaging musical performances and mind-blowing new media conceived by artists from around the globe. Aiming to broaden and diversify the Kamloops Art Gallery's viewership while connecting established and emerging artists, curator Charo Neville, along with her team at the gallery, installed artwork on and around 13 public sites, including storefronts and building facades, then encouraged the community to interact with and explore the pieces at leisure. The massive exhibition was crowned by a seven-channel video created by a Vancouver-based artist that radiated from both within and outside the gallery – a visual reminder that art can be accessible and relevant to everyone. Vancouver Foundation's $36,500 grant brought Luminosity to fruition, and inspired Neville to plan for its continuation on a biannual basis, lighting up the community for years to come.