Community Canvases has been hard at work in North Buffalo. Thanks to the grassroots organization, artists have taken to the street, painting signal boxes and other utilitarian objects. The initiative brings a lot of color to the neighborhood, and also helps to create a sense of place. It shows that there are people out there who care about art, and about the daily experience that can sometimes be mundane.
I am a big fan of Community Canvases. The other day, while walking down Elmwood, I spotted a work of art that I had never seen before. I’m not sure how I missed it actually. I stopped to take a photo, because on that particular day the work of art spoke to me. It made me think about a couple of things that I might not have though about on that particular day. So. in a way, that one work of art altered the course of my day in a small way. It got me to stop, pay attention, smile, and capture the moment. I would imagine that this is one of the primary intentions of the public art project.
The next time I am walking down Hertel, I will be sure to pay attention to the works of art that I see along the way. It’s a great way for the local artists to showcase their talents, while introducing a broad range of people to the everyday pleasures of public art.
Images: Elaine O’Toole (Japanese Garden), George Grace (North Park Theatre) – Community Canvases