Free Art Friday is an international movement - now happening in Kirkcudbright. Post and tell us about your art drops and art you've found. The long explanation
By MyDogSighs ’07, from the Flickr page for the original Free Art Friday
Artwork placed on the street for any member of the public to enjoy and take home — go on, make someone’s day! Free Art Friday is not an original concept. There are ma
ny artists across the world making art and leaving it out on the street. There are no rules. That’s the joy! In order to keep a record of exclusively free art you need to make sure the work is easily removable and does little or no damage to its environment. Some put out canvas. Others use materials found on the street. Cardboard is popular but your imagination is your limit. P.S. It doesn’t have to be Friday! The concept of Free Art Friday has many strands. For the artist, it is an opportunity to create work free from the constraints of commerce, to voice an idea, shout a political message or just amuse and confuse the viewer. Art is so often tied to a need by the artist to ‘make a living’ and constrained by gallery and dealer issues. FAF focuses the artist on the act itself, giving complete artistic freedom as opposed to considering financial and commercial limits. Many Free Art Friday participants’ work is humorous and good natured, hoping to cheer up the walk to work of the viewer. Hoping to make them question everything. To expect the unexpected and realise that along with the need to sell, promote, fight the system and rebel, there is also a need to embellish and entertain in a non profit way without the need to cause damage to property. The act of removing the work intrigues. Almost an act of situationist art itself. Is there guilt? Why is it taken – as part of a street cleaning operation, consigned to the rubbish heap? or coveted and displayed? Are they artists themselves? Kids, willing to steal and destroy purely for the act of rebellion or someone never faced with something completely free, not promoting or selling? After all how many things do you know that are completely free, no strings attached? All street artists, whether producing static or removable art, hope to promote discussion in one form or other: “Talk about me and my work”, “Question the images thrown at you”, or “Use your political power”.
