Lafayette Federal Credit Union’s Post

The Transformative Power of Art in Community Building In the past week, I've witnessed two profoundly different examples of how art can impact and strengthen communities. The first occurred during our subdivision's community garage sale. As an artist, I offered to host a sidewalk chalk event, something I've done many times before in communities. Donning my alter ego, Professor Bubbles (complete with a bubble-painted lab coat), I set up along a pathway with bubble machines and boxes of chalk. Surprisingly, this event drew more adults than children. Neighbors who typically remain isolated in their homes came out, picked up chalk, and began to interact. Even a door-to-door pest control salesman joined in, spending an hour simply enjoying the camaraderie without once mentioning his services. It was a beautiful reminder of how art can break down barriers and foster connections. The second example took place in Dayton, Ohio, where I witnessed the creation of a large sidewalk mosaic memorializing a tragic mass shooting from several years ago. My friend Jes McMillan of the Mosaic Institute of Dayton shared that over the past six months, more than 5,000 community members contributed to laying out the tiles during open studio events. In recent days, dozens more have helped with completion and grouting. This project exemplifies how art can facilitate healing and unity in the wake of tragedy. The overwhelming community support and participation in creating this memorial underscore the power of public art to bring people together and provide a tangible symbol of collective resilience. From simple chalk drawings that help neighbors connect, to complex mosaics that unite thousands in a shared purpose, community art builds engagement and strengthens social bonds. It provides a platform for expression, healing, and connection that transcends words. I'm eager to hear your experiences with community art. Please share your stories in the comments or email me at timothywellsarts@gmail.com. Let's continue to explore and celebrate the transformative power of art in our communities. #CommunityArt #PublicArt #ArtHeals #CommunityBuilding #CreativeEngagement

Eight years ago, during my tenure as Curator of Collections and Exhibitions at the Roswell Museum, I started learning about federal community art centers, a remarkable New Deal initiative that remains one of the most expansive art-sharing programs in the history of the United States. Ever since I learned about this program, I've wanted to map its history digitally so that researchers could follow the movement of art exhibitions, observe the opening and closing of art centers, and trace the migrations of art center personnel as they were assigned to different sites. Today, I'm happy to share I've taken a first step toward this long-term goal by creating a StoryMap about federal community art centers. Here, I share all the information I've learned about them since 2016, from the addresses of specific sites to the contents of circulating exhibitions. This StoryMap, in short, represents eight years of ongoing research and analysis. More than a repository for my research though, this project is an invitation to other researchers interested in federal community art centers. I'm asking everyone interested in this initiative to share their data so we can compile all our research in one place. This program is too vast for one person to document, and I know there are others as passionate about it as I am. So let's get together and share our data. Together, we can document this significant but understudied initiative. #newdeal #digitalhumanities #federalcommunityartcenter https://lnkd.in/eenEHd_p

If you are considering getting your art into a community art center, here is how you can do it.

DIY Street Art: Brushstrokes of unity color communities, turning mundane walls into vibrant canvases. Each mural tells a story, sparking conversations and transforming spaces, proving that creativity is the catalyst for community metamorphosis. 😇 #ConnectToGrow growzilla.co #growzilla #community #communitybuilding #communitymanagement #communitydevelopment #communitygrowth #communityfirst #communitystrategy

What does it mean to be human today? That is the primary question on my mind at present. Which draws me particularly to art and ideas that feed my sense of connection to the richly human aspect of ourselves. All good art is a reminder that we are human of course (as long as it originates from human thinking, effort, will, and volition, and not generated by robots). Some art however, with its very subject and treatment, distinctly emphasises our human aspect. Such as this rich and evocative painting by Thomas Hart Benton that I came across a couple of days back on the Saint Louis Art Museum website. Not only it beautifully, visually highlights the human aspect but also the connection between humans and earth/nature. For our drift away from our human selves often coincides and co-relates with our drift from nature. Cradling Wheat, 1938 Thomas Hart Benton (1889-1975) Tempera and oil on board Saint Louis Art Museum, Missouri, USA A group of lean, muscular field hands harvest grain on a sunny hillside. The rise and bend of their activity through the undulating contours of the land emphasizes the intimate relationship between man and nature. The artist, Missourian Thomas Hart Benton, was known for elevating the life of the working class, making their everyday labors appear heroic. Benton sought to capture images of grassroots America, which he felt was rapidly disappearing due to industrialization. Certainly Cradling Wheat is nostalgic: the cradle scythe used by the farmer on the left to cut the grain would have been old-fashioned by the 1930s. In his description of Cradling Wheat Benton wrote, ���Scene in the hill country of East Tennessee in 1928…doubt whether this kind of harvesting can be found anymore—anywhere.” https://lnkd.in/g33c5Ajk #art #paintings #artists #visualart #visualstorytelling #human #humanconnection #humanspirit #dehumanisation #humanexperience #earth #nature

What’s the relationship between public art and gentrification, and can the arts bridge the gap between past and present? It’s a question I consider a lot in my work in museum education and programming, and something I explored for the Free Times Identity Issue. This article was the product of so much generative and challenging dialogue about the balance between preservation and progress—and how art can work (and sometimes fail) to balance those two things. https://lnkd.in/eFajpwUY

Consider joining us on September 9 to learn more about independence. The day is shaping up to be extremely informative with many exhibitors. And for those of you who want to learn more about a registered disability savings plan, I’ll be sharing details during one of the AM seminar timeslots. #Investing #moneymanagementtips #retirementplanning #a11y

Why It Matters

Uncover the transformative influence of public art in this week's blog as we explore the profound impact of murals in public settings. Please use the link below to read more! #CoCreativeConnection #BlogPost #PublicArt #PublicMurals #ArtAccessibility #Murals #LondonMurals #Blogs #NewBlogPost

🎨 How Public Art Changes the World for the Better 🎨 Public art is more than just decoration – it's a powerful tool for social change and community building. From murals that tell the stories of marginalized communities to sculptures that challenge our perceptions, public art has the ability to transform spaces and inspire action. One of my favorite examples is [insert specific example or story]. This piece not only beautified the neighborhood but also sparked important conversations about [insert relevant social issue]. It's a reminder that art is a universal language that can bridge divides and bring people together.Public art creates a sense of identity and pride, encourages community engagement, and can even drive economic development by attracting visitors and businesses to the area. It's a testament to the power of creativity and collaboration. **Have you experienced the impact of public art in your community? Share your stories and favorite pieces below!** ⬇️ #PublicArt #CommunityBuilding #SocialChange #ArtForGood #CreativeImpact