Instead of Flocking To Stores, Some Artists Plan to "Flood The Streets With Art"

For many people, the day after Thanksgiving is “Black Friday,” the day when retailers slash prices and try as hard as they can to get shoppers through their doors.  Now, a social-media driven campaign is offering a different kind of experience.  KTNA’s Phillip Manning has more:

Around the country, Black Friday is a day of waking up early–or not going to bed at all–in order to line up outside stores for the big holiday sales.  A growing group of artists is trying to change that, including some in the Mat-Su Borough.

What they do instead of partake in the shopping frenzy is hold an event called “Flood the Streets With Art.”   At least two Valley artists are getting involved.  One of them is Wasilla artist Lori Teich.  She explains how it works:

“Local artists put paintings out–or your piece of art, and it’s basically like karma during the holidays.”

Flood the Streets With Art is an offshoot of the Free Art Friday movement, which operates on the same principle. There isn’t really a central organization.  Artists who want to participate simply do so. Lori Teich says, for her, the event is a good way to share the giving spirit:

“Everybody’s always rushing for Black Friday.  It’s the artists that just want to see people remember the whole concept of holidays.”

The art is free.  Lori says she plans to leave little notes with her pieces explaining why they’re there for the taking.  At least one other Valley artist and one Anchorage artist will be participating as well.  Just because the art is up for grabs doesn’t mean it will be easy to find, however.  Lori Teich says she plans on giving a little help to those who may want a piece of her work:

“I’m leaving hints on my page after I put them out, but I’m not sure if anyone else is going to leave hints.  It could be anywhere;  it’s kind of a little hide-and-seek game.”

Lori’s art will be hidden somewhere in the Core Area of the borough.  On Tuesday afternoon, though, the Denali Arts Council put out a call for artists in the Upper Valley who might be interested in a similar event.