“Art Abandonment is a group designed to encourage random acts of art, left in various locations around the globe. The idea is that folks can make something and leave it for a lucky unsuspecting person to find. Artists can then post locations and photos of abandoned goodies…and finders can let everyone know that they are the lucky finder! O’ sweet abandon!”
The group on Facebook was started by Michael deMeng.
“So here is how to play if you wanted to join in:
- All you have to do is make a piece of art. (as simple or as elegant as you like)
- Write a little note on it explaining that it is a gift
- Also mention that if the finder would like to share info about its fate they can contact you directly i.e. email. Then you can share the info with us if you are so inclined. Its not a bad idea to leave you’re web address contact info…you never know…you might have created a new patron.
- Photograph what you’re leaving behind
- Then leave it…walk away…run…try not to get caught.
- Then on Facebook share the location and photo of your gift with the rest of us. Here’s the group address: http://www.facebook.com/groups/ArtAbandonment/
- Keep your fingers crossed that someone lets us know what became of it. I certainly doubt that everyone will take the time to inform the group. A few artists have already been contacted by the “finders”. – All quoted text is from the Art Abandonment site on Facebook. Join us!
If you prefer you can use the contact email: i.found.artwork@gmail.com we’ll be checking it often and share the results.”
This is a piece that I abandoned at Lowe’s in Paris, Tennessee:
Another piece abandoned in Paris, France.
Audrey Breed Art 
Great exposure, so to speak!
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I found a lovely pink (my fave color) bracelet and earrings set in Fayetteville, NY and I think the whole thing is a really nice idea. I paint trout on T-shirts, so do I just make a copy of the little insert paper that was with the jewelry and leave one of my shirts somewhere? I would like to send it to another Art Abandonment participant in a distant city for them to put it out there?
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Lucky you! You can copy the card, or go to “files” on Art Abandonment on facebook where you will find more card ideas.
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Dear Elaine Vernon,
I have recently joined Art Abandonment and am enjoying very much. Going on the site today I find there is no where for “like” or “Comments” as there was when I first start on this site. Any
Ideas as to what is going on? I would be very grateful for any suggestions. Wanted to post photos of my drop offs of my art but cannot.
Very appreciative of any kind of help,
Bonnie Ashurst
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You should contact the administrator of the art abandonment page on facebook.
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I am from St. Paul, Alberta. I was walking into our little mall today, and noticed a pretty little package on the ledge by the payphone. Yup, theres still a few around. Anyhows, I went to investigate to see if someone had used the payphone and forgot their parcel. Imagine my joy when I saw it was left by someone who belongs to Art Abandonment. It is a very pretty handmade bag with a very pretty handmade journal with handmade paper and hand bound. I have read about this group, but had no idea they would spread to Canada and to a town of 5000 people. I thank whoever left this gift. I shall treasure it.
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Isn’t it wonderful to find a treasure. I believe that Art Abandonment is international.
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I found a postcard today, at Portage College, St.Paul, AB …Thank You to whoever left it…
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Hi there,
Just came home and found a Bookmark with wise sayings about travelling on it in front of my door. Nicely packaged. The Universe did pick me today to receive this random act of kindness and it is deeply felt because I just really needed a lift-me-up today. For days I thought how thoughtful it would be if my children or friends would notice that I keep using notepapers as bookmarks and would gift me a lovely bookmark instead. A useful, inexpensive but thoughtful gift. How I treasure now this “Art Abandonment”! Thank you.
Kathi
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I just saw this and am thrilled someone found the small gift and is enjoying it as much as I did making it.
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Hi!
My name is Stephannie, and I just found art at the Portland International Airport. It is so beautiful and i can tell it was made partially out of an old Oregon map. Thank you to whoever left it here. 🙂
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Today we found a beautiful teal scale like necklace on hemp rope on the flower carts In front of our store in Camarillo California .Jewelry is my thing so this was a smile maker. Thank you to whomever left it 😉
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Oh my…found a beautiful dragonfly art piece at the water gardening display at Alden Lane Nursery in Livermore Ca this morning…made me smile, and soooo happy. Many Thanks to the wonderful artist who left it here….beautiful colors….
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I found a wonderful piece of art where I work . It made my day. It was a small oil painting. It was in Chandler Arizona in a store.
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Thank you Tammy for sharing your find. I will pass this along to the group.
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Today my wife and dog were walking on the Blue Ridge Parkway in Va, and I came across a beautiful pencil sketch of a fox. this made our walk much more enjoyable Thanks Tom Pollard
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Thanks for letting us know, Tom. I have posted this for the Art Abandonment Group.
