Art Dispersal
Art Dispersal is an event where we hang up original works of art and invite people to become their stewards. They can take a piece home, keep it for as long as they like, as well as return it to the artist if they no longer want to keep it. Stewards are offered an opportunity to make a contribution to Free Columbia. Contributions support the artists as well as Free Columbia.
Free Columbia has run 18 Art Dispersals over the past 10 years, with over 800 paintings (as well as other works of art) dispersed to stewards in Hudson, Philmont, Spring Valley, and Manhattan, NY; Eugene and Portland, OR; Los Angeles, CA; New Orleans, LA; and Jarna, Sweden. In 2020 we held our first online art dispersal in collaboration with the Anthroposophical Society in North America.
If you are interested in having an Art Dispersal in your community that can raise funds for your initiative contact us.
Art Dispersals in the last years: Results
ART DISPERSAL RESULTS:
April 2023
Art Dispersal at Lightforms Art center and online of paintings inspired by music of Love Bravely https://lovebravely.substack.com/
artist: Laura Summer - 34 paintings dispersed. Contributions ranged from $5-300, totaling $4502
February 2022
Art Dispersal at Lightforms Art Center and online
artists: Laura Summer and Leif Garbisch
16 paintings and photographs dispersed. Contributions ranged from $40-750, totaling $4770
June 2021
Art Dispersal at Basilica Hudson, Hudson NY
artists: Laura Summer and Patricia Lynch
28 paintings dispersed. Contributions ranged from $30-400, totaling $2625
July 2021
Fundraiser Art Dispersal at Lightforms Art Center
6 paintings dispersed. contributions ranged from $30-600, totaling $2000. 50% contributed to Lightforms
September 2020
In the Figure of Divine Substance. 33 paintings in response to the poetry of women poets. All paintings by Laura Summer.
Lightforms Art Center, Hudson NY. 30 paintings dispersed. Contributions ranged from $15 - $900, totaling $6407, 15% contributed to Lightforms.
October 2020
Online Art Dispersal in collaboration with the annual General Meeting of the Anthroposophical Society. 14 artists participated. 33 paintings were dispersed online and sent to the stewards by mail. Contributions ranged from $35 - $300, totaling $3459, 20% to Free Columbia, 10% to the ASA, 5% to administration of the event and 65% to the artists.
September 2022
at Lightforms Art Center
12 paintings dispersed
contributions ranged from $20-4000 for a total of $4925
Reflections from art stewards in the past
“Looking at your work makes me think that this kind of activity makes a more lasting impression by being in the house than not, because it does form part of our daily life. It weaves itself into our daily imagination and emotions without being prompted by external considerations. It forms part of our daily eyes.”
“It sort of felt like adopting a baby. A beautiful quiet well behaved baby. It was as if everyone had a painting that was meant for them in the room and they had to find theirs."
“Revolutionary! Thank you for inspiring creativity."
Enliven The Walls
De-Commodifying Art
Creation of Birds and Fish - Laura Summer
Institutions that need paintings to enliven their spaces are encouraged to participate in the Enliven The Walls program. A member of the institution (medical office, beauty shop, hotel etc.) meets with Laura Summer to assess the situation. If Free Columbia can meet the need, paintings are hung where needed. The relationship is an ongoing one so that if a painting needs to be changed the institution can contact Laura and she will work with the change. Institutions are encouraged to put a line item in their monthly budgets for painting support.
Currently Free Columbia has paintings at Holder House Residence in Spring Valley, NY, and in the medical practices of Camphill Village in Copake, NY and Jennifer Baer NP in Hudson, NY.
“However much study may be devoted to the elimination of crime and wrong doing in the world, true redemption, the turning of evil into good, will in future depend upon whether true art and architecture are able to generate a definite cultural atmosphere, an atmosphere that can so fill the hearts and souls of human beings—if they allow this atmosphere to influence them—that liars will cease to lie and disturbers of the peace will cease to disturb the peace. Buildings will begin to speak…
“Nowadays people gather at congresses to negotiate world peace. They imagine that speaking and listening can actually create peace and harmony. But peace and harmony will never be established through world congresses. Peace and harmony, and conditions worthy of humanity, can only be established when the gods speak to us. When will the gods speak to us?... Art is the creation of organs through which the gods speak to mankind.”
- Rudolf Steiner 17 June, 1914 “Ways to a New Style in Architecture”