Several years ago, I did some volunteer work for a Los Angeles suburb. One of my tasks was to help catalog art in public spaces. I would go around and confirm a piece of art’s presence and identification. As I understood it, everything would be listed in a guide so that anyone could go around and check out the art with a map and a little knowledge.
The project was brief, but I learned a lot about art in public spaces. And perhaps most importantly, I learned to look for said art. I’m grateful for that education, as I now find art just about everywhere I go. And I love it.
If you’ve never looked for art in public spaces, give it a try. You never know what you’ll find at the post office or on a subway platform. Maybe there’s some sculpture hidden near a traffic light. Maybe you’ve moved past these art pieces on a regular basis, never once noticing their presence. That’s certainly the way it was for me. But not anymore. Thankfully.
