Part 3: Losing My Found Art!

By Chris Dunmire

After signing up for the online Found Art! project, I created a few pieces of simple art that I intended on leaving behind for a stranger to find. Read on to see what happened.

Losing the Art

After my art pieces dried, I registered them in my Found Art! gallery — simply by logging into my account, adding a description and small image of the piece that I took with my digital camera. I also made a public journal entry for each set of items, explaining my intention and what I hoped for the recipient to see if they decided to give me feedback.

Then I printed off two sheets of labels from the Web site, added my Found Art! login name, and tagged each art piece (I punched holes in my tags and attached them with string). For extra protection, I slipped each item into a zippered plastic bag to keep it clean and dry for the journey. I had a total of 14 pieces (2 dream journals plus 12 individual puzzle pieces).

Since I decided to do this experiment in the middle of a snowy Midwest winter in our suburban town, I had to think of the best places to unload my goods — where they might actually have a chance at working their magic and not being overlooked or mistaken for litter and promptly discarded.

I had in mind a few local coffee places, shopping centers, colleges, and public buildings to leave my pieces. I preferred not to have to ask for permission (which is suggested by the Found Art! site in some establishments), so I finally decided that the safest place would be the local public library where it was clean and dry and many people come and go all day long. I felt that the pieces would have a better chance at being found and appreciated by people in a relaxed environment full of all kinds of information and books designed to help people learn and grow. After all, that was the point to my art!

(I'll note here that in the future, I'd probably leave behind only one or two pieces of art in any one place. My initial 14 pieces were designed to make this experiment a substantial effort in adventure, fun, and creativity for me. I figured the more I left behind, the better chance I had at getting feedback.)

Tip-Toeing Through the Periodicals

You know that feeling you get when you know you're doing something sneaky, and you're afraid of getting caught? That's exactly how I felt as I entered the library lobby holding my book bag close to me — concealing my small, soulful works of art soon to be found "littering" around the library. I just knew "they'd" be onto me soon and hidden cameras would capture my every movement as I slinked around doing my thoughtful deed.

Though nervous (the fun kind) here's an approximate account of my spy-like shenanigans as I left behind all 14 pieces of art though the first floor of the public library to be found by unknown people. As I would like to remember it: 

(Cue Mission Impossible music)

10:00 AM: Enter the library with the goods in hand. Hope front desk librarians don't suspect a thing. Head immediately towards periodicals.

10:05: Deposit first puzzle piece in the middle of the December '03 Rolling Stone magazine (the issue debuting Clay Aiken). Arrange magazine back on shelf so nobody will suspect a thing.

Heart racing, Did anyone see that? Look around nonchalantly before making my way towards fiction section.

10:08: Wait for talking library personnel (shhhh!) to pass by while helping patron at end of aisle. Deposit second, third, and fourth puzzle pieces on random fiction bookshelves between feigning interest in book titles.

Butterflies in stomach increase. Beeline towards free college literature shelf in the middle of the library.

10:10: Looking interested at FAFSA applications, deposit fifth puzzle piece on top of local college spring semester catalog. Help myself to several free items and stuff them into my bookbag.

Begin to nervously perspire. Make way towards non-fiction section.

10:12: Starting to experience irrational fear. What if they start finding my bags and follow the trail to me? If I unload them quicker, they won't have any proof they're mine!

Quickly deposit sixth, seventh, and eighth puzzle piece on random non-fiction shelves near cultural, arts, and crafts books while pretending to be interested in all things macramé.

10:14: Perspiration intensifies. Looking into my book bag at the big items. These have to go next! I didn't come all this way to keep these Dream Journals for myself!

Promptly deposit both Journals on adjacent shelves near famous artists books, (where they most likely would be appreciated when found). Picked up a small book of Paul Klee's paintings and stuffed it into my bag. Stepped over to next aisle.

10:17: Almost there! While listening to the Internet users typing away messages on their free Hotmail accounts, I deposited the remaining puzzle pieces between the mythology and self-help books one aisle away. Notice gap in books and see through to Internet User's knees. 

Snag Norman Vincent Peale's "Power of Positive Thinking" off the shelf and stuff it into my bag.

10:19: Breathe big sign of relief. Overwhelmed with feeling of accomplishment and excitement. Now I just have to act natural and get out of here!

10:20 to 10:35: Collect several more books off various shelves to take home, including three different Calvin and Hobbes collections.

Carry books to check-out at front desk, nervously waiting for a librarian to usher me into a private room and confront me about my sneaky deed of littering the library.

Instead, she looked at me straight in the eye and said something I'll never forget. "Here's your card. Your books are due the 27th. Have a nice day!"

I scoop up my books and head out the front door. Elated and free. Another good deed, done! At least until they review the hidden camera video tapes.

Next: Part 4 — Found Art! Feedback

© 2004, 2008 Chris Dunmire. All rights reserved.