What is the Art Army?
Where the story began... Pioneer Park, Downtown DeLand Fl.
The ART ARMY is an idea. The idea that everyone is an artist, that everyone is creative.
This idea has grown & we are now a global art movement.
Although some may claim NOT to be an "artist"... All can agree- everyone is "creative" in their own way.
Depending on your definition of art- anything could be considered art.
Truly art, as well as beauty, is in the eye of the beholder.
The ART ARMY is a global network of people who not only understand and believe this, but are Art Revolutionaries that are making a positive change with their art.
See the Spiritual Renaissance Manifesto for the full vision of the founding precepts of the ART ARMY.
How do you name the nameless?
That question was proposed when the first idea of describing the creative forces of the universe where discussed. Some may call it God - the Creator - The Universe - Source... whatever it is, what you are trying to describe is the indescribable. How do you name something that could not be named, but you have to name it to be part of it?
The Whole Story...
In 1996, artist Perego was commissioned to do a historic mural in downtown Deland, Florida. The mural was to be done on a building which was 30 ft. tall x 70 ft. long. Due to the scale of the project, Perego chose to ask his close friend, Christopher Hansen, to help him paint. He called and found him in Deland at his grandmother's house, quite surprised to hear that he had just recently returned there from the hospital, where he had been recovering from a high-speed car accident. Fortunately, Chris survived the crash with only a few cuts to his face. Although he had never painted before, Perego asked him to be his only assistant on the large mural project.
When Chris arrived on the job site, he noticed that he had clean clothes on, in major contrast to Perego's paint splattered paint clothes When Perego asked him to block out some of the background, Chris excited about the job and creating his own paint clothes began putting so much paint on himself, that it literally went through his clothes and onto his skin. Covered almost head to toe in green paint, feeling like he was in the "trenches", (climbing up high on the scaffold) Chris remarked " I feel like I'm in the Army - The ART ARMY!! " And so it all began.
At the finish of the mural, the concepts of the Art Army were pretty much defined, the Spiritual Rennaisance Manifesto written, and they began enlisting people into the idea that Everyone is an Artist. At the initial Art Party in 1996, about 500 people joined their voice to the mantra - "WE ARE THE ART"
And thousands have done the same since. The Art Army has sponsored events worldwide including happenings in NYC, Philadelphia, LA, Miami, Numerous music and art festivals, Burning Man, and now, the Art Army has a global presence with outposts now in 50 cities worldwide.
