Little free art galleries are popping up around the Bay Area
Little free art galleries are popping up around the Bay Area
The first one was spotted in the Lower Dimond neighborhood in Oakland
St. Amand, an Oakland resident for 10 years, read about the first little free art gallery in early 2021. An artist in Seattle had created one as a pandemic project and not only was it facilitating an art exchange in the Queen Anne neighborhood, the community was getting to know one another better. St. Amand knew she wanted to bring this to Lower Dimond during yet another tough stretch of COVID-19. “Books are great, but art sparks a little something different for some of us,” St. Amand said. “I think it’s so joyful.”
She started to gather materials to construct a box of her own and began to document her journey on social media. She works in human resources but is also a photographer and paints in her spare time, so she figured she’d be able to put some of her own work into the box to start. Then her social media account began to gain followers and artists started to reach out to her. Before she knew it, she had more art to start the project than she could even fit in the box. People even contacted her from out of state. She said this overwhelming support has continued and she’ll keep extra pieces inside her house and replace items in the box when there is space.
Right away, St. Amand was impressed by the diversity of mediums. Although tiny paintings are most commonly contributed, there have been photographs, ceramics, jewelry, colorful rocks, stickers and even a tiny beaded koala included in the gallery. The operation mostly runs itself these days, and she said she’s amazed that there’s never been one day in almost a year when there is no art left.
Local artist Emily Gutman, who lives near the gallery, has both contributed art and taken items home. She said it’s been a great way to meet her neighbors and now pieces she’s taken from the gallery adorn her home’s mantel, along with other art she’s collected over the years.
It’s also been nice to have another place to share the art she creates. “It’s a great new creative outlet,” Gutman said. “Sometimes you get inspired but you’re not quite sure what to do with the finished product.”
https://www.sfgate.com/local/article/Little-Free-Art-Galleries-appearing-17187739.php
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