Have you ever been walking along and come upon an intriguing piece of paper on the ground? Were you curious? Did you pick it up to investigate? Or perhaps youÂ’ve found an object: a pen, a ticket stub, a scarf. When this occurs, I stop and wonder about the previous owner. Who was she? What were the circumstances of the ownerÂ’s life? This is especially interesting when reading a discarded or lost note. What have you done with your booty? Have you recycled them for aesthetic or utilitarian purposes?

There is a “new” concept called “found art.” It’s probably not new — for years people have collected stuff they found. What is fairly recent, though, is the changed perspective, that of considering these discoveries a form of art. One concept of found art is that the object itself is art; it retains the energy of the previous possessor. It has a story to tell, at which one can only guess.

Another concept of found art is that of creating works constructed of found pieces. Examples of this are the works of Wes Modes.

And yet another definition of found art is expressed by Stephen Linhart. He interprets found art as creative technique, saying , “I develop an experience-space using technology and existing images. Then I go exploring in that space. When I find something that moves me, I lithify it as a digital collage and polish it into a finished work.”

Lastly, an organization called Found Art! (of course) expresses a perspective that sharing art is a way of connecting and healing souls. The concept is not limited to the discovery of objects. The mission is for people to create art (such as making collages, sketching, painting, stamping an image, writing in calligraphy, writing a poem), registering it on the site, and leaving it in a public place to be found (such as in waiting rooms, dormitories, on bulletin boards, park benches, in library books, on bus seats, to store employees, with your meal tip). Of course, if you don’t care whether you get feedback, you can skip registering with the site and just do your own thing.

Suggestions For This Week:

1. Go on a treasure hunt. Pick up what you find. Think about what history it might have. Write about it.
2. Think back to some item you found in the past, be it large or small. What did you do with it? Write about that.
3. Make some art, using items you find around your home. Be liberal in your standards and definition of art. Then write about the experience. If possible, show us a photo. Then maybe leave it somewhere as a happy discovery for someone.
4. Explore folk art, some of which is made from found objects.
5. For a virtual experience, go to Making Contexts. Choose a picture, and write a story or vignette about it.

Feel free to leave a link to your blog (if you write about it) in the comments section. Have fun!