There have been artists who comb thrift stores for hidden treasures (Jim Shaw’s Thrift Store Paintings comes to mind) and sometimes you hear about a lost masterpiece found at a yard sale—but what about art with a slightly less glorious trajectory? We found this once-loved painting (it was framed after all) at a giveaway table at the local dump, as if its owner saw it not worth keeping nor worth finding a home for. But! Just as this folksy gem was about to be sent to the deep recesses of a distant landfill, at the last minute the painting’s courier saw some glimmer of beauty or magic and pulled it out of the trash. Setting it on the free pile, the painting had one last chance to find a loving home before being buried forever. And it did! (It now hangs happily in our art studio and is enjoyed by us daily and visitors frequently.) This beautiful Henri Rousseau-esque painting reminds me… art has value. Whether you write, paint, play songs, or however you share with the world, you never know just how much you will spread meaning and bring joy. So, go make!!! And have a wonderful week.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR: CORWIN LEVI
Corwin is a visual artist working in design, illustration, bookmaking, curating, and writing. As an artist, he has attended over twenty artist residencies. He has also have lived in eighteen cities across twelve states. Along with Michelle Aldredge, he co-created Mirror Mirrored: An Artists’ Edition of 25 Grimms’ Tales. He is currently remixing vintage game boards and making a book from illustrations of Alice in Wonderland.
