A few works of art have turned up in unexpected places around the community – tucked on a UTA TRAX train seat, resting near a park bridge, nestled by books in a free library and even in a dentist’s office waiting room.  Each piece is carefully placed inside a gift bag with a note explaining the art is free and meant to be found and treasured.

Those discoveries are part of a project created by American Academy of Innovation Art Foundations 1 class. 

AAI art students pressed real leaves to create art projects for the community. (Photo courtesy Camille Grimshaw/AAI)

During November, students explored the theme “journey” by creating two pieces of art: one inspired by a real leaf and a second piece of their choosing. Once completed, the works were intentionally abandoned in public spaces for others to find.

Sophomore Eden Montgomery said the idea of journey shaped both her material and message.

“When I thought about the word journey, thrive came to mind so I wrote it on my leaf,” she said. “We all came up with different words and different ideas to relate to our own journeys.

In clay, students pressed real leaves they and their teacher Camille Grimshaw brought in. Many chose glaze colors that matched the actual leaf. Grimshaw said students learned about working with art and creating texture. For some, it was their first experience with ceramics since the class is an introduction to art. 

For many students, the meaningful part of the project was leaving their work abandoned.

AAI students created leaves that represented their journeys as an abandoned art project for strangers to find. (Photo courtesy Camille Grimshaw/AAI)

“We’re leaving the art so someone who finds it will get a glimpse of our journey and be able to relate it to their own,” said sophomore Amy Flake, who put the word, “Why?” on her leaf. “I’m always questioning things and thought it was a good word to inspire others on their journeys.”

Junior Kat Cooper added: “And even inspire them on their own journey.”

A note inside the gift bag included Grimshaw’s email. The hope was the art finders would contact the teacher about their thoughts about the art project.

Sophomore Lina Lockridge said the project helps to build connections with people even though they may never meet.

“We’re sharing connections with people. Even though we may never know each other, we’re sharing our art which inspires the conversation of journey. It a nice connection,” she said.

Flake said it’s also an opportunity for them to share their talent.

“It’s cool because we may learn how they interpret our work when they send an email,” she said.

One AAI student’s artwork, featuring a caterpillar on a leaf, will be hidden in the community in hopes a community member will find it. (Julie Slama/City Journals)

Students placed their art in everyday locations where someone might find it and be surprised.

Sophomore Owen Swensen picked his leaf because of the details in it. He hopes its finder will appreciate it.

“I hope when it’s in their house or wherever they put it, it will add some color or brightness to it and it will give them a little joy and happiness,” he said.

Freshman Kit Culbertson’s second piece was a small ceramic whale with the words, “Go Far.”

“I like whales,” Culbertson said. “It’s actually my second whale. The first one took me a day to sculpt it, but it broke. So, I remade it. I really like how realistic it looks.”

Eden created a star: “I think of our galaxy and it’s a journey itself.” 

One student cut out the center of the leaf in a heart as the second shape and another student added a caterpillar to a leaf.

Grimshaw said the project grew out of her graduate studies as a desire to help students see art as part of the larger world.

“Classrooms are isolated, so students don’t realize there are connections,” she said. “I want them to connect art outside of school. It’s meaningful to other people. Art isn’t just something you do in high school and forget about it. We can make connections to other people through art.”

Junior Gage Tarin said the experience has changed how he feels about sharing his artwork.

“I used to be embarrassed about showing people my art,” he said. “Now I’m giving away my art so others can enjoy it and that’s cool.”