The First Friday events in Old Town Orcutt see a number of businesses participate, enticing locals to enjoy specials at restaurants or shops, but one attraction isn’t put on by a local business. The Orcutt Children’s Art Foundation (OCAF) is a nonprofit organization that promotes the arts. The group found a perfect venue in First Fridays in Orcutt to begin a new project.
OCAF debuted a new art movement at the First Friday event on Nov. 4, called 805 Rocks! The idea was adapted from an art project in Tennessee, explained OCAF Executive Director Ali Bailey, who said that the rock art sessions will continue each month at the First Friday events.
“It’s a community initiative to paint rocks, hide them, spread joy, and encourage creativity,” Bailey said. “That’s what we did last week, is paint rocks to begin hiding them in Orcutt.”
Locals who visit OCAF at its section in the Old Town Orcutt Revitalization Association’s (OTORA) office on First Fridays can join in on the fun and paint a rock of their own. This will be an ongoing effort, Bailey explained, so everyone is welcome to join in the creativity.
Once enough rocks are painted, they will be strategically placed throughout the community. The colorful rocks won’t be “hidden,” Bailey explained, because they should be seen. Therefore they will be placed in conspicuous locations where they will catch the eye of passersby.
“You could maybe stick it in front of a planter at CORE Wine [Company], and someone would see it and say, ‘Oh, what’s this?’” she said. “You go out and put them out in the community. And the people who find them out in the community can snap a picture and share it on our page and spread the word about this fun little scavenger hunt.”
The 805 Rocks! campaign has a private Facebook page where interested locals can become members, Bailey said. There on the page are directions for making your own rock outside of the First Friday events, including suggested materials and even the hashtag #805rocks!, which should be painted on the back of the rocks.
OCAF is working to spread the initiative in the schools at first, Bailey explained, but is open to anyone who wants to join the campaign. It’s a fun way to get some recognition for OCAF, arts in the schools, and the artful locals who want to transform a simple stone into something new. The first event was well attended, Bailey said, but they can be a lot more involved too.
“We were hosting students at Ralph Dunlap Elementary and we had students from K through sixth grade who had their artwork on display, so we had a pretty good variety of kids and families,” Bailey said. “And then just people off the street. Even like some ladies who were ready to go wine tasting and get their painting on, just popped in and painted a rock.”
Arts Editor Joe Payne is looking for the right rock. Contact him at jpayne@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Nov 17-24, 2016.