“The most beautiful things are always hidden,” a wise man once said, and the City of Canby, in partnership with Art-O-Maddic, is taking that adage to heart this year with the launch of its new Arts in Parks program.
The program, led by members of the Canby Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, encourages residents to discover and explore the city’s park system in search of hidden works of art.
The real art pieces, donated by the Art-O-Maddic gallery and art supplies store in downtown Canby, will be hidden by board members each month in a different city park.
The city will reveal the piece of art and the first clue to its location on the first day of the month on its website, Facebook and Instagram pages, as well as on the Friends of Canby Parks Facebook page.
A new clue will be released each week until the artwork is found. Participants who locate the piece are encouraged to post a selfie with it using the hashtag #CanbyArtsInParks. A QR code attached to the piece will give further instructions, city officials said in a press release.
“The Parks and Recreation Board has been looking for an opportunity to encourage our residents to discover and explore our wonderful parks and recreation systems,” Chair Barry Johnson explained.
The advisory board collaborated with Art-O-Maddic owners Shelley and Eric Arndt to stand up the fun, new program.
“My husband Eric and I are honored to be a part of this very fun project,” Shelley Arndt said. “We are excited to be able to help bring art to the community in a unique and fun way.”
The program will launch on Wednesday, March 1, with the north Portland artist Kevin Kanyo, who specializes in glass combing, a method of manipulating glass while it is extremely hot. For examples of Kanyo’s work, visit his Kan Yo Fuse Facebook page.
Arts in Parks is open to residents or business owners who are interested in sponsoring a piece of art for the program. For more information, contact Economic Development Director Jamie Stickel at StickelJ@CanbyOregon.gov.