Crack art

This is about crack art. No, it may not be what you think. It has nothing to do with low-rider pants.

Crack art is small-scale urban art that uses imperfections in buildings and cracks in sidewalks as a starting point. It is sort of like graffiti, but smaller. And, it does not necessarily need a flat surface.

Crack art can be found around the world. It is now just catching on in America. As stated in the story this week, Colfax may be the first to really promote and encourage the idea.

A little creativity and just the right crack or imperfection can lead to some fun, both for the artist and the people who find the finished work.

There is one example of crack art in Colfax now. The Colfax Arts Council wants more and has made a public call for more artists to get involved. Details can be had from the council. Eventually, when enough examples are finished, the council may start some scavenger hunts for them.

It could be fun. It is another step in the right direction. After the wildly successful ghost hunts that sparked interest last year, crack art could be as popular, especially for first-time visitors who try to search them out and end up visiting the entire town. It is not a traditional economic development project, but it is a light-hearted one that could give everyone a lift and draw a smile from even the most curmudgeonly.

With all that is going on in the world a little whimsey cannot hurt.

The one finished example is on Main Street. It shows a clown on a unicycle riding a crack in the sidewalk into the wall of a building. It is small, but surprisingly visible.

The possibilities are endless. International examples of crack art include Spiderman swinging from a slender crack in a wall. Others are a doorway step that looks like a piano keyboard and a corner of a city building peeled away to show an idyllic green field.

The arts council wants your involvement.

The call is out: Colfax, cover your cracks.

Gordon Forgey

Publisher