If you no longer live in the place you grew up in, returning to your hometown can be a blast from the past. Hometowns hold a rich collection of memories and experiences from the stages in our lives when we are developing rapidly and not always super gracefully. When I visit my cozy, blue-collar, Midwestern hometown, I am flooded with the wonderful familiarity of people and places who have known me since I was in diapers, juxtaposed with the feeling of distance from not having actually lived there for the past 10 years. When I visited my family for the holidays this year, I found that street art was actually the perfect way to help bridge this gap between my past and present relationship with my hometown.
Does my hometown have street art?
If you are from a smaller geographical area like I am, you may be wondering if your town even has a mural or a piece of public art you can hunt down. While nothing may immediately come to mind, I can guarantee you that it exists. One beautiful thing that mural hunting with Cassie has taught me is that art is a human instinct. Where there are people there will be art.
While Darwin may not fully agree, I would argue that art is necessary for survival, and our expression of it is inevitable. As human beings, we are compelled to share our story in some form or another, and whatever that form may be becomes our art. In this vein, I have come to broaden my definition of what art is, and open my eyes to seeing it wherever I am. To me art is expression. Art can be a sprawling mural, a message carved into a tree, a conversation had between two people with loving intent…..you get the picture, art is everywhere! Since art can be so intimate and subtle, it is extra special to come across public art like murals.
Where should I begin looking?
Increasing your sensitivity to the presence of art can help you identify it in places you may have never noticed it before. In the case of a place as familiar as your hometown, it can be hard to see it through a new lens, therefore I recommend beginning like a tourist. Drive through your downtown area, and take notice of the buildings, door frames, alleyways that might contain hidden gems, and even the colors of the paint on the buildings. If your hometown has a theatre, public park, or outdoor performance space those are also great areas to check. You will be surprised at all of the art you will come across.
Previously when I returned home I viewed it as a trip purely to visit with the people I love who happen to be located in this town. I never viewed it as a visit with the town itself. Stumbling across several murals (some of which were painted by my high school peers), a beautiful antique door on the back of a building my father owns, and even electrical boxes painted with local scenes from our annual jazz festival, helped me connect with my town in a new way. I saw the buildings and the streets as living breathing reflections of the people I so dearly love, and every piece of art as a meaningful story containing someone’s truth. My hometown, just like yours, is a canvas colored by all of those who inhabit it.
Make it a family affair!
Street art hunting is not only a great way to reconnect with your hometown on a personal level, but also a great experience to share with friends and family. If your parents grew up in your hometown as well, it is a great opportunity to open the door for them to share parts of their personal experience you may not be familiar with. You are inviting them to reconnect with their hometown in the same way that you have, and art as a universal language has a beautiful way of sparking thoughtful conversation.
Leave a comment or send us a DM, telling us about some of your favorite hidden gems you’ve found in your hometown. We so enjoy seeing your street art adventures, and would love to feature your hometown finds!
