Reader Submitted Article/About the Author
This article was submitted by Amanda Tyler McGuire, a Hickory resident with a passion for supporting local businesses and sharing family-friendly activities. When she’s not busy dancing or planning her next adventure, you can find her volunteering at the Catawba Science Center or at her children’s schools.
Art enriches our world around us. It brings color and depth to our homes, our communities and our lives. Hickory has just gained a new art gallery; an accessible and free gallery has been added right outside of the Hickory Museum of Art. It is named the Free Little Art Gallery (FLAG).
This gallery works very much like book boxes, except it is art. Another difference is the art library encourages people to create their own art versus donating a book not written personally. You can receive a piece of art, give a piece of art, or both.
The box is bolstering with a variety of art forms including pottery, yarn art, paintings, and much more. It offers something for every one of every age. The art can be donated by children, amateurs or professional artist. My daughter has already received a piece of art from the box and donated one back. The concept is that everyone can create art. It is a great way to expose children to art, along with encouraging them to create an art piece themselves. This exposure fosters a sense of community because art is best when shared with the world and each other.
The Free Little Art Gallery is part of a BSA Eagle Project by Amelia Hollar from Troop 1234 at First Methodist Church. Troop 1234 is an all-female troop that won district Troop of the Year in 2022. She worked in collaboration with the Hickory Art Museum to bring the idea to life. The box followed a set of free art classes that Amelia also offered last summer to children. The box construction and classes were assisted by her fellow scouts.
Hickory Museum of Art is an amazing resource for our community. There is no entrance fee to view exhibits. They offer programs, classes, and events for all ages.
Currently on exhibit now through February 16th is titled “Ode to the Blue Ridge”. It highlights western North Carolina people and landscapes affected by Hurricane Helene.
They also do school shows each year for area students. Our mayor, Hank Guess, gets to pick his favorite for the year’s big school show. Last year’s winner was an elementary student with her cow painting.
My daughter started her art career with a drawing on exhibit at HMA when she was seven. She is now 14 and designs her own hats. She draws designs on the hats and then burns the design into it. I attribute her love of art to our community’s resources and support for artists.
Libraries through this program exist all over the world. More information about Free Little Art Gallery can be found on Instagram at @freelittleartgallery_hky. Boxes in other cities and countries can be found at freelittleartgalleries.art.
Take a moment and visit the Free Little Art Gallery. See what it inspires in you.
Free Little Art Gallery
243 Third Avenue NE
Hickory, North Carolina 28601