[title subtitle=”WORDS Liesel Schmidt
IMAGES courtesy OZ Art”][/title]
2020 was a year that, by all accounts, was filled with challenges on a great many fronts. Political unrest, racial tension, and a pandemic that caused health, emotional and financial crises across the country all combined to create a time of unprecedented struggle, leaving the entire nation craving something that seemed almost elusive: Unity.
It’s a powerful word, one that has inspired great movements all over the U.S., motivating communities to come together in alternate ways when they couldn’t physically be with one another. Bridging the great divide in Arkansas is a unique initiative of something that has, for centuries, been a powerful force of expression—art.
Throughout 2020, OZ Art, Justkids, and The Unexpected partnered to produce ARkanvas, an art project designed to bring together world-renowned artists to create public art in communities around the state of Arkansas. Cities including Fort Smith (Chaffee Crossing), Bentonville, Rogers, Springdale, Conway, Little Rock, Hot Springs, Stuttgart, and Pine Bluff have become a canvas for dynamic murals that speak to the soul; and the result has been incredible.
“We wanted to do something to help bring people together, inspire creativity, and spark some hope in this incredibly challenging year,” says Olivia Walton, co-founder of OZ Art and visionary for the ARkanvas initiative. “The theme Unite is meant to bring a sense of togetherness even while we’re apart. We love that murals bring art to everyone, and we hope that these projects will inspire, spark conversation, and promote civic unity.”
Officially announced in October 2020, the idea for ARkanvas was born of a desire to unite people through shared outdoor and art experiences across the Natural State. Of course, part of the challenge was identifying the perfect spaces for these murals. Still, the collaborative effort between the communities and the partners resulted in discovering great opportunities for the participating artists to unleash their creativity and let the art take over.
“We hope that people enjoy the artwork and have meaningful discussions about it,” says Elizabeth Miller, OZ Art manager. “In a time when we can’t physically be together, we hope that the artwork brings people together in conversation, whether that be over the phone or Internet or even in socially distanced dialogue while walking past the art. We want the artwork to bring people together in an emotional sense, even when they can’t physically be together.”
Naturally, a statewide project such as this requires a driving force; and ARkanvas has three influential visionary organizations placing various tools in the hands of artists. An organization focused on supporting culture, OZ Art brings together a network of art, artists, events, and community experiences. Founded in 2017 by Steuart Walton and Tom and Olivia Walton, OZ Art is devoted to bringing art to everyday life in Arkansas and supports the regional art scene with a collection displayed throughout Bentonville and through collaboration with regional arts organizations.
Justkids is a multi-disciplinary art platform created by women that provides design, curatorial, and production services for public and private art initiatives. Built on an international network of prominent contemporary artists, curators, and creative teams, the organization provides a wide variety of visual experiences for diverse audiences and communities. To accomplish its goals for furthering the artistic reach and creating unique experiences, Justkids builds relationships with cities, communities, brands, and institutional spaces.
Based in Fort Smith, the Unexpected is an award-winning organization that has brought urban and contemporary art, speakers, and education to Arkansas since 2015. A project of 64.6 Downtown, the Unexpected comprises cultural exchange and community development to bring attention to Arkansas as a place for international art and cultural development.
“This is not the first time Justkids and the Unexpected have worked together to deliver public art to Arkansas,” notes OZ Art spokesperson Krista Cupp. “Over the course of five years, they have brought over thirty-five pieces of artwork into public spaces, including the Rainbow Embassy—a 360-degree takeover at an abandoned house in Fort Smith by Okuda San Miguel—and a mural depicting an owl by Alexis Diaz on the historic former Mountain Inn building in downtown Fayetteville.”
As one would expect, the project is about much more than painting buildings with pretty pictures. Under all that paint, there’s something more profound at work. “The work benefits the communities they are in by affecting the people who live there,” Krista explains. “We’re bringing art to our everyday lives, and public art can make us stop and think, reminisce, or reflect. It’s powerful how it can unexpectedly pull us from the exertion of our everyday lives and cause us to take a moment to admire and give thought.”
The list of artists behind these massive works is an impressive one curated from all over the world, and their art has the entire nation on notice. Consisting of twelve artworks by twelve artists, ARkanvas is a project spread across 450 miles to include ten paintings, one billboard, and one vinyl work created through the united efforts of 112 pairs of hands. As the website uniquely enumerates, “400+ cans of spray paint, 1500 gallons of paint, 47,210+ square feet of painted surface, nine Monsters, two bi-planes, five hearts, two cyclists, two deer, one coyote, one frog, five birds, nine butterflies, four alligators, four monkeys, one horse, three wristwatches, one pump house, one silo, one water tower, and two basketball courts.” And if that doesn’t raise your curiosity, nothing will.
In Bentonville, Nina Chanel Abney brings her contemporary take on abstraction and popular culture through her signature use of shapes and symbols, working in acrylics and spray paint. Adding his touch to the project is Stephen Powers, known all over the world for text-based conceptual art whose whimsy belies a deeper message about human emotion. Anne Vieux’s signature “misuse” of tools to create innovative art brings a unique inventiveness, while Kevin Lyons and his monsters add a levity that only oversized furry creatures can bring.
Painting Hot Springs is Camille Walala, a multi-disciplinary artist known for her work’s positivity, which she expresses through vibrant color and bold patterns. In Rogers, Robert Montgomery’s talent for installations created from light and text come to bear, while Youri “Mantra” Cansell’s entomological art bugs out in Little Rock and Bentonville. Lakwena Maciver’s painted prayers and meditations have Pine Bluff taking notice, while Hilda “Poni” Palafox’s use of nature and the female form speak to the people of Springdale. Alex Diaz made Conway a canvas for his chimerical and dreamlike depictions of animals. In Fort Smith, Chaffee Crossing was under the spell of husband-and-wife visual artist team DABSMYLA, whose whimsical style catches the eye and enchants the imagination. Painting Stuttgart, Keya Tama uses her signature iconography and creatures to achieve something unforgettable.
“The response to ARkanvas has been wholeheartedly positive. We have seen a lot of people sharing posts about the art on social media and talking about these additions to our communities. Public art brings joy to communities, and that is something we are trying to accomplish through ARkanvas.”
For more information on this initiative, including the artists, installations, and locations, visit www.arkanvas.com. Also, stay connected to art via 646downtown.com, unexpectedfs.com, ozartnwa.com, and justkids.art.