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My boyfriend found a heart on an elevator in New Hamsphire. Such a warm feeling knowing people are spreading their art and love. Awesome job.
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I found a storage drawer at Notre Dame library, Notre Dame, IN. It is exquisite, especially the tigers on it. It will be a gift for a friend in China after I go back to China next year.
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Thanks to the artist who made it.
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I found an Art Abandonment in Scarsdale.NY. It looks like a figure 8 by Rhi Ali ’14. cute.
this is such a cool thing to do.
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A beautiful piece of art work was mailed to me today …. reminding me of God and His Love for us. I was so touched for this to be shared with me. I will forward it to a special place and hope it is appreciated as much as I do.
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I found a beautiful little bird house on the bench outside my doctors office in Augusta, GA. My two year old daughter loves her tiny birdie house! Thanks! Erin and Sofia
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I found a beautiful package of handmade cards in our letter box in Glebe, Sydney Australia just beside the verge garden of herbs and vegetables that my husband maintains and that invites passers by to cut ( with scissors hanging on a trees) and use as they go home to dinner. We were so happy at the generosity of the artists but also because the cards are BEAUTIFUL. I have kept them for a special occasion and have just used one to send to my putative goddaughter in Melbourne whose baby has just arrived and sent another to my dear friend In Santa Fe, New Mexico whose paintings are wonderful and now on her website (Mireya Cirici). So thanks. I had never heard of Art Abandonment but presumably Jade Herriman, whose beautiful art works are, and who must live somewhere in my neighbourhood is part of it. Not always glad to live in this world, but in this case I certainly am. Judith Keene
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thanks to the person who left art me and my dad both found a stone neckless in Bakersfield CA we will pass it on and create our art for someone lucky to find
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I am lucky enough today to find free art! It was found at my doctors office on mt. Vernon ave in haddonfield new jersey. Thank you to the artist of this mixed media creation of a seahorse made of buttons. It has brightened my day. I appreciate this as a fellow artist for more reasons that I can express here. This seems like a fun venture. I may also partake in this.
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Yes of course! Art Abandonment is a public group on facebook.
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I found a pair of shell earrings in a shopping cart in front of Walgreens in Silverdale, WA. I would like to thank the artist. They are very pretty and the wonderful surprise made my day.
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Today I found a beautiful box with a pic of doors and keys also on one corner it said The Keys to Life …. When I opened the box there were more keys but with words that just were inspiring. Thank you to w.e left this beautiful art on the bench to be found…. You did ake a person day (me) ❤
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I found some of your art at Rockingham forshore on a bench love it looks cool
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Thank you for posting. It wasn’t my art, but it probably came from someone in the Art Abandonment group. I have posted your comment on the facebook page for the group.
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I found a painting of a tree and a night sky with a shooting star in the Heart Doctors Office where I work in Shelby NC. It is beautiful! I lost my sweet dear grandmother in September 2015 and this picture makes me think of her shining down on me from Heaven. I miss her everyday. Thank you so much to whoever the kind and talented person was who left it here. It made my day!
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I found a painting in a retail store in Shelby, NC. It made my day.
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3-25-2016 a good Good Friday…I found my art in the KOC physical therapist’s office in Knoxville, TN. I am doing well but this morning was a tough start and the art helped me get my game face on for an hour of some painful stretching and weights. Thank you for brightening my day!
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I found one at Lake Lotus Preserve in Seminole County Fl. in the women’s restroom in the stall my 3-year-old went into he was like look, mommy pretty.Thank You It Made My Day.
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I found the art
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I was lucky to find one well it found me i was sitting at a tacobell in Bakersfield ca. And a nice couple gave us one aWired headband i love it ………..dkb thanks again
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I was lucky and found one of the art gifts in a barbeque at home depo.it was a slice of wood bark and all, with 2arrows drawn and heart. It said follow y our heart. The only clue as to the artist was on the note. It had a letter A w/ scrollbar a teanie light house. I am from Lawton, O.K. Thank you so much it made my ordinary day special. I too am an artist and would love to make someone else feel that way. Julie
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This was not one of mine,but I will inform the group. Glad it made you happy. Join us on Facebook.
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Hi I Brooklyn and I found the seashell that has the words inside there is always tomorrow it has a tree on it and it’s orange blue and white I still thankful to find this and thank you I will pass it on
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I found the rock with tree on it at Krogers in Kingston Tn. loved it
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