An Art Hive is a public space that “welcomes everyone as an artist and believes art making is a human behavior.” (Janis Timm-Botts) While people have been coming together as communities to create art for centuries, art making collectives using the name “Art Hive” started in the southwest United States in the early 2000s. Art Hives later appeared in areas in the northern and eastern United States as well as Canada. There are now over 100 art hives in the world.

While Art Hives are often focused on serving under-resourced and marginalized communities, the goal is solidarity as opposed to charity. “The Art Hive is about fostering appreciation of interdependence and contributing the skills we all bring with each other. It is much more than a place to make art in the company of others. It is a place that breaks socio-economic and cultural barriers.”

Current Art Hive Project

My current Art Hive project is called the Peace Flag Project. It was born during a meeting of the Arts and Peer Support Group. The group was expressing a sense of feeling overwhelmed by all the sad events happening in the world. While we knew we couldn’t solve all the problems, we wanted to put “some good in the world.” I suggested that we make flags reflecting that goodness and then find a public place to display them. Just this simple act of art making was healing and restorative.

Reflecting on this group process, I decided I wanted to do this project on a larger scale. So in keeping with the Art Hive tradition, I have been going into a variety of spaces and inviting participants to make “peace flags” depicting the good they want to put out in the world. This is a bi-partisan, non-secular project. Everyone is welcomed to join and share what comes from their heart.

My plan is to display the flags somewhere this fall. (Details to come later!) In the meantime, follow this page to find out where you can come and create a peace flag to add to the collection.

If you are interested in having an Art Hive at your event, contact Bridget at (919) 605-2081